This year seems to have been a particularly bad year for strangles outbreaks in our area.  Quite unfortunately it has hit a couple barns with force, causing them to shut down operations until the disease has cleared.

From a nutritionist point of view, there are a few things you can do to help stop the spread of the disease, and secondly, to decrease the severity and therefore the down time of your horse, should the contract strangles.

First you need to be aware.  Be aware that the problem exists in your area, and that it spreads very quickly.  There are somethings you can do to prevent the spread (washing, disinfecting, not sharing tack etc.), and there are many thing that will be out of your control that can cause the spread.  If you are at a boarding barn you never know where other boarders have been, where their vehicles have been, or if someone has trailerd to a show and come into contact with an infected horse.  All of these things can happen to accidentally cause the spread, and all you can do is be prepared.

Watch your horse carefully for signs of nasal discharge, take their temperature, and take special notice in any changes in energy levels. 

Feed a vitamin mineral mixture that is high in B and C vitamins.  These boost the immune system which is beneficial if they do contract strangles.

Most of all, contact a veterinarian at the first sight of anything resembling strangles.  The sooner that strangles are caught and treated, the less severe the case, and the sooner you can get back to a normal routine.

Post strangles, it is always a good idea to give you horse a couple days worth of probiotics (enzymes and bacteria in the digestive system that are often killed off as a result of treatment). Again, this will get the digestive system back to normal as quickly as possible, and allow your horse to return to it’s usual eating habbits.

This was just a breif over view of my thoughts on strangles.  Please, be a responsible horse owner and do your part in preventing the spread of strangles.  Wishing everyone a happy healthy fall 2009!

Tags: horse strangles, strangles in ontario