Vaccinating for strangles?

[Ritazza]

Just going through my horse's vaccination records tonight (making sure I recorded everything when it happened!), and I got to thinking about the strangles vaccine. My horse has never been vaccinated for strangles. I travel all over the midwest to shows, all year round. I am currently in MI.... was recently in OH. I don't know much about vaccinating for strangles, and had always heard we were in a low-risk area, so I never bothered to look into it further. HOWEVER, at one of the last local shows I was at, my trailer was parked next to a trailer belonging to a local trainer and some of his clients. I later heard from some friends that this trainer's barn HAS STRANGLES and he is STILL taking clients to outside shows!! Which freaked me out a little, to say the least!

Would you vaccinate a constantly traveling show horse for strangles? I just worry about the number of other horses she might come in contact with in our travels.

[SLW]

Yes and use the intra-nasal modified live vaccine.

[mroades]

I dont do it. I have heard too many horror stories about reactions from both the IN and the IM vax. I have also been told the vax doesnt really provide much protection....and, its generally not fatal, a pain in the arse, yes, fatal, not usually.

[Simkie]

The barn where I board requires IN strangles yearly, so I don't have much of a choice. If I were traveling to shows frequently, I would do it regardless of barn policy.

In 5 + years of boarding at this barn, I don't recall a single reaction or a single case of strangles in a horse that had been vaxed with the IN stuff. We've had between 100 and 150 horses on the property getting vaccinated in the spring. That's a pretty good sample size.

The IN vaccine seems to be very safe and very effective against whatever strains we have here in Northern CO. It does require a vet that's good at administering IN vaccine, though.

[horsepoor]

I look at both whether the horse will be traveling a lot or lives in a situation (like a boarding barn) where other horses come and go. Either will increase the risk of exposure, so I vaccinate all those. Now if I kept my horses at home and never went anywhere, or brought new horses in, I might not vacc.

Yes, the vaccine won't prevent the disease, but it can help them not get it quite so badly. I've not seen/heard of any problems with the IN when properly administered. Other than uncooperative horses (I have one that HATES IN anything -- he has to be sedated)!

We used to have to do the IM version and that was painful -- lots of sore horses back then. I believe the IN is also more effective than the IM, but I'm not sure.

Best advice - ask your vet, unless you think they'll just try to sell it to you to make a buck (mine won't, so I trust his answer!).

[lstevenson]

The IN version is signifcantly safer than the IM version. And you can lower your risks even further if you are truely worried, by doing a titer count on your horse before dosing. If his antibodies are high, you don't need to vaccinate.

[ridenslide]

I do not. One horse has had strangles, the other- well he will not get the vaccine- had a bad reaction. So the 3yo won't either.

[TikiSoo]

We had a horse come into our barn who (unknown to us) had been vaccinated for strangles a few days before being transported. She had been kept in the front pasture for a few hours after her arrival before being brought in a stall. Within a week, every horse that had used that pasture came down with strangles! It was a worrysome, terrible time.
After talking with our vet, we learned the vaccination is a live virus and is CONTAGIOUS for the first two weeks! Why they would vaccinate the horse only days before transport was beyond us. And even more galling, the barn she came from is owned by a vet, who should have known better!

[Altitude Rider]

My horse had a terrible reaction to the IM, he got really sick for about 2 days so he never gets it but also doesn't go away from my farm too often.

I had another horse who had it and it was scary but since we caught it quickly we treated it and he was fine. I think I was more upset than he was.

It seems irresponsible for someone to be traveling to a show with horses that have been potentially exposed. I guess it wouldn't hurt to do the IN and do everything you can to not get your horse close to others or water troughs, buckets, etc. For sure talk to your vet.

[Holly Jeanne]

I asked my vet before taking my horse to the trainer. He said to do the IN at least two weeks before taking her and that it would probably be effective for about 4 months.

