21/08/2025
🐎Strangles🐎
After some thought and some tears of frustration following a rather unpleasant encounter the other day involving someone accusing "my kind" (equine professionals) being the cause of the spread of strangles, please let me straighten a few things out.
1. Strangles is about, all the time. More than most people realise. I know about more cases last year than the few cases being discussed in this neck of the woods at present.
2. It is not a notifiable disease. Most people stay silent when they have it. Why? Because the abuse they recieve is outrageous. I've seen messages some of my clients have received who've not even had positive results back but have warned people they may have a suspected case and are seeking veterinary advice and they have been brutal. The horse world is notorious for its nastyness. This needs to stop. ⛔️
3. Strangles is unpleasant at best. At worst, it can be simply horrific to witness and deal with when horses have the most extreme symptoms. The young, old and immunocompromised are at most risk of severe consequences. Most fit animals will ride out the storm and not die from it. It is absolutely imperative that the spread of it from one yard to another is halted. Ideally within the yard too but this can be hard because once symptoms show, horses may have already been in contact with infected horses on the yard. 🦠
4. It is not leprosy. Why we treat those who have a case like leppars is beyond me. It is not their fault. If we spoke more openly about it, it would be the same as someone saying they've got covid. Please stay away, but I hope you get better soon, thinking of you...
5. As always, biosecurity measures are in force at MRVP. As with all vets, farriers, dentists, physios ect, we are all taught about biosecurity measures and these are always followed. In times of an outbreak, we double dot the Is and double cross the Ts. Dettol and Virkon is always carried and is used between clients.🧴🧼
6. If you have young/old/vulnerable horses or just want to be extra safe, book in for the first appointment of the day. Many of you have done so. I have no problem in planning my day to help you. 🕑
7. As always, yards that tell me they have a case of strangles or anything for that matter, are seen last thing, I wear overalls and these are then stripped off and washed. Many of you who have told me about your contagious situations already know this. It will always be confidential. (Anytning major and your vet would have already reported it to the necessary bodies).
8. I have beloved animals at home. Whether it be strangles, lice, flu, kennel cough ect, I am not wanting to bring it home with me. I know exactly how you feel about protecting the animals you love and will not be putting yours or mine at risk. 🐕 🐎 🐇
9. Strangles can be carried by some horses for years.This means an outbreak could occur at any time with anyone who has a horse, even if you've had them for a few years and never taken them anywhere. It doesn't have to be someones fault. Fault may however come through lack of knowledge or ignoring advice.
10. Talk to your vet or read about strangles from reliable, trusted sources. Learn how to spot signs, how isolation works and about testing and vaccinating. 🔬🧬💉
11. I applaud Terri Hill for being open, honest and for such informative videos. My heart goes out to them all and I hope all the horses come through this quickly and safely.
12. My opinions on those who left her yard recently are not up for discussion however seeing some of the comments and people wishing all sorts of hell on these people have really disappointed me. Info may be passed on to help keep other yards safe but it seems we now want to send someone to an early grave. "Be kind" should apply to the horse world more. Seeing what some of my freinds and clients have written has deeply saddened me. You're contributing to a witch hunt which is ultimately making the taboo around strangles even worse. Stop the keyboard warrior attitude.
14. To those fellow paraprofessinals, particularly those new to the world of being an equine practitioner in the area, who are also being grilled, accused and told to leave. Keep going with the biosecurity and try not to let the words get to you. As they say - This too, shall pass.🕊
