Vets And Horse Owners Urged To Work Together To Combat Strangles

2 years ago
1833 views

Posted
5th July, 2023 11h27

Author
Dechra

A recent survey¹ carried out by Dechra during Strangles Awareness Week (1-7 May 2023) has revealed that while many vets are diagnosing strangles cases, only half of them are recommending vaccination to their clients.

With an estimated 300 outbreaks each year in the UK alone, vets believe that horse owners could also be doing more to combat the disease.  Less than half of vets questioned believed that yards and premises operated good biosecurity measures prior to a strangles outbreak, yet 85% brought in more stringent biosecurity after an outbreak, when it was too late! A high temperature is an early warning sign that a horse may have strangles and regular temperature checking is an important tool in preventing the disease. Reassuringly, 11% of strangles cases were diagnosed following a temperature check, which is increasingly becoming part of horse owners’ regular routine.

Vets and horse owners can work together to combat strangles by following these steps:

• Vets should recommend vaccination to all horse owners.  Vaccination with Strangvac^® can protect up to 94 per cent of horses² and reduces clinical signs of the disease including a high temperature, coughing, inappetence, difficulty swallowing and changes in demeanour, while also reducing the number of lymph node abscesses
• Horse owners should practice good biosecurity and quarantine measures.  This includes keeping horses isolated from other horses, washing hands after handling horses and cleaning and disinfecting equipment.
• Horse owners should monitor their horses' temperatures regularly.  A high temperature is an early warning sign of strangles.

Sara Barker BVSc CertAVP(EM) MRCVS, equine field support manager at Dechra, says: “Strangles is one of the most common equine infectious diseases both in the UK and worldwide and a multi-factor approach is key to tackling the disease; strangles vaccination is recommended, alongside good biosecurity, quarantine measures and regular temperature checking. By working together, vets and horse owners can help to keep horses healthy and prevent the spread of strangles.”

For further information on Strangvac visit https://www.dechra.co.uk/equine/vaccines/strangles.

References

1. 50 vets surveyed in May 2023
2. Robinson et al, 2020, Vaccine

More from Dechra

• Exclusive otitis externa CPD event hosted by Dechra
• Vets could do more to highlight strangles vaccination to their clients
• Dechra previews DuOtic otic gel for otitis externa at LVS
• Dechra launches new 250ml Diatrim vial
• Dechra hosts webinar on bolder dosing for canine Cushing’s syndrome