Warwickshire Welfare News |
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The Warwickshire Welfare representatives have been reasonably quiet this year with only a few concerns. Generally,
Warwickshire is one of the more educated areas so our calls are often dealt with simply and in an educational capacity.
Amy has joined us this year and Sarah is taking her training in order to join us too. We are always grateful of any calls
reported as the one that is not reported is probably the one we need to go to! During the year, our officers have been
involved in numerous calls and visits and have offered advice and support and worked with other animal welfare
organisations where appropriate. The nature of our cases can be summarised as:
• Water shortages
• Ragwort
• Condition & ill-health including hoof management and euthanasia
Please note that due to confidentiality issues, we have kept the content of this report general.
Taken from the Warwickshire Annual Report 2008 |
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Breaking the Strangles hold
The British Horse Society has joined with the Animal Health Trust (AHT) to run a campaign called “Breaking the Strangles Hold”. The two main aims of this campaign are to 1. raise the awareness of Strangles and 2. raise money for research.
The research funded by the campaign has enabled a major breakthrough in developing a vaccination.
As part of this campaign we have hosted a fun quiz in aid of Strangles. |
What is Strangles?
Strangles is one of the most commonly diagnosed infectious diseases affecting all species of equines worldwide. Caused by the bacterium Streptococcus equi, this disease is highly contagious and can affect any age or breed of horse. It remains one of the most feared diseases due to its debilitating effects. |
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Symptoms
The symptoms are usually not seen until 3-14 days after the horse has been in contact with the bacterium.
The initial clinical signs include:
· Depression and dullness
· Loss of appetite
· Nasal discharge
· Development of a cough
· Fever
· Abscesses which often burst discharging highly infectious, thick yellow pus. |
How is it Spread?
Strangles can be spread easily by direct contact between horses or indirectly by handlers, equipment or contamination of the environment, often leading to large outbreaks, with many horses becoming infected. |
Prevention
It is imperative that any horse showing signs of strangles or horses suspected to be carrying the disease should be isolated immediately, including any other horse(s) they have been in contact with, to prevent further opportunities for the disease to spread. A veterinary surgeon should be called immediately. The leaflet titled ‘Strategy to Eradicate and Prevent Strangles (STEPS)’ provides detailed information on isolation procedures; please contact the BHS Welfare Department for a copy. |
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| For more details of Strangles please visit www.thestrangleshold.co.uk or contact the BHS Welfare Department. |
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| If you would like to contact the Welfare Officers please click here to email them |
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