References
Nursing a horse with strangles
Abstract
Strangles can be an extremely debilitating and unpleasant experience for an infected horse. Diligent nursing care is important as the disease runs its course, to maximise the chances of a full and straightforward recovery. Veterinary nurses can play a critical role in strangles outbreaks by ensuring horses are in a comfortable environment within quarantine, are encouraged to eat and drink, benefit from careful abscess management and are monitored closely. Nurses also provide essential support for vets during procedures such as guttural pouch endoscopy, as well as helping to maintain strict biosecurity protocols to prevent further spread of disease.
A strangles diagnosis is not something anyone wants to be faced with. The logistics of locking down a yard, stopping horse movements, contact tracing and managing horses in quarantine can be overwhelming. However, alongside these vital steps to contain and eliminate the bacteria, it is essential not to lose sight of the needs of the infected horses.
Strangles is caused by the bacteria Streptococcus equi, which is highly infectious and extremely well adapted to survive in a horse's respiratory system and spread between individuals. Any horse is at risk of infection and although there is increasing awareness of horses who only develop mild signs of disease, some individuals will experience debilitating illness that can last for days or even weeks.
Although the majority of horses will recover completely from strangles, up to 20% of cases develop complications and the disease is fatal for around 0.9–9.7% of infected individuals (Boyle et al, 2018).
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