Inappropriate immune response. Not sure it’s completely understood, and it isn’t terribly common, but IMHO, given the risk/benefit equation, with the vaccine efficacy being questionable, I fall on the side of good husbandry rather than vaccination for this bug.
S. equi isn’t the only cause of purpura, but it is a known risk factor.
HundredAcres…hole in his face aside he’s cute as heck! :yes:
Poor fella, he’s been through the wringer. That’s a decent sized hole in him too.
Keep us updated on how he does.
[QUOTE=hundredacres;5007831]
Thanks stink…there’s no more ick (well, there’s fleshy, bloody ick but no more ripening, pus-filled abscess) - the vet removed the contents on Wednesday night. Now I’m dealing with the treatment of the post-surgery wound.
Here are a couple pictures from yesterday (they’re sort of gross, but educational). It wasn’t cleaned as well at this point because I’d just been working on getting the blood off of his face (did I mention the packing came out the night of the surgery and he bled all over and gave me a heart attack?). It looks bigger, but brighter/cleaner red today:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v645/tracerace/July2010308.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v645/tracerace/July2010294.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v645/tracerace/July2010298.jpg
And one of his “good side” for good measure:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v645/tracerace/July2010301.jpg[/QUOTE]
haha sorry but you made me laugh about the blood and giving you a heart attaack sorry, haha, chin up lady if its bleeding then it clean so good sign
it will stop eventually and clear up as long as you keep it flushed and clean
also just to make you feel a tad better, the out come looks good as the horse is bright in himself and also will add yeah it does look horrible but you know what when it goes you dont even know it was there , as just like it got big and ugly then it sort off get smaller and smaller and smaller then goes no scar no marks no nothing
then you think my god that huge hole then its my god there nothing there as you search nit pick like a bloody monkey hahaha
and i will add this - its an exprience a learning curve - 1 is how your relationship strenthens with your vet at this time and the qualit of service given builds trust, 2nd it something you never think you will have to deal with but in truth its a common thing that happens a lot for various reasons
but normally effects the young neds or the older horses taht arent immune
as some do have it but they are carries of it, but dont know they are
this is why here in good yards a new horse is quarantined for a set period aand wormed as deloused de bugged etc and the yards have the protocol ruling of being vetted before entry
some dont so it easily spreads the risk of infection as the horse for exsample could have come from a market or been imported with other horses
that are carriers and the other aspect is going to low keyed shows whereby ther in no legistration of entrants so again can be a higher risk
affilaited shows and events you have to have a passport and vet card
which now all horses pasported are micro chiped this controls the travaling of the horse in question and lessens the risk of infections being transmitted to others
and lastly it trians you to be more aware, and of how to deal with a contagious decease of what to do and what not to do
so in conclusion yeah its ugly thing to deal with but at the same a huge learning curve something you will never forget
haha any future abcesses that pop from time to say forexsample on the foot it will become 2nd nature to clean and get right on in there and get the vet for some anti botics or what evers needed it will be like riding abike
for that- then the whole espisode you have benifted from it always something good out of something bad my freind
You couldn’t be more right stink :)…one more experience to build on all of the others. It never stops when it comes to these horses.
Re: the carriers…what can be done for those horses who end up being carriers? And how is that diagnosed?
look here
www.equinescienceupdate.co.uk/strangl2.htm
and here
a couple of aticles to help in the battle with strangles
www.horseandhound.co.uk/horsecare/1370/120382.html
thing is we have it in our local mags often same to with other things
like lamitus and ragwort etc common things that need addressing as urgent as possible meaning here we have topic like worming programmes and so forth has high topics so its always mentioned somewhere in a mag rag r/c club pc club yards or whatever
loads of other stuff mentioned to, but common things ll the time as the more its told the more public it reaches so thinking of that sreenerio
the more people that say know about strangles then the lesser it becomes as a common thing so in time will be less likely to be spread
They can be treated.
Often the treatment involves infusing the guttural pouches with a penicillin solution.
Then serial cultures/PCR are done to verify that it worked.
I’m thinking that’s not looking too bad… considering. I’d think it’s going to take a few weeks but it will go with some good nursing. He’s looking quite bright and perky and no where near as sad and bad as the ones I’ve seen.
