Well my new horse looks like she has strangles

[morgansnmind]

I went out of town on a long time planned vacation but my once I realized my new mare had a green snot (shown by a picture from the horse sitter the day after I had left) I had the vet come out the next day. By then she had a fever of 103 and she wasn’t eating much. Vet gave her exceed and gave the sitter bute to give her to bring the fever down. I contacted the previous owner and told her that mare had a fever and then I was told of a possible strangles outbreak at the old barn and 5 horses in quarantine. I told her let me know if it is confirmed strangles becausethe vet couldn’t get a sample since she only had green snot the one day. Three days later on Friday Mare got a 2nd exceed shot. Had a temp of 102 at the time but was definitely feeling a little better and back to eating grain. Her breathing was a little heavy. I came home late last night and saw her today. I didn’t notice it this morning but noticed it this afternoon that she had a golf ball swelling under her jaw/throat latch area. She had clear snot this morning but it’s slightly cloudy now. Temp. is 99.9

So I called the vet and she told me to keep monitoring her temp. and she will be back out on Friday to give her a 3rd exceed shot.

From what I’ve read is that antibiotics won’t do anything at this point right? I’ve never dealt with strangles before so this is going to be a whole new learning experience. More than likely 2x because my small pony has been able to touch noses with her. Behavior wise Mare is acting good. Neighs at me when I come out of the house and trotted for her breakfast, didn’t want me to mess with her head any but still let me put her halter on (that is when I noticed the swelling) . She ate her grain this morning but is being picky about eating Timothy hay. I will go get her some orchid tomorrow.

I still haven’t heard anything from the previous owner so I am assuming she isn’t planning on keeping me updated.

[Scribbler]

Sounds like strangles. I think it just has to run its course. I hope you quarantined pony early on and also that your farm sitter is using biosecurity precautions if they visit any other farms.

Other than that not all horses catch strangles, they may have previous immunity especially if they are older.

Try to get a diagnoses from the vet.

[morgansnmind]

I told him early on as soon as we noticed that if it was strangles that he needed to be careful before he went back to his own two horses. He said he was very careful so hopefully it won’t spread beyond my farm and I only have the two. New mare had the strangles vaccine back in the summer but it has been a few years since my pony has since she doesn’t go anywhere.

[trubandloki]

Jingles for a quick and easy recovery.

[morgansnmind]

Well that was fast. I just noticed the swelling around 4 and I just went to check on her for the night and noticed the swelling seemed less. She is very hairy in that area so I felt around and it has definitely opened up. Do I need to do anything? Hot compress?

Mare is definitely feeling good. Pawing and pranced around her her dinner.

Should she get that 3rd exceed shot that the vet set up for on Friday?

[NancyM]

It really has to be cultured to know if it is strangles, or if it is another, different bacterium that has simply infected a lymph node. If the second option, it isn’t contagious, and far less likely to become a serious problem. Yes, hot wet compresses are always good to help open and draw infection out, include epsom salt with that to increase the drawing action. But if it is strangles, remember that everything you touch and the ground you are walking on is all infective. Good luck.

[morgansnmind]

Well this morning I took her temp and it was 100.6 . Gave her breakfast and noticed that her leg looked a bit swollen. I really started stressing so I went in, had my coffee and looked at pictures of Purpura haemorrhagica. Then looked at her previous pictures that I have taken to make sure I wasnt imagining things.

Checked on her a few minutes ago. She is 100.2 and is definitely stocked up in all four legs. She also didn’t clean all her grain up. Not stocked up terribly bad but definitely more than normal. One area in her left upper leg looks noticeably more swollen . Called the vet and now I am waiting to see if they are coming back out today.

[RAyers]

The possibility now is Purpura Hemoragica. Strangles can stimulate a hyper-immune response that degrades the blood vessels.

[morgansnmind]

The vet said if I was worried about the swelling on her legs to cold hose her but she wasn’t concerned because she doesn’t have a fever and unless her gums have spots on them. She said she will come back out on Friday like planned and give 3rd exceed shot and examination then.

She agreed that if I went ahead and take picture of gums and limbs and email them to her and she will take a look .

Are these normal gums ? They look like spots to me.

[sing]

There is probably an in between choice here, but basically you can freakout and feel silly later,
or go along with the vet’s wait and see stance, and feel guilty when the horse dies.

That is sort of asking yourself “what is the worst thing that can happen?”

[sing]

I know very little about PH, but what keeps coming up on Dr. Google is that a good outcome is associated with an early intervention.

[sascha]

To me, those look like spotted gums. Freak out and get the vet now would be my choice.

[trubandloki]

I am of the mindset that I would rather pay for a vet visit that is not needed than to not pay for one that was needed.
Tell the vet you are too worried to wait.

[joiedevie99]

This would not be a wait and see situation for me.

[morgansnmind]

Vet called and is coming out !

[RAyers]

It is a fairly simple treatment and has good outcomes.

Dexamethasone or prednalosone are the treatments of choice with silvadine or such for open wounds. Scope for any residual strangles infection.

[morgansnmind]

The vet came and examined her. Lungs sound good, heartrate is still a little high, fever was back up 102. She took a culture and blood. Then gave bute then a dex shot and left some with me so I can give. She said she didn’t like to give Dex because it can make respiratory infections worse but her lungs sounded ok . Vet also said her gums look like she ate something that irritated her .

I asked about the swelling and she said that if it gets worse or looks the same tomorrow to go ahead and take her to the Hospital tomorrow.

[RegentLion]

I dealt with PH a few years ago. Very scary, but he pulled through.

Good luck. Hopefully your experience is far better than mine!

[morgansnmind]

@RegentLion

PH

Can PH be treated at home? She responded to the dex. She is only slightly stocked up today and the swelling in her front upper leg went down. It’s mostly her hind legs that are more thick (hocks and lower) . She feels good temp 99 and she was trotting around wanting her breakfast this morning.

The vet told me to go to the hospital if she was the same or worse last night. She is slightly better. The vet took a culture and it’s been pretty confirmed it’s strangles from the previous owner. When the vet gets the results back she has to report it to the state and at the point she will be on quarantine wherever she is at by the state.

If a horse needs extra medical help they cannot leave the farm at that point right? I don’t know what to do. Take her to the hospital just in case where she will be for a long time or keep her home and try to treat it here.

[RAyers]

I am sorry, but your vet sounds lazy and incompetent.

For PH, the treatment is continued treatment with dex or prednolisone in decreasing dosages as the immune response is suppressed.

The strangles is already done, most likely, unless there is a latent arm but that can only be diagnosed via scoping the guttural pouches. PH is a secondary condition (not bacterial associated) and is not infectious.

You need a new vet.

The horse can always leave the farm to go to the hospital. At this point, depending on the hospital, I would just take her there and have her treated if only to give you piece of mind. You don’t need online medical advice and you do need to reduce your stress.