[Simkie]

After talking with our vet, we learned the vaccination is a live virus and is CONTAGIOUS for the first two weeks! Why they would vaccinate the horse only days before transport was beyond us. And even more galling, the barn she came from is owned by a vet, who should have known better!

Oh come on! Your bullshit-o-meter didn't start dinging with that one?! :rolleyes:

The IN strangles vaccine is a modified live vaccine. So are a whole bunch of other vaccines we give our horses (and dogs and cats and babies.) Modified live vaccine does not = the horse is infected and contagious for two weeks following. Perhaps you'd like to read up on the different type of vaccine?

It's far more likely that the horse picked up strangles in transport and had a minor case that you never noticed and then transmitted it to the other horses.

[flshgordon]

Oh come on! Your bullshit-o-meter didn't start dinging with that one?! :rolleyes:

The IN strangles vaccine is a modified live vaccine. So are a whole bunch of other vaccines we give our horses (and dogs and cats and babies.) Modified live vaccine does not = the horse is infected and contagious for two weeks following. Perhaps you'd like to read up on the different type of vaccine?

It's far more likely that the horse picked up strangles in transport and had a minor case that you never noticed and then transmitted it to the other horses.


That's what I was thinking Simkie! :lol: :lol: :lol:

If your vet told you that a horse is CONTAGIOUS for 2 weeks after receiving the strangles vaccine then your vet is a moron and you should probably look for a new one!

I've always given the IN one to my horses. Our barn had a strangles outbreak this year and probably 70% of the horses had not been vaccinated due to ridiculous rumors like this. ALL of the non-vaccinated horses got it. Some cases were mild some were really bad. No way would I risk not getting it now. In this part of the country (TX) it's a necessity

[chism]

The barn I work at vaccinates all horses, spring & fall. Last fall a horse who never, EVER leaves the barn came down with strangles. He was already on individual turnout & didn't share a fence line with any other horses. He was immediately quarantined, all necessary precautions were taken. All other horses were boostered. Of 26 vaccinated horses, three more got sick, one who had an adjacent stall & then the two on either side of the previously adjacent horse when he was moved to get away from the sick horse (make sense?!). Of course my horse was one of those. None of the horses abcessed, one was pretty sick, but the other two were off their feed for a day or two & then back to normal. I give it because my barn requires it, but if I could choose, I wouldn't. I just don't feel it's effective enough to warrant giving it.

[Simkie]

chism, I'm curious--what part of the country are you in?

I think the effectiveness of the IN vax varies based on where you are. I recall one of the big hospitals back east telling someone here (I think one of the racehorse Lauries? LaurieB or LaurieRace?) that the vax was worthless after treating a very sick horse with strangles that had been vaccinated.

But in Colorado the vax works VERY well.

I suspect we've got different strains of strangles across the country, and the IN vaccine is more effective against some of them...

[secretariat]

IN, definitely. If you're giving other vax at the same time, give the IN last -- don't want to get any of the strangles vax or nose blowout on the other needles, hands, or site.

We've been using it for several years (since it came out?) and have had no reactions or cases (knock on wood). May just be luck, but I'd rather be lucky than good anytime. Highly recommended by my (horse specialist) vet.

[horsepoor]

Last fall a horse who never, EVER leaves the barn came down with strangles. ...
All other horses were boostered.

Maybe I'm remembering incorrectly, but I thought that if there was a known case in the barn, you weren't supposed to vaccinate? This might be one of those things that vets have differing opinions on. Or maybe my memory is wrong?!

[SLW]

Maybe I'm remembering incorrectly, but I thought that if there was a known case in the barn, you weren't supposed to vaccinate? This might be one of those things that vets have differing opinions on. Or maybe my memory is wrong?!

Correct, never, ever, ever boost the IN strangles vaccine in the face of an outbreak. You let the situation run it's course then vaccinate at a later date.

