Horse Respiratory Infection: Strangles Welfare and Management

Strangles is one of the most common and welfare-significant equine infectious diseases. Biosecurity and vaccination significantly reduce both incidence and severity.

Key Facts

Strangles is caused by Streptococcus equi subspecies equi and spreads through nasal discharge
It causes lymph node abscessation in the head and neck with associated pain and dysphagia
Complications including bastard strangles and purpura haemorrhagica cause severe welfare outcomes
A PCR-based yard screening approach identifies carriers before introduction to naive horses
Modified live intranasal vaccine and killed vaccine are both available in the UK

Welfare Considerations

Strangles causes significant acute suffering through fever, painful lymph node abscessation and difficulty swallowing. Affected horses may be unable to eat normally for weeks. Bastard strangles, where abscesses develop in internal organs, causes prolonged illness and frequent euthanasia. Outbreak management requires strict isolation, careful biosecurity and veterinary oversight that is challenging on multi-horse yards. Carrier horses that shed intermittently without clinical signs are the most significant infection risk and require active screening to identify. Prevention through vaccination significantly reduces both incidence and severity.

What You Can Do

Screen all incoming horses with guttural pouch lavage PCR testing before yard introduction
Vaccinate resident horses according to vet-recommended schedule with appropriate vaccine type
Isolate any horse with nasal discharge and swollen lymph nodes immediately
Report outbreak to your vet for guidance on isolation, treatment and yard biosecurity
Follow HBLB strangles management guidelines and test all yards contacts during outbreaks