Vets could do more to raise awareness of strangles vaccination among their clients to provide protection against the disease.
The plea follows a recent survey among horse owners by Dechra, which identified that nearly half of those questioned were not aware that a strangles vaccine was available, with nearly 60 percent stating that their vet had not advertised or spoken to them about strangles vaccination. This is despite over 40 percent of horse owners questioned stating that a vet recommendation would influence a horse owner’s decision to vaccinate for the disease.
Moreover, 87 percent of those questioned were concerned about the risk of infectious diseases like strangles affecting their horse or yard and nearly 60 percent ranked strangles as the most feared equine disease above influenza, equine herpes virus (EHV) and tetanus. While 96 percent of horse owners vaccinated for influenza and tetanus as core vaccines, only 16 percent vaccinated for EHV and 16 percent for strangles.
According to the survey, despite concern about the risk of infectious diseases, a third of horse owners questioned had no isolation requirements for new horses moving to or visiting their premises, while only a quarter of horse owners would do a visual health check on new arrivals at a yard.
“Our research demonstrates that strangles is the most feared infectious disease in the UK, however owners are unaware that a vaccine is available to help protect their horses and isolation requirements are sadly lacking,” says Rachel Harrison-Osborne, veterinary technical advisor at Dechra, distributor of the strangles vaccine, Strangvac. “Vets could be doing more to raise awareness of the vaccine and its benefits among their clients to ensure peace of mind when horses are out and about with their owners.”
One vet practice that actively promotes strangles vaccination to its clients is Alnorthumbria Veterinary Group in Morpeth. Ewan Macaulay, BVMedSci, BVM, BVS, CertAVP(EM), MRCVS, a veterinary surgeon at Alnorthumbria Veterinary Group, comments: “Strangles is one of the most feared equine diseases; highly contagious, disruptive, and potentially devastating. The level of protection provided by vaccination means an increased level of security when moving horses, either between yards or to competitions. This gives vets and clients confidence that their horse will be protected from strangles and reduces the fear of disease following contact.
“Usually, it is very worrying for vets and owners when a horse has had known or suspected contact with an infected horse. The vaccine offers crucial protection for both individual horse owners and yard owners/managers, and horses that are vaccinated are far less likely to become sick if exposed, helping to break the chain of infection and significantly reduce the anxiety, disruption, and financial burden that a strangles outbreak can cause.
“I am pleased to say that a number of our clients’ yards have now adopted vaccination as part of their vaccination and biosecurity protocols.”
For information on strangles vaccination go to the Dechra website or contact your local Dechra equine territory manager.