[ridenslide]

Chism- are you in NC?
That happened in this area,too.
Interesting about efficacy of the vaccine in different areas of the country. :confused:

It does seem to be a bit of a Catch 22.:eek:

[TikiSoo]

That's what I was thinking Simkie! :lol: :lol: :lol:
If your vet told you that a horse is CONTAGIOUS for 2 weeks after receiving the strangles vaccine then your vet is a moron and you should probably look for a new one!


Guess I'm the moron, either for believing this or misquoting whatever the correct facts are. :o

All I know is several horses got sick (one was a youngster who never left the farm) right after this newly vaccinated horse came in. Seems to me there was something said about residual saliva on the grass being the culprit, since only horses put out in that pasture "got" it. But it was awhile ago and I could easily be mistaken.

[Cherry]

When I talked with my vet about vaccinating for strangles he told me that any horse that was over the age of four had most likely already had strangles and he wouldn't vaccinate....

Since then I have learned about purpura hemorrhagica (which seems just as bad to me) and it scares the socks off me, so I just don't do the strangles "thing". Of course, my horse doesn't go off the farm for any reason and there is only one other horse here that's been here for years....

[amastrike]

I wouldn't bother with it. I've heard too many bad things about the vaccine and its efficacy. My (21 year old) horse had strangles this summer, and yeah, it sucked, but he got over it no problem.

[rcloisonne]

When I talked with my vet about vaccinating for strangles he told me that any horse that was over the age of four had most likely already had strangles and he wouldn't vaccinate....
Hogwash. I was told the same by my vet and it is absolutely wrong. During a Strangles outbreak at a barn where I boarded a few years ago, all the horses got it. They ranged in age from 8 -25 years old. Most had lived in many different boarding barns over the years. Out of seven horses at this barn, two died.

One actually strangled - the vet didn't arrive in time for a tracheotomy. The other died several months later from multiple complications of the disease. A third went on to develop multiple guttural pouch chondroids that required a 3 hour operation and a weeks's stay at a ho$pital.

Since then I have learned about purpura hemorrhagica (which seems just as bad to me) and it scares the socks off me, so I just don't do the strangles "thing".
You do know purpura is a complication of Strangles as well, right? It is scary. Worse than the disease. I lost the best horse I've ever owned to it, despite aggressive medical intervention.

Of course, my horse doesn't go off the farm for any reason and there is only one other horse here that's been here for years....
Then of course, there is no need to vaccinate. ;)

[Rhyadawn]

The problem with strangles is that it is SO highly contagous. If person A (who's horse is vacinated and at xz barn) meets person b (who boards at vn barn) at the mall, has a cup of coffee with them, helps her put on her jacket (which she wore to the barn this morning) wipes her hands on her jeans and goes to the barn, if a horse in person B's barn had stranges person A could now be carrying it and even though vaccinated her horse still could get it not to mention all teh other horses in the barn who may not be vaccinated.

10ish years ago the barn next to my trainers barn boared a high profile perfomance group of horses (20+ you would know the name if I said it). There is a road between the barns both barns had strangles go through immediatly after, and all horses were vaccinated. The vaccination didn't do a thing, and it bounced between the barns for 2 years. Pain in the @$$ doesn't even begin to describe the hell it was.

We don't vaccinate for strangles anymore. If there is an outbreak in the area we exercise extreme caution, some call it overkill but we haven't had a problem since. I ride at 2 barns, have 2 sets of everything. I don't go barn to barn. If I am going to barn A I get dressed in barn A clothes go directly out there, and come directly back. I garbage bag my car seat, and wipe down the stearing wheel and shift, and peddles with clorox wipes. When I get home I strip in the entrance and garbage bag my clothing, wipe down my boots with clorox wipes, as well as my glasses and watch. Immediatly to a hot shower, after which my clothing is washed in hot water and bleach. Same procedure for barn B. Durring an outbreak nothing goes between barns for any reason even though both barns seem clean. In "healthy" times things get disinfected before going between barns and it is still kept to a minimum.

