Anew defence

STRANGLES is an infection caused by the bacteria Streptococcus equi that can affect horses, ponies and donkeys of any age. It commonly causes a fever, lethargy, reduced appetite, a cough, a snotty nose and swollen glands around the head and upper neck that may develop into abscesses. These abscesses can burst, such that pus drains from the skin surface or from the nose.

The severity of strangles varies from case to case. In most horses, it is an unpleasant but fairly straightforward infection that typically resolves over one or two weeks. Unfortunately, in a small minority of cases more severe complications can develop, which in some cases can be fatal.