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Strangles Strangles is a very infectious disease in horses. If you suspect your horse has strangles you must call your vet as treatment is needed, also your horse will need to be isolated from other horses until your vet says your horse is clear to go back with other horses. Because Strangles is contagious infection control will need to be followed to make sure this is not passed on, it can be passed on though hands, sharing tack, grooming brushes, yard utensils, horses sharing drinking water, horses being in contact with each other. Your vet will explain what you need to put in place for infection control and if you are on a livery yard everyone would be expected to follow the advice given to keep the strangles under control and not passing from one horse to another Please a look at this link to you tube, it is of a vet who shows a horse with strangles and the treatment. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccqsGRcKEJk .
The most common symptoms of Strangles are: lack of appetite, fever (high temperature) and listlessness. Strangles causes inflammation and abscessing of the lymph nodes of the head and/or neck and profuse thick nasal discharge as the abscesses burst and drain. In severe cases the horse may also be distressed, off its feed and wheezing as the inflammation of the lymph nodes can cause the horse difficulty in breathing and swallowing, even crushing the windpipe causing the horse to be strangled in severe cases. If your horse shows signs of a respiratory problem call your vet first, don't wait to see if he gets better, as soon as a diagnosis is given your horse can begin treatment and less damage or no damage to your horse will have occurred. The vet also needs to check that your horse has not got a virus that can be passed on to other horses. The longer you leave it untreated the more damage to the airways and lungs can happen. Once the lungs are damaged that's it, you cannot repair them
A horse with abcess under his throat from strangles |
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 Influenza Equine influenza (flu) is an infectious disease that affects the upper and lower respiratory tract of the horse. . Influenza is spread by inhalation of the virus from the atmosphere, one horse coughing over another, and can spread rapidly through horses that have not been vaccinated against influenza What symptoms would your horse have? The first symptoms of influenza are often that the horse seems lethargic, depressed and he will start having a dry cough that usually lasts around 10 days. Other symptoms include a high temperature, lack of appetite, rapid breathing, enlarged glands under the lower jaw that result in a sore throat, clear discharge from the eyes and a clear nasal discharge that may become thick yellow or green. Your vet will make diagnosis by doing various tests on your horse. Please note these are only some of the symptoms your horse may not show all of these this is why it is so important to have your vet out to look at your horse If you think your horse or any other horse has influenza you must keep the horse isolated as this can spread rapidly to other horses that have not had immunization Your vet must be called out so treatment can begin........ Prevention of Influenza is yearly vaccination . I have found a very good link with a video of a horse with Influenza....... It really is good
COPD COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is the most common of respiratory problems and is usually the result on how we look after our horses, it cannot be cured but it can be managed. It is us that look after our horses who are responsible for managing his welfare, We need to remove the offending material that is causing it usually the moulds that grow on hay his bedding Horses can sometimes get COPD after a viral infection Symptoms are coughing and could have nasal discharge, your horse could cough more during and after exercise. Here is a very good link that I have found for COPD http://www.recoveryeq.com/copd_horses_pro.htm
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 Uveitis Caddy in was diagnosed with uveitis, this is sun damage to the eye. Caddy wears a Guardian Mask in the summer with 95% UV protection. this will help to protect his eye. At the moment he wears a 80% Uv fly mask, but the guardian mask has higher uv protection. This mask can help with all different eye problems have a look at their web site.... I will be posting pictures of Caddy wearing his once I have ordered one! http://www.horsemask.com
Symptoms of Uveitis The eye will be: -Puffy -watering -squinting -red blood vessels at the sides of the eye and in the lids -sensitive to light Other symptoms could be your horse tripping or loss of his balance, If treatment is not given this can have a very serious effect on your horse and could cause blindness
Eyes Your horses eyes should be clear, bright, and the lids tight, with the inside of the lid pale pink and moist. Tearing should be minimal with perhaps only a droplet at the corner . Treatment is necessary if:
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 Lamness There are many reasons why a horse becomes lame, and also many treatments that would take me for ever to write so I have put this link on for you, I have looked a few web sites and this was the easiest to follow that I found http://www.acreageequines.com/HorseCare/horsecare5.htm
Mud fever Inflammation and scabs on the heels and fetlocks caused by bacteria gaining entry through skin softened by being constantly wet and muddy. The pastern and fetlock may become swollen and scabs or open sores may occur Prevention of Mud Fever Mud fever can be prevented by bringing the horse or pony in periodically to allow the legs to dry completely and brushing off all mud. There are also a variety of barrier creams that can be applied to dry, clean legs to protect the skin to help prevent mud fever and leg wraps and bandages that can be worn in the field designed to help prevent Mud Fever. Treatment of Mud Fever To treat Mud Fever, clip the hair, clean the legs thoroughly and soften the scabs by applying a dilute antiseptic solution or wash the legs with an antibacterial shampoo. Gently remove the scabs, dry thoroughly and then treat the area with a Mud Fever product or by applying an antibiotic cream twice daily. In severe cases of Mud Fever where the leg has been swollen antibiotic treatment may be needed and your vet will need to be called to visit your horse. Once the Mud Fever has been treated the skin may remain tender and applying a soothing cream such as zinc or castor oil can ease this. |
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 Grass allergies
Dimby has grass allergies and at first it appeared looking like sweet itch. It started in the first spring we had Dims and a few scabs appeared on the crest area of his neck then it spread on to his back. We called the vet out and had allergy testing done as by now Dimby was very uncomfortable. The tests came back that he is allergic to all grasses. This was 4 years ago now and we manage it very well see Dimbys page to read more...... The symptoms of grass allergy is scabs appearing on the horses body this will be anywhere that has contact with grass. The horse will be very itchy. If the right treatment is not given to the horse could have a wheeze when walking or trotting (Dimby at his worst was wheezy when in trot) he also gets cresty this is where his neck will thicken up. Grass allergy could be confused with sweet itch as it does look similar. For that reason I personally believe that there are a lot more horses out there that have this allergy but the owners do not know it and are treated as sweet itch. I cannot put photos on of Dimbys scabs because thankfully he is clear of scabs.
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