[flshgordon]

Guess I'm the moron, either for believing this or misquoting whatever the correct facts are. :o

All I know is several horses got sick (one was a youngster who never left the farm) right after this newly vaccinated horse came in. Seems to me there was something said about residual saliva on the grass being the culprit, since only horses put out in that pasture "got" it. But it was awhile ago and I could easily be mistaken.

The vet is most definitely the moron, not you!

Strangles can live outside on the ground for something like 10 days? I don't remember how long, it might be longer. And if I'm not mistaken, it can live in water even longer....several weeks. So cleaning water troughs is a MUST after an outbreak or an infected horse uses a bucket/trough. Most importantly, the infected horses need to be quarantined apart from the other horses and anyone who treats them, pets them, cleans their stalls, etc must disinfect everything (especially their shoes) before leaving that area.

[Simkie]

The vet is most definitely the moron, not you!

Strangles can live outside on the ground for something like 10 days? I don't remember how long, it might be longer. And if I'm not mistaken, it can live in water even longer....several weeks.

I believe it's longer than that--I think it's one of those things that can live in the soil for a good long while.

Before the barn required strangles vax, we had a case or two every year or every other year. The thought was that we just had it in the soil.

I'd be curious to hear from the vets about how long it can stick around.

[tpup]

I have an older horse - he is vaccinated. (intranasal). It is untrue that the vaccine is "contagious!" All of our barn's horses got the vaccine this spring. Everyone was fine!

Our barn had strangles early this year - there is no way I would ever go without it. I don't take my horse anywhere, but we get new boarders from time to time. (which is how our barn got it - new boarder brought it in unknowingly) BTW the barn where that horse came from also had strangles - came down with it a week or two after the new horse arrived with us, and THAT barn had a horse die from it. Very sad. So I'll take my chances on the vaccine. But..... I also get the flu shot every year ;)

[chism]

chism, I'm curious--what part of the country are you in?

I think the effectiveness of the IN vax varies based on where you are. I recall one of the big hospitals back east telling someone here (I think one of the racehorse Lauries? LaurieB or LaurieRace?) that the vax was worthless after treating a very sick horse with strangles that had been vaccinated.

But in Colorado the vax works VERY well.

I suspect we've got different strains of strangles across the country, and the IN vaccine is more effective against some of them...

I'm in the Northeast, Massachusetts to be exact. As I mentioned before, ALL horses had been vaccinated spring & fall as SOP. The horse that got sick first was a 4 year old. The property is a new facility that had been a cow barn for years & years, so even if I believed the old wives tales of strangles surviving for years in the dirt (which I don't), there hadn't been horses on the property before the current inhabitants. What may have happened is that another horse brought it back from an event & didn't get sick but passed it on. The barn is semi-open & has an annoying population of small birds. I've often wondered if birds can carry it from place to place. You never really know how it comes...it could be a farrier, a vet, any equine professional. Unless you practice quarantine each and every day, from barn to barn, by the time the symptoms arrive...it's too late. THen it's just damage control.

[horsegirl520]

I don't do it. The benefits do not outweigh the risks IMO.

Benefits: MAYBE preventing a horse from getting strangles (a non life threatening disease)

Risks: Potential reaction or contraction of strangles/strangle like symptoms

From what I hear, the reactions to the vaccine are far worse than the strangles itself and the vaccine has not been proven to be very effective.

[amastrike]

I don't do it. The benefits do not outweigh the risks IMO.

Benefits: MAYBE preventing a horse from getting strangles (a non life threatening disease)

Risks: Potential reaction or contraction of strangles/strangle like symptoms

From what I hear, the reactions to the vaccine are far worse than the strangles itself and the vaccine has not been proven to be very effective.
:yes: From what I've heard, the vaccine is 70% effective. And the 30% that it does not protect not only get sick, they get sicker than they would if they didn't get the vaccine. I did the numbers on the horses at my barn who got it... something like half the horses (or probably less than half) got sick. Of the horses who got sick, only 2 (which worked out to be like 12%) got seriously sick. I'm gonna take my chances with the non-vaccine route--my horse might be more likely to get it, but it won't be as bad. But to be fair, the one horse at the barn who *was* vaccinated did not get sick.