I’d be scrubbing off all that crud around it with sterile saline solution (just boil a kettle of water and add salt and allow to cool to hand hot) and use disposable swabs to rub it off. I’d then be flushing it by squirting anticeptic mix from top to bottom via a large bore syringe. I’d be careful about jetting the solution in and pushing pus in. Rather I’d want it to flow in and flow out. Then wash all round the hole again with salt water and put on some fly repellent anticeptic ointment round the site.
If there’s any chance that he was in contact with your others then I’d be suggesting you avail yourself of the new blood test. I’ve used it several times now and it’s pretty quick and easy. Takes about 14 days for the results to come back. But at least you know if there’s any risk particularly if it’s not obviously because there’s been such as exposure and the animal in incubating the disease or there’s any carriers. If the test is positive then there’s further testing to establish if there’s just been recent exposure or if the animal is actually shedding bacteria.
I’ve always quarantined new horses in here for 3 weeks. Any that come in now that are going to be having contact with my own herd now have blood test when they first arrive when they’re in quarantine phase. One of my friends used testing at the end of an outbreak. Like you he had segregated horses. He had strangles following a return home from a 3 day event. 5 horses had it. 12 didn’t. He had all tested afterwards once clinical signs had gone. I can’t remember the time scales on that but I’m sure your vet would help.
Thanks so much everyone - your insight has been especially useful.
The wound looks much better each day - pictures were from the day after. Fortunately he’s been a good boy for all of this…gotta appreciate a tolerant horse. As fate would have it, I’m working part-time right now so I’m here for frequent nursing (the silver lining in not being fully employed sigh).
Thomas he’s had no contact with the other horses - was QT’d from the get-go. I’ll be talking with the vet about the tests that we need to do prior to blending him in with the others (the thought absolutely terrifies me at this point). Thanks for the blood test suggestion - I’ll ask about that.
I’m at the point though now where I’m afraid to go out there and find him in a new state. From abscess 1, to pneumonia, to abscess 2…with each turn I thought we were near an end. As I walk to the barn each morning I hold my breath ~~
[QUOTE=hundredacres;5008599]
Thanks so much everyone - your insight has been especially useful.
The wound looks much better each day - pictures were from the day after. Fortunately he’s been a good boy for all of this…gotta appreciate a tolerant horse. As fate would have it, I’m working part-time right now so I’m here for frequent nursing (the silver lining in not being fully employed sigh).
Thomas he’s had no contact with the other horses - was QT’d from the get-go. I’ll be talking with the vet about the tests that we need to do prior to blending him in with the others (the thought absolutely terrifies me at this point). Thanks for the blood test suggestion - I’ll ask about that.
I’m at the point though now where I’m afraid to go out there and find him in a new state. From abscess 1, to pneumonia, to abscess 2…with each turn I thought we were near an end. As I walk to the barn each morning I hold my breath ~~[/QUOTE]
to be honest hundredacres hes too perky hes looking good,and thats only from expreince of seing quite a few and how they respond and i think your over the worse of that just the clean up job till its gone , hes got bright clear eyes
he looking cheeky and perky which is a good sign of being on the mend so i doubt it will go backwards now ook
[QUOTE=goeslikestink;5008622]
to be honest hundredacres hes too perky hes looking good,and thats only from expreince of seing quite a few and how they respond and i think your over the worse of that just the clean up job till its gone , hes got bright clear eyes
he looking cheeky and perky which is a good sign of being on the mend so i doubt it will go backwards now ook[/QUOTE]
Thanks again Stink :)…yeah, he’s a totally different horse from July 2nd, the day he arrived. When he got here it was so obvious because in the video I’d seen of him taken 2 weeks earlier, he was a perky kind of guy - ears and head up, happy-go-lucky. We’re really looking forward to getting to know him for who he is. I’m thrilled with his level of tolerance…being in a new barn and dealing with all of this torture and nursing. He’s affectionate and trusting - a perfect patient.
I’m looking forward to August since July was completely shot.
hundredacres, just read this thread today and have to say you’ve done/are doing a great job!
