• CONTACT
    • Reporting welfare concerns
  • HOME
  • Rehomed Equines
    • Guardians needed
    • Accord
    • Annie
    • Creme
    • Mimi
    • Nanette
    • Titos
    • 2009
      • Asal
      • Balto & Jenna
      • Brandy (Gucci)
      • Daisy & Dora
      • Gasparin (Gazza)
      • Goliath
      • Maddy, Elly & Poppy
      • Molly & Merlin
      • Ossie & Princesse
      • William
      • Wilbur & Piona
    • 2010
      • Belle
      • Corran Ard
      • Columbus
      • Lena & Belle
      • Leonide
      • Lily & Marcy
      • Perry
      • Vinnie
    • 2011
      • Manon & Rowan
      • Hugo
  • Ownership
    • Donkey Care
      • Donkey Feeding Guidelines
      • Donkey & Mule References
    • Mules
    • Regulations
      • Export Health Certificates
      • Passports
        • France
        • Spain
        • UK
    • Microchips
    • Hoofcare
    • Teeth
  • Campaigns
    • ‘French Rescues’
    • Horsemeat in France
    • Transport to Slaughter
    • Market Welfare
    • Suggested Changes to the Tripartite Agreement
  • OUR BLOG

Home » General News » Poitou Charente strangles alert

Poitou Charente strangles alert

Posted by on Aug 8, 2009 in General News, Welfare | 2 comments

It has been brought to our attention that there is an outbreak of equine strangles in the Poitou Charente region of SW France. Strangles is a highly infectious disease caused by the bacterium Streptococcus equi and is potentially fatal.

Photo Courtesy of Intervet

Photo Courtesy of Intervet

The outbreak, called la gourme in French, is thought to have originated from a yard near Poitiers. If you suspect your horse is looking unwell then you may want to study the symptoms of strangles below, and if necessary call your vet out.

Useful information

http://www.equine-strangles.co.uk/

http://www.horsevet.co.uk/strangles.php

http://www.rvc.ac.uk/Supervets/documents/equine/strangles.pdf




2 Comments

  1. Natalie
    August 9, 2009

    Strangles is a highly contagious acute disease of young horses, characterised by abscess formation, especially in the submaxillary glands ( under the jaw ), and inflammation of the upper respiratory tract with nasal discharge.
    First symptoms are loss of appetite followed by slight cough. Within a few days, bilateral nasal discahge develops which becomes copious. Lympth nodes of head and neck mayb become inflamed and swollen, those under the jaw being frst affected. If sinusitis or or inflammation of futtural pouches develops, surgical attention may be becessary. Laryngitis may develop and lead to larynegeal hemiplegia ( broken wind ), if horse is being exercised.
    Strangles can spread to other parts of the body and localise in areas such as lungs. If it does, it is referred to as ” bastard strangles “.
    Organism causing strangles is bacterium Streptococcus equi, which can be found in pus discharge from nose or from abscesses under jaw. The bacteria in the pus are fairly resistant to the environment- their presence in paddocks, feed or water troughs is a source of infection- gain entry into body by ingestion or inhalation. Outbreaks of strangles occur most commonly when large numbers of horses are kept together- many outbreaks thought to be initiated by a carrier, i.e. an infected horse which appears normal.

    Call your vet, who will treat horse with antibiotics & surgically attend to any abscesses if drainage required.
    While waiting for vet to arrive- isolate horse, provide good nursing.
    Vaccination is used extensively in treatmrny of strangles.

    reply
  2. Equine Rescue France
    August 9, 2009

    Thank you for the info Natalie.

    We would like to add that whilst Younger horses (1-5 years old), sick horses, horses with compromised immune systems, and horses in groups are more at risk…it can affect horses and ponies of any age, including donkeys.

    reply

Leave a Reply

Click here to cancel reply.

Recent blog posts

  • The Ones Left Behind.
  • Safe
  • Quarantine
  • Saving Mississippi
  • The Wrong Horse (TWH)
  • Saving Mississippi – The Road Out
  • Mississippi’s Story

Previous posts

  • May 2017 (7)
  • September 2016 (1)
  • May 2016 (1)
  • February 2016 (4)
  • January 2016 (2)
  • December 2015 (1)
  • September 2015 (3)
  • August 2015 (3)
  • July 2015 (3)
  • May 2015 (4)
  • April 2015 (7)
  • March 2015 (5)
  • February 2015 (5)
  • January 2015 (2)
  • December 2014 (1)
  • June 2014 (1)
  • May 2014 (2)
  • April 2014 (2)
  • January 2014 (1)
  • November 2013 (1)
  • September 2013 (1)
  • January 2013 (1)
  • October 2012 (2)
  • June 2012 (3)
  • April 2012 (1)
  • January 2012 (1)
  • December 2011 (1)
  • October 2011 (1)
  • September 2011 (4)
  • August 2011 (2)
  • July 2011 (4)
  • June 2011 (7)
  • May 2011 (2)
  • April 2011 (3)
  • March 2011 (4)
  • January 2011 (5)
  • December 2010 (2)
  • November 2010 (3)
  • October 2010 (3)
  • September 2010 (4)
  • August 2010 (1)
  • July 2010 (1)
  • June 2010 (6)
  • May 2010 (4)
  • April 2010 (6)
  • March 2010 (6)
  • February 2010 (7)
  • January 2010 (10)
  • December 2009 (7)
  • November 2009 (8)
  • October 2009 (9)
  • September 2009 (13)
  • August 2009 (11)
  • July 2009 (7)
  • June 2009 (9)
  • May 2009 (7)
  • April 2009 (9)
  • March 2009 (7)
  • February 2009 (7)
  • January 2009 (11)
  • December 2008 (6)
  • November 2008 (11)
  • October 2008 (9)
  • September 2008 (10)
  • August 2008 (7)
  • July 2008 (8)
  • June 2008 (14)
  • May 2008 (9)
  • April 2008 (8)
  • March 2008 (7)
  • February 2008 (9)
  • January 2008 (2)

CONTACT

erfwelfare@gmail.com

Recent Comments

  • Rainbow Ribbon Ride | Pilgrim on Horseback on Endurance damaging Equestrianism in the Olympics
  • Anonymous on Enduring Attrition
  • Anonymous on Molly and Merlin looking for a real forever home
  • Michelle on Molly and Merlin looking for a real forever home
  • Anonymous on Serious Welfare Breaches filmed in UK Abattoir

Created by SARL AMM | Association Loi 1901