(If the efficacy is different than what I've been told, please let me know!)

[SLW]

One stable with horse's that show travel year round from the midwest to the west coast, east to KY and up to Canada with outside horses shipping into the farm weekly, vaccinates against strangles. Since 2002, when I began doing work for them, they have never had one case of strangles on the farm. There are never less than 60 horses, of all ages and genders on the farm, and they top out at 80 headcount.

Another farm with 60 horses of all ages and genders, lots of travel and horses shipping in for training did not vaccinate against strangles. I also began doing work for this farm in 2002. Anyway, about once a year they would have an outbreak of strangles. They began vaccinating against strangles and have not had one case since then.

On the flip side, a client brought a horse in from his private rural farm. He does not haul out and does not bring horses in, a happy backyard owner. His 5 year old unvaccinated mare had strangles. Go figure.

The only adverse reaction I've heard of in all my contacts was last year when somone accidently gave the IN strangles vaccine IM. The horse ended up with one hell of an abscess but otherwise was non the worse.

[TikiSoo]

tpup wrote:
>It is untrue that the vaccine is "contagious!" All of our barn's horses got >the vaccine this spring. Everyone was fine!

Well, doncha think that's because "all of your barn's horses" got the vaccine?

>but we get new boarders from time to time. (which is how our barn got it > - new boarder brought it in unknowingly)

Uh, so then it IS contagious.

OK now there have been several posts reinforcing my first post that Strangles is highly contagious. (I love the post about garbage bagging the seat & steering wheel) The vaccine contains the live virus, so therefore any horse that has just had the vaccine could actually infect unvaccinated horses by sharing a pasture, water bucket or even horse to human contact.

We did not know the new incoming horse had this IN vaccine within a week of coming to our barn. We did not quarantine this horse and unvaccinated horses that had used the same pasture (she had used) all got sick. Even a few others never on the pasture had gotten sick, presumably from human contact.

So what about that is moronic?

[tpup]

tpup wrote:
>It is untrue that the vaccine is "contagious!" All of our barn's horses got >the vaccine this spring. Everyone was fine!

Well, doncha think that's because "all of your barn's horses" got the vaccine?

>but we get new boarders from time to time. (which is how our barn got it > - new boarder brought it in unknowingly)

Uh, so then it IS contagious.

OK now there have been several posts reinforcing my first post that Strangles is highly contagious. (I love the post about garbage bagging the seat & steering wheel) The vaccine contains the live virus, so therefore any horse that has just had the vaccine could actually infect unvaccinated horses by sharing a pasture, water bucket or even horse to human contact.

We did not know the new incoming horse had this IN vaccine within a week of coming to our barn. We did not quarantine this horse and unvaccinated horses that had used the same pasture (she had used) all got sick. Even a few others never on the pasture had gotten sick, presumably from human contact.

So what about that is moronic?


It's hard to tell what you are quoting vs. writing yourself, but I think you misread my post. The horse came in Jan/Feb and brought strangles - she did not bring it from being vaccinated! She brought the virus from another barn. Another horse at our barn got it from that horse. The rest of our horses did NOT contract strangles due to our barn's excellent handling of the sick horses.

AFTER the outbreak, we are all now required to vaccinate for strangles. So no, the vaccine did not cause the strangles at our barn.

[Horselove]

We had strangles earlier this year. A couple of the horses were really really sick and spent about 3 weeks at one of the University Vet clinics. We were in a very large show barn and most of the horses contracted strangles at one point or another. Our boy, who was vaccinated, almost made it to the "end of the strangles" outbreak. He was one of the last horses to get it. I do believe that the vaccine protected him for a long time, however, when they are exposed month after month as it works it way through the barn eventually the vaccine can't suppress the disease.
Bottom line.........the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks. I saw some extremely sick horses and wouldn't want to go through it again........EVER.
I know the vaccine isn't 100%, however, a 70% chance of not getting again is sure better than a 0%.

