by Angie Pollock

Created on: September 01, 2009

More commonly referred to as strangles, equine distemper is a bacterial disease caused by a form of bacteria known as Streptococcus equi. Distemper in horses is different than that found in dogs and cats, both of which are caused by different viruses. Any horse of any age can be infected but it is generally seen in younger horses. However, once a horse has become infected and recovers, they become immune to future infections.

The bacterium is passed between horses via either direct contact or by inhalation. Generally, the bacteria forms in the lymph nodes around the head and is transferred from the pus released from abscesses or can be transmitted from nasal discharge. This form of bacteria is highly resilient and can live for months on common stable objects or horse tack. Halters, feeding containers, grooming supplies, and even a horse owner's clothing can transfer the infection between horses.

Clinical Signs

Usually the first sign of strangles (or distemper) is a refusal to eat or drink, swallowing can become difficult. The lymph nodes located beneath and at the rear of the jaw will begin to swell and the horse's body temperature will begin to elevate. The discharge emitting from the nose will have a pus-like appearance, thick and yellowish in color. At the rear of the mouth, abscesses may appear on the lymph nodes which contribute to the difficulty of swallowing.

When the abscesses become large, the horse may struggle with breathing which attributes to the name "strangles". Once the abscesses burst and drain of the pus, the horse will begin to have relief from their symptoms and the horse should recover without showing any signs of permanent damage. Because this disease is highly infectious, owners will need to watch their other horses for the same symptoms. The incubation period is usually three to six days with the illness lasting in the horse for approximately two weeks. But horses may not all become infected at once and it can take months to irradiate the bacteria from a herd.

Treatments

For chronic cases of distemper, a veterinarian can administer antibiotics to the infected animal. This is generally only done in cases where the horse does not appear to be recovering. Antibiotics used in routine equine distemper can lead to what is known as "bastard strangles" which is the infection being found in different areas of the body other than just the lymph nodes.

Using antibiotics to treat strangles is highly debated among vets since some believe it prolongs

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