What is pupora?

[middy]

I am looking into taking a 4 year old that had strangles as a baby. The current owner sort of rescued him and treated him for the strangles. She says he has pupora from the strangles. Does anyone know what this means? I have never heard of it. I do have a call into my vet but until then inquiring minds want to know.

[K~2]

I am looking into taking a 4 year old that had strangles as a baby. The current owner sort of rescued him and treated him for the strangles. She says he has pupora from the strangles. Does anyone know what this means? I have never heard of it. I do have a call into my vet but until then inquiring minds want to know.

If you google Purpura hemorrhagica you will find lots of very good articles about this potentially fatal complication from strangles.

[deltawave]

Purpura. Hemorrhagic areas under the skin, can be very serious in the setting of strangles but also seen in lots of other situations.

[middy]

Ahh she spelled it wrong. Now I know why I couldn't find it when I searched it. I will have to do another search. Thanks guys

[middy]

After reading all this I am still confused as to why this would bother him after he has pulled through everything. I guess that is something to put on my list to ask the vet when I talk to her.

[Ghazzu]

If he's recovered, it might not be a big deal, except to be aware that he might have a similar reaction in the future.

[middy]

Well I know He actually had strangles and had this reaction not from a vaccine but from the strangles themselves. I was told he has some scarring but haven't actually seen the horse yet. I am going out on Saturday. I need another horse like I need a hole in the head. My farrier called me on this guy. He is realyl skinny and was told it was from him not adjusting to local hay but that doesn't sound right to me. I'll see what I see when I get there.

[rcloisonne]

I'm not understanding why horse with a history of strangles as a FOAL is suffering from purpura at four year old? Was he recently vaccinated for it? If not, what am I missing? :confused:

[Huntertwo]

Does she mean he suffered from Purpura when he got Strangles?

Many years ago we had Strangles go through our barn and one of the horses got Purpura. I didn't realize how serious (fatal) it was until the Vet came out and treated him with nitro glycerin. :confused:

If my memory serves me right, this horse can no longer have a Strangles vaccine. Is that what she is trying to tell you?

[JoZ]

Well I know He actually had strangles and had this reaction not from a vaccine but from the strangles themselves. I was told he has some scarring but haven't actually seen the horse yet.

I can only think of two reasons why it would be worth mentioning at this point -- and between you and Ghazzu, they have both been mentioned!

- I am very cautious with vaccinations with my mare that had purpura; she may never react to anything again, but I am extra vigilant. So far, nothing. I will never vaccinate her for strangles.

- My mare has considerable scarring -- don't know if I could've done something at the time to prevent it, or if her skin sloughing was particularly severe, but she has bare patches at the top of her legs, where nothing but stray wiry hairs will grow, and less severe scars that have white hair (which turned my pinto into a pintaloosa, and not in a good way!).

ETA -- I did have a point, which is that IF the seller is saying he has purpura NOW, or any lingering health issues in addition to scarring, I do not think it could link back to the original strangles, and, as awesome as my recovered mare is, I would advise you to steer clear.

[oharabear]

I am looking into taking a 4 year old that had strangles as a baby. The current owner sort of rescued him and treated him for the strangles. She says he has pupora from the strangles. Does anyone know what this means? I have never heard of it. I do have a call into my vet but until then inquiring minds want to know.

So... she treated the 4-year-old for the Strangles that he had as a foal?

I have a couple horses in my barn who have both had strangles and have long-since recovered, and my vet will NOT vaccinate for it, because "the risks of complications from the vaccine [after the horse has already been exposed to it] are just too high."

And yes, Purpura is potentially very deadly. A couple years ago I offered to take in an emaciated rescue mare who also had strangles, so I had her at a different farm for quarantine before bringing her into my barn. She then developed Purpura while in QT and we decided to euth her just 2 days later (Christmas Eve, actually). :cry:

[oharabear]

Well I know He actually had strangles and had this reaction not from a vaccine but from the strangles themselves.

My biggest question would be why someone is vaccinating a 4-year-old for strangles when he had it as a foal? If he had it as a foal, he is already exposed to it and vaccinating him for it could lead to complications.

My guess is that the purpura *is* from the vaccine. There's no way it can be linked back to the strangles he had as a foal. That issue has been healed and is done with by now.

But I'm not a vet nor do I play one on TV.... :winkgrin: So take everything I say with a grain of salt...

[rcloisonne]

My biggest question would be why someone is vaccinating a 4-year-old for strangles when he had it as a foal? If he had it as a foal, he is already exposed to it and vaccinating him for it could lead to complications.
A bout with Strangles does not impart lifelong immunity. However, if the horse did indeed have a purpura reaction to the disease, the vaccine would most likely result in a recurrence. Unfortunately, so could any further exposure to strep equi.

It wasn't at all clear if the horse had been recently vaccinated?

[fivehorses]

My horse had bastard strangles. She did survive.
The one point, Dr. Timoney from Gluck told me was to NEVER have her vaccinated with the strangles vaccine.
The reason is it could cause purpura hemmoragia and other complications.
additionally, none of my horses are vaccinated, since the IN is actually a live vaccine, and if she rubbed noises with one of them, well, she is exposed.

I recently had her titre's tested, since the disease was in 2000. Her levels were still extremely high, as if she had been recently exposed.

I am not an advocate of vaccinating horses with out knowing their history for in strangles. fine, for those never having the disease or exposed, but those who have had the disease or unknown history should have titres done first imo.

Purpura hemmoragia is a complication of strangles, and not what someone wants to experience. If the horse is over it, then I should see no problems, as long as you take the precautions of not exposing her to the disease again, or the in vaccine.

I am not a vet, however I can tell you that my local vet said, no problem let's give your other horses(who never leave the farm) the in vaccine since they are young. Spoke to the specialist who said, no way, too great a risk.
point, just because someone is a vet, doesn't mean they know everything or about unusual situations. JMHO. In that situation, my mare could very well have been put in a dire situation if we had vaccinated her herd mates.

[middy]

Ok I just got the lowdown. He had the purpura from the strangles when he was a baby. He has scaring (not sure how bad it is as I haven't seen him) Farrier says it isn't too horrible. He has not been vaccianted for strangles nor will he ever be. I am not looking for a resale project with this guy he is 17.2 as a 4 year old unbroke, (which might not be a bad thing) has great ground manners extremely athletic & smart. He is also about 150lbs underweight. I am going to see him on Saturday and am going to try not to take him home. With broken ankle I really don't need another horse right now. But this horse is a giveaway/rescue and really needs to get out of the suituation where he is at this time.