[dwblover]

Our entire barn vaccinates for strangles. I do prefer the intranasal type. None of the horses (about 30) had a reaction to it. And there were older horses in the group too. I would do the vaccination even if it wasn't required. Since you are showing a lot your horse has a very high risk of exposure. I would vaccinate in your shoes.

[Rhyadawn]

OK now there have been several posts reinforcing my first post that Strangles is highly contagious. (I love the post about garbage bagging the seat & steering wheel) The vaccine contains the live virus, so therefore any horse that has just had the vaccine could actually infect unvaccinated horses by sharing a pasture, water bucket or even horse to human contact.

just to clarify, I didn't garbage bag the steering wheel, just the seat.

until you go through strangles I don't think you truly understand how contagious it is and how much a taste of hell it is when its happening to your barn.

if you are going to vacinate you have to vacinate the whole barn for it to even be somewhat effective.

[Simkie]

OK now there have been several posts reinforcing my first post that Strangles is highly contagious. (I love the post about garbage bagging the seat & steering wheel) The vaccine contains the live virus, so therefore any horse that has just had the vaccine could actually infect unvaccinated horses by sharing a pasture, water bucket or even horse to human contact.

I don't think you understand the vaccine is a MODIFIED live vaccine. We are not shooting highly contagious strangles up our horses noses and just crossing our fingers that they get immunity but don't get sick. We are shooting a MODIFIED version of the bacteria up their noses that is not capable of causing infection.

One way a bacteria can be modified for a vaccine is by taking out everything that actually INFECTS the horse and just leaving the machinery to replicate. What you end up with is an "empty" capsule. The body reacts to the protein coat on the outside of the bacteria and produces antibodies. The horse does not get sick because the capsule does not contain the stuff inside to actually infect the horse.

Do you understand? There is a lot out there about how a modified live vaccine works, if you need more info.

[lstevenson]

The vaccine contains the live virus, so therefore any horse that has just had the vaccine could actually infect unvaccinated horses by sharing a pasture, water bucket or even horse to human contact.



This is not true. When a vaccine contains "live virus", it is a modified form of the virus, and is NOT contagious.

[TikiSoo]

This is not true. When a vaccine contains "live virus", it is a modified form of the virus, and is NOT contagious.

Ahhhh, the light bulb goes on!:winkgrin:
So what is being said to me is my vet is a moron for blaming outbreak of stranges in our barn on horse that came in newly vaccinated?
In other words, a newly vaccinated horse is not a carrier of strangles and therefore not contagious to others?

Mmmm, well now I wonder why we had the outbreak out of the blue like that? I realize a vaccine is no guarantee against "getting" it. Some of the horses that got sick had been vaccinated, others had not. It was just odd this horse came in and wham!:confused:

[amastrike]

Isn't strangles a bacteria, not a virus?

[trubandloki]

Ahhhh, the light bulb goes on!:winkgrin:
So what is being said to me is my vet is a moron for blaming outbreak of stranges in our barn on horse that came in newly vaccinated?
In other words, a newly vaccinated horse is not a carrier of strangles and therefore not contagious to others?

Mmmm, well now I wonder why we had the outbreak out of the blue like that? I realize a vaccine is no guarantee against "getting" it. Some of the horses that got sick had been vaccinated, others had not. It was just odd this horse came in and wham!:confused:

If the horse could have been a carrier and the vaccine was given so close to its time of arrival that the horse easily spread the disease to your not vaccinated animals.

Read above more. It does not have to arrive via a horse. It can arrive from any person in that facility coming in contact with another person who came in contact with a horse with strangles. It is easy easy easy to pass around.

[cosmos mom]

Both of my horses and the other 33 horses in our barn are vaccinated for strangles with the intra nasal vaccine twice a year. Never had a problem.

