RE: Strangles

[Sue Nance <Snance@BMCLLP.COM>]

Regarding Strangles, it is important not to start treatment with antibiotics
until after the nodes have been opened. You can cause the disease to go into
"Bastard Strangles" this is where the abscesses go internally. Thus putting
the animal at a higher risk. As far as the vaccine I have heard some concern
with giving it, due to the fact the animal may erupt with the disease and
defeat the purpose. I did have an outbreak, when a horse came from a sale
and broke with strangles. We did all of the correct husbandry stuff,
separation etc. Then we had someone water for us and use the same hose from
the infected horse and put into the trough of non infected yearlings. Whoa,
was that ever a mess. One horse almost looked as if he had lumpy jaw.