I used to pull horses from the feedlots in So. California and you can bet every single one of them had been exposed to strangles, pidgeon fever and any other virus type monster that was living in those pens! Those that came here were immediately quarantined. Suffice to say…I have had my share of traveling down the Strangles Road. We even had one that developed purpura! Now that was awful and the fact that he lived through it still amazes me. That was one sick horse.
To keep flies off the abcesses/holes UNDER the jaw (just for future reference) you can put on a flymask upside down…after you’ve flushed it, etc. In my experience, any ointments/salves (greasy stuff) don’t help because it keeps the surrounding tissue moist. Let it dry up.
Not one of the horses I’ve dealt with that had strangles has any scars from those gaping abcess holes. Amazing!
Also, forgive me if it’s been mentioned, don’t forget to disinfect your trailer and for sure your boots. I used to keep a bottle of alcohol in my truck when I went to the feedlots. Would douse my boots, put them in a plastic bag, put on another pair and then clean them again when I got home. These were my Strangles boots and never entered our horse area.
Side Note: About them habronemas/summer sores. We have had great success with Liquid Nitrogen. Administered by a vet of course. Kills that little protozoa that lives way down deep. The site will of course look worse before it gets better, but the results were great. No more summer sores each year at the same spot and…no scars.
Again…Hundredacres…You are doing a great job. I know it’s a long process. Hopefully your daughter will be snuggling with this little one soon. There is a benefit to all this. The constant handling/care really helps with bonding. There is a difference with the horses that come in here that have issues that need constant care/hands on in the beginning and the ones who don’t. Maybe it’s on my side, but I think a bit of the bonding stuff is on their side too!
[QUOTE=hundredacres;5008710]
Thanks again Stink :)…yeah, he’s a totally different horse from July 2nd, the day he arrived. When he got here it was so obvious because in the video I’d seen of him taken 2 weeks earlier, he was a perky kind of guy - ears and head up, happy-go-lucky. We’re really looking forward to getting to know him for who he is. I’m thrilled with his level of tolerance…being in a new barn and dealing with all of this torture and nursing. He’s affectionate and trusting - a perfect patient.
I’m looking forward to August since July was completely shot.[/QUOTE]
haha shouldnt worry to much about the bonding thing thats already happened with the continious nursing and this little man wont forget it, often you find horses/ponis that have been ill treated and what not, then go into a new home then get something seriously wrong, go down hill a bit, but with care and and attention sort themselves out again and then bingo- back on traxk
all of my rescused that i have kept have all turned all nice decent little ponies and horses and all the one that i have helped find homes for either for buyers or sellers then they have turned out ok to,
my point is - they do remember this little boy will be cheeky and fun to ride
haha i will get on him for you haha can pay me to fly over haha
i love palaminos and hes right down my street haha
you have got to call him cheeky chappie for a show name haha
Late to this, but I just thought I’d add that in these cases you should also keep a teperature chart, if you haven’t already.
When he gets well, get your baselines…temp and respiration, so that you have them to compare to if he ever gets sick again.
Agree with Thomas on how to keep that clean.
NJR
He looks quite bright eyed. With strangles and pneumonia I’d suggest you take his temperature though and use that as your early indicator. We all know how horses can go from o.k. to down VERY quickly. (I lost one 2 weeks ago today! VERY VERY suddenly)
To reduce risks of recurrence of pneumonia ensure that you’re stables are well ventilated and with a good air flow. I know it’s summer and I’m not sure what it’s like where you are.
(We’ve still got pleasant fresh breezes and every time I think of turning my hay it darn well rains!)
If you can’t get ventilation that has good airflow then I’d say get him outside and keep him there.
I don’t know the pony’s history but it does seem to me having read a lot of postings on COTH over the years that a lot of them are travelled in shared transportation. Much more so than here. I appreciate its the consequence of the distances you guys have to cover and another advantage of us being a piddling little island but when I’ve been there I do seriously wonder about the risks of doing that and not always having partitioning that prohibits direct contact.
Im currently fighting strangles in my herd. I have been putting sugar-betadine on a baby diaper and placing it over the hole. After 3 days there is no more drainage and the hole is nice and pink and healing well. No scrubbing the area which the horses hated.
This is an 8 year old thread 
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