[lstevenson]

So what is being said to me is my vet is a moron for blaming outbreak of stranges in our barn on horse that came in newly vaccinated?




That horse could have been a carrier, and it would have nothing to do with whether he had been recently vaccinated or not.

It's just smart to quarantene all new horses for this reason.

[trubandloki]

So what is being said to me is my vet is a moron for blaming outbreak of stranges in our barn on horse that came in newly vaccinated?


Personally I think any professional who says they know for sure where something like this came from is some what a moron.

I have no problem with them saying it most likely came from X, Y, or Z. But they really do not know for sure where it came from.

[ArabX3]

My 3 boys don't get the vaccine. One almost died when he got strangles, one would literally try to kill anyone that tried to give the internasal, (the vet said he was never so afraid in his life) the other I just don't do it. All three are show horses and go to a lot of shows every year. I stay away from barns that required it. My boarding facility doesn't require it. There is about 14 horses there. Only my 3 and 3 others show. That is one vaccine mine will never get.

[Touchstone Farm]

I definitely vaccinate my show horses. (In fact, just did this morning!) Hope I don't jinx myself by writing this, but I have never had strangles at my barn and don't want it because it can linger for a long, long time in the soil, it's highly contagious, would shut down my clinics and my freedom to take my horses in and out of my own facility. And with foals to pregnant mares to other adult horses, I do not want it here EVER.

Hopefully posts like this will dispel some of the rumors and misunderstandings of strangles and a whole host of other horse management issues.

[Xanthoria]

it can linger for a long, long time in the soil,

Happily this isn't true - we had an outbreak a couiple of years ago and the attending vets all said it lasts just 24-36 hours in sunlight, on dirt - maybe a tad longer if it's wet.

The myth that it lives in the soil for ages comes from repeated outbreaks at certain barns, in certain areas of barns, even.... where, it turns out, asymptomatic carrier horses live.

We had a carrier mare. She was tested, and later euthanised as the owner didn't want to pay for her treatment/she was old :no:

We had our horses tested twice before taking them out in public again - they both came back negative.

Our barn now quarantines for 2 weeks - it should be 21 days for strangles' incubation period, but... :rolleyes: better than nothing.

I do not vaccinate for strangles. Our horses have been exposed, and have some resistance. The vaccine is weak, and even regularly vaccinated horses got very sick during the outbreak.

What we do do is be very careful away from home: never share water or feed buckets, or use communal troughs. Don't allow your horse to sniff strange horse's poos, or graze in public areas where other horses have been. And no sniffing noses with strange horses!

[Rhyadawn]

I definitely vaccinate my show horses. (In fact, just did this morning!) Hope I don't jinx myself by writing this, but I have never had strangles at my barn and don't want it because it can linger for a long, long time in the soil, it's highly contagious, would shut down my clinics and my freedom to take my horses in and out of my own facility. And with foals to pregnant mares to other adult horses, I do not want it here EVER.

Hopefully posts like this will dispel some of the rumors and misunderstandings of strangles and a whole host of other horse management issues.

No one wants strangles, and if they do get it its too soon if they ever get it again.

[JoZ]

My horses have lived through TWO strangles outbreaks. Most of them were just mildly uncomfortable. Two were extremely ill. One of the two just ran a very high fever and went off her food and water. No visible abscess but the second time the vet was out to tube fluids into her, the tube broke an abscess in her throat (ugh). She ended up fine but lost a LOT of weight and was just miserable. The other one developed purpura hemorrhagica and nearly died. She has scars all over her extremities and lower body from the sloughing skin.

I don't vaccinate because of this exposure, even though I know that "immunity for life after having had it" is a myth. My vet told me that the strangles vaccine is a close runner-up to strangles itself as a trigger for purpura. That's enough for me. It's a nasty thing to go through, and it's tough here in the PNW where nothing ever really dries or freezes (I exaggerate, but not by much).