DOMESTIC EQUINES · OWNER EDUCATION
Strangles in Horses
Strangles is a contagious bacterial respiratory disease that commonly causes fever, nasal discharge and swollen lymph nodes.
THE SHORT VERSION
Understanding supports better veterinary conversations.
Strangles is a contagious bacterial respiratory disease that commonly causes fever, nasal discharge and swollen lymph nodes. The same outward signs can occur with several diseases, so an examination and appropriately selected testing are important.
What is this condition?
Strangles is a contagious bacterial respiratory disease that commonly causes fever, nasal discharge and swollen lymph nodes. The same outward signs can occur with several diseases, so an examination and appropriately selected testing are important.
Which animals can be affected?
Risk factors, examination findings and management can differ between species and individual patients.
Why can it happen?
- Streptococcus equi spread by direct contact or contaminated hands, equipment, water and surfaces.
- Recovered horses can occasionally carry and spread the organism.
What might an owner notice?
- Fever, thick nasal discharge and painful swelling under the jaw or throat.
- Difficulty swallowing, reduced appetite or noisy breathing.
How is the problem investigated?
- Examination plus polymerase chain reaction or culture from an appropriate sample.
- Further evaluation when complications or a carrier state is suspected.
What might treatment involve?
- Isolation, supportive care and complication management.
- Antibiotic decisions depend on disease stage and individual risk.
This is an overview, not a prescription or a recommendation for a specific individual animal.
What can owners do at home?
- Write down when the problem began and track appetite, drinking, waste, activity, breathing and medication use.
- Bring clear photos or short videos when they can be taken without stressing the animal.
- Follow the veterinary team's instructions for medication, feeding, isolation, environmental changes and rechecks.
Avoid actions that could make care less safe.
- Do not use human medication, leftover antibiotics or another animal's treatment without veterinary direction.
- Do not force food or water into an animal that cannot swallow normally, is struggling to breathe or may have an obstruction.
- Do not delay veterinary care when pain, breathing, appetite, urination, movement or responsiveness changes quickly.
What can the longer-term outlook involve?
The outlook depends on the underlying cause, severity, species and how quickly effective care begins.
Can risk be reduced?
- Provide species-appropriate nutrition, housing, sanitation and routine veterinary care.
- Learn the animal's normal behavior, appetite, body condition and waste pattern so meaningful changes are noticed early.
When should you arrange care?
- Contact a veterinarian promptly for fever, thick nasal discharge and painful swelling under the jaw or throat. or difficulty swallowing, reduced appetite or noisy breathing..
- Arrange reassessment if signs return, worsen or do not improve as expected.
Seek emergency veterinary care if you notice:
SEEK EMERGENCY VETERINARY CARE- Breathing obstruction, inability to swallow, severe weakness, neurologic signs or rapidly spreading swelling.
Sources behind this guide
VeterinaryPartner — client education from the Veterinary Information NetworkPrimary veterinary or veterinary-university guidance ↗American Association of Equine Practitioners: horse-owner resourcesPrimary veterinary or veterinary-university guidance ↗Content last reviewed: September 17, 2026. Review status: veterinary-informed; independent veterinarian review not yet completed.