Help your pony stay safe from strangles

We all want our ponies to be as healthy as possible and there’s plenty we can do to help them. One of these is knowing when things aren’t quite right, which is really important because then we can act quickly to find out what’s wrong.

When it comes to illnesses, strangles is definitely something to look out for and this week the disease is put under the spotlight during Strangles Awareness Week. The campaign runs from 6–12 May and aims to let all horse and pony owners know the signs of strangles and when to call the vet.

What is strangles?

If you’ve never heard of strangles or don’t know what it is, it’s a very nasty, very contagious respiratory disease that horses, ponies and donkeys can catch. Although it’s not usually fatal, it can make your pony feel extremely ill and put him out of action for quite some time while he recovers. He could also pass it on to any other horses or ponies he comes into contact with, and this could be especially serious for them if they’re old or very young.

Strangles Awareness Week highlights the signs your pony might have the disease and also advises on what you can do to either stop him catching strangles or passing it on to other horses if he already has it.

What can you do?

One of the most important steps you can take is to record your pony’s temperature on a regular basis – say, every week – even when he’s not ill. If you know what his temperature is normally – and it’s likely to be 37.5–38.5°C – you will then easily spot any signs of it increasing – and this is one of the first indications he might have strangles. If his temperature rises or if he seems at all unwell, you should tell your yard manager and call your vet immediately. He also may have to be put in a stable away from the other horses on the yard to keep them safe from infection.

Did you know?

Some horses and ponies can have strangles but not appear ill. Unfortunately, though, they can still pass it on, which is why it’s so important to take your pony’s temperature regularly.

Steps to take

There are also other things you can do help prevent your pony catching strangles. These include…

• not allowing your pony to drink from shared troughs at shows or other events away from your yard
• avoiding the borrowing of tack or equipment used on other ponies
• keeping a safe distance from unknown horses and ponies – so no sniffing noses!
• considering having him vaccinated against the disease – your vet can talk to you about this

But most of all, be aware of strangles and its symptoms, find out as much as you can about the disease and how to manage it, and don’t forget to tell your friends so they can spread the word, too.

To find out more about strangles and Strangles Awareness Week, click here.