Compression asphyxia of the larynx and pharynx if the inflammation is severe.Pneumonia due to aspiration of pus when swallowing.Sinusitis due to bacterial colonization of the paranasal sinuses.Horses normally recover after this process, but sometimes there are complications such as: Third phase: fever returns, pus discharge from nose and mouth, lymph nodes become soft, diffuse and not painful, chondroids and empyema of the guttural bags.Second phase: decrease in fever, coughing, runny nose, swollen lymph nodes becoming hot, hard and painful, pharyngitis leading to a loss of appetite due to the pain it causes.First phase: fever (103.1-105.8 ✯/39.5-41 ✬), anorexia, apathy, depression, inflammation of the nasal and oral mucosa.To better understand this whole process, the clinical signs that the horse presents with classical strangles are: In some cases, solid pus ( chondroids) forms in the guttural pouches and can accumulate to form an empyema. This will occur as a fistula through the submandibular area. In the last phase of classical strangles, the lymph nodes soften as they finally drain. Since the pus is encapsulated in the lymph tissue, abscesses form. Afterwards, they pass to the regional lymph nodes (both submandibular and retropharyngeal) and pus forms within days. They then reach the tonsils to cause the inflammation. In 80% of cases, the disease follows the classic course where the bacteria enter through the nostrils. The two types of strangles in horses are: Additionally, symptoms will vary according to the type of strangles in horses. Horses up to 2 years don't often have enough antibodies due to incomplete vaccination schedules.Īlthough we know that swollen lymph nodes are a symptom of strangles, this only occurs at certain stages of the disease. Horses under 4 months don't tend to get it because immunity from their mother's colostrum. It is a common disease of horses in young animals between the ages of 4 months and 2 years. It has an incubation period of up to 8 days between infection and the first appearance of clinical symptoms.Īll equidae can suffer from strangles, but horses are more susceptible than mules or donkeys. It usually does not exceed 2-3% of affected individuals. The swelling causes the horse to have respiratory problems, the reason why it is referred to as strangles.įortunately, strangles in horses has a relatively low mortality rate. Abscesses can form and become purulent, but the swelling is the most obvious. It is a highly contagious disease which affects all equine animals, characterized by swollen lymph nodes. It mainly affects the retropharyngeal lymph nodes which can be found just below the mandible. Strangles is an upper respiratory tract disease in horses.