How to help your horse manage strangles

As a horse rider, you wear a hat and body protector to minimise injuries from a fall. You know they’re unlikely, but it’s a precaution you take just in case. You can protect your horse in a similar way by minimising the risk of equine diseases, such as strangles. Strangles is one of the most common and contagious diseases in the UK, so it’s important to know how to avoid it.

The name does sound scary, but don’t worry. While it can be fatal in rare cases and should be taken seriously, most horses do make full recoveries.

This blog has everything you need to know about what strangles is, how it spreads, and how to keep your horse safe and healthy.

How Does Strangles Spread?

Strangles is usually spread through direct contact with an infected horse, but it can also be picked up from contaminated surfaces, shared water buckets, grooming kits, tack, people’s hands, clothing, etc.

Even if symptoms have dissipated, it’s important to keep your horse away from their four-legged friends until a vet gives you the all-clear. Horses can become ‘carriers’, which means they appear fine, but still carry the infection. These horses seem perfectly healthy on the outside, but still have hidden bacteria in their respiratory system, meaning that they can unknowingly spread the disease long after the horse has recovered. Make sure your horse gets properly checked out by a vet, who can help them get back to fighting form and test to see whether the infection has completely disappeared.

Spotting the Symptoms

Strangles can sometimes look like other respiratory illnesses, so spotting the signs early is key to preventing the spread of bacteria and ensuring your horses receive proper treatment. Here are some common symptoms to watch out for:

• A high temperature
• Lethargy and reluctance to exercise
• Loss of appetite or trouble swallowing
• Thick, discoloured nasal discharge
• A cough
• Swollen lymph nodes or glands (sometimes forming abscesses)
• Holding their head or neck low due to pain

If your horse shows any of these signs, it’s important to seek veterinary advice as soon as possible, and keep them away from other horses to prevent the infection from spreading.

Treating Strangles

There isn’t one magic “cure”, but with the right care and support, most horses recover fully. It’s all about letting your horse’s immune system do what it does best and fight the infection. Contacting a vet early is important to make sure your horse gets proper treatment. They might prescribe anti-inflammatory medications to help manage pain and fever, and antibiotics in certain cases. Keep their environment clean, and make sure they’re eating and drinking. Soaked feeds or mash can be a handy way to get vital nutrients into their body

Supplements to Support Strangles

Supporting your horse’s recovery can go a long way in easing their symptoms and boosting their immune system. Here are a few helpful products we love:

1. Global Herbs Immuplus

This natural, all-round supplement combines Indian Ginseng with natural sources of vitamins C and E. It’s packed with antioxidants to help cells heal, giving your horse’s immune system a helping hand as they recover.

2. Dodson & Horrell Electrolytes

Sweating from fever or stress can quickly deplete essential salts in your horse. Powdered electrolytes help replenish vital nutrients and are super easy to pop into their drinking water. It’s an ideal solution for keeping their energy up as they recover.

3. Equine V1 Virucidal Disinfectant

Strangles bacteria can quickly infect your yard, so it’s important to keep your environment clean to prevent the disease from spreading. This natural, non-toxic disinfectant is tough on bacteria and viruses – perfect for cleaning down stables, buckets, and anything your horse touches.

Strangles may be a serious issue for your horse, but with quick action, good hygiene, and the right support, you can help your horse recover fully and prevent it from spreading. A little caution goes a long way when it comes to keeping your horses happy and healthy!

4. NAF Easy Breathing

Strangles infects the airways of a horse, so it’s important to give their lungs any help they can! Easy Breathing offers a natural herbal solution to support your horse’s lung health. It contains althea, garlic and aniseed, all well known for their roles in a healthy respiratory system.

5. Gorilla Plas S1 Small Feed Skip

While your horse is dealing with a strangles infection, it’s important to keep them isolated from other horses and feed them separately to prevent any cross-contamination. The Gorilla Plas® feed skip is a tough, food-safe way to keep your horse fed while they recover. It’s super easy to clean, and comes in an array of bright, bold colours, helping avoid any nasty mix-ups!