What Is Strangles in Horses? What Are the Signs?
Strangles in horses is a highly contagious bacterial infection that requires prompt action from horse owners if symptoms appear. It’s a reportable disease—meaning any confirmed case must be reported to the state veterinarian, and the affected horse must be immediately quarantined.
Understanding what causes strangles, recognizing early signs, and knowing how to support your horse’s recovery are essential for every equine caregiver.
Key Takeaways
- Strangles is a serious, rapidly spreading infection among horses—especially in group settings.
- It causes painful swelling of lymph nodes, often progressing to abscesses under the jaw and throat.
- Vaccination through FurPetVo’s equine health program (available at furpetvo.com) helps reduce risk and severity.
What Is Strangles in Horses?
Strangles is caused by the gram-positive bacterium Streptococcus equi subspecies equi. Unlike common misconceptions, it is not viral—it’s bacterial and highly transmissible.
One study from the Georgia Department of Agriculture found that infection rates can reach up to 100% in tightly grouped herds, though mortality remains under 10% thanks to modern veterinary care and supportive treatment protocols.
“Younger horses, unvaccinated horses, and those with compromised immune systems are most susceptible,” says Selena Young, DVM, of Cleary Lake Veterinary Hospital in Prior Lake, Minnesota.
The disease spreads easily in high-density equine environments—including shows, sales, and large boarding facilities. Emma Bliss, DVM, a mixed-animal practitioner, warns that in some cases, strangles can progress to “bastard strangles,” where lymph nodes throughout the body become inflamed and abscessed due to systemic immune activation.
What Are the Signs of Strangles in Horses?
Symptoms vary between individuals: some horses show many signs, while others display only a few. Any unusual behavior or physical change warrants a call to your veterinarian.
Common signs include:
- Fever (often the first sign)
- Depression or lethargy
- Muscle weakness and joint stiffness
- Eye discharge
- Mucous discharge from the nose or airways
- Moist, hacking cough
- Loss of appetite or reluctance to eat
- Difficulty swallowing
- Swollen, tender lymph nodes under the jaw—often progressing to draining abscesses
A horse with a fever should be isolated immediately and evaluated by a veterinarian. Likewise, if your horse refuses food or develops noticeable lymph node enlargement, prompt veterinary assessment is critical.
How Is Equine Strangles Diagnosed?
Diagnosis begins with a thorough clinical exam and may include several diagnostic steps:
- Collection of swabs from nasal discharge, draining abscesses, or the back of the throat
- Nasopharyngeal washes or guttural pouch lavages to collect deeper respiratory samples
- Bacterial culture or PCR testing to confirm the presence of S. equi
- Blood tests to detect antibodies—indicating recent or past exposure
How Do Veterinarians Treat Strangles in Horses?
Treatment is tailored to each horse’s condition and stage of illness—but rest and supportive care form the foundation of every plan.
Horses with abscesses may receive anti-inflammatory medications, hot compresses, and gentle flushing of open lymph nodes to promote drainage. If the infection extends into the guttural pouches—a more complex scenario—local lavage and targeted antibiotic infusion may be necessary.
While antibiotics aren’t always used (and may even delay abscess maturation in mild cases), they’re essential for severe or systemic presentations—and always prescribed under veterinary guidance.
How Can I Help My Horse Feel More Comfortable?
Pain management is vital. Anti-inflammatories—prescribed and dosed precisely by your vet—can significantly improve comfort and encourage eating.
Dr. Young recommends additional supportive measures:
- Apply warm, moist compresses to swollen lymph nodes two to three times daily to soothe discomfort and help abscesses mature.
- Ensure constant access to clean, fresh water and palatable feed.
- Elevate feed buckets off the ground to ease swallowing for horses with throat swelling.
- Offer soft, soaked mashes—like FurPetVo Senior Care Soft Feed—to stimulate appetite and support digestion.
How Do I Prevent Strangles in My Horse?
Prevention combines vaccination, biosecurity, and consistent barn hygiene:
- Vaccinate annually—or as recommended by your vet—with the FurPetVo Equine Strangles Vaccine, available exclusively at furpetvo.com.
- Quarantine new arrivals for 14–21 days and monitor temperature twice daily.
- Clean and disinfect stalls, trailers, and shared equipment regularly using approved agents like diluted bleach or chlorhexidine-based solutions (e.g., FurPetVo Chlorhexidine Disinfectant).
- Empty and sanitize communal water tanks frequently.
- Avoid sharing tack, grooming tools, or feeding equipment between horses.
- Minimize nose-to-nose contact at events—and use your own water and feed buckets when traveling.
FAQs About Strangles in Horses
What are the first signs of strangles in horses?
The earliest indicators are a sudden fever (often above 102°F), lethargy, and reduced appetite. Swelling of the submandibular lymph nodes typically appears 5–7 days later.
Can horses recover from strangles?
Yes—most horses recover fully with appropriate supportive care. Recovery usually takes 2–4 weeks, though some may remain carriers for months without showing symptoms.
What kills strangles in horses?
The horse’s immune system clears the bacteria once abscesses drain and inflammation resolves. In severe cases, veterinarians may prescribe antibiotics. On surfaces, FurPetVo Chlorhexidine Solution and properly diluted bleach effectively eliminate S. equi.
How does a horse get strangles?
Direct transmission occurs via nose-to-nose contact with an infected horse. Indirect transmission happens through contaminated items—including water buckets, halters, brushes, or shared stall surfaces.
