It is highly recommended that you have your horses teeth looked at by an equine dentist or vet every 6 months. Examinations should begin at birth and continue every 6 months throughout the horse's life to correct and prevent dental problems. Not having regular dental care could lead to many major problems that will not correct themselves.
The term "strangles" is a common one in the horse world, but not always completely understood. A quick look at what this disease is and whether your horse can get it are probably in order. "Strangles" is a more common term for what is a bacterial infection in the upper airway of horses. The bacteria is known as Streptococcus equi. Horses can pick up Strep. equi by inhalation into the nasal chamber and the upper throat. The infection settles in the lymph nodes of the jaw and upper throat and these lymph nodes begin to enlarge as a result and form abscesses. The disease gets it's sinister name because, as these lymph nodes get bigger, they commonly compress the airway and hinder the horse's ability to breath. Clinical signs are seen in young horses, usually 6 months to 2 years of age, although adults can become infected. "Strangles" commonly begins as a fever, decreased appetite, lethargy, and a runny nose. With progression of the disease, the throat region will become swollen and the horse may extend its neck slightly to breathe and eat more easily. In the most severe situations, horses left untreated can die as a result of "strangles" from an inability to breath or from spread of the infection to other parts of the body. In less severe cases, the lymph node abscesses will rupture either to the outside spreading bacteria in the environment or into the horse's throat region; and, occasionally, they will regress. "Strangles" is very contagious and is spread from horse to horse by direct contact with animals shedding the bacteria. The bacteria are present in nasal secretions and in the content of ruptured lymph node abscesses. Keep in mind that horses shedding the infection may not look outwardly sick. The bacteria can also be picked up from surfaces that have been contaminated by a shedding horse, such as fence posts or water buckets or feed troughs. This potentially serious condition can be treated. Ask your veterinarian about the treatment of "strangles", how to help protect your horse, and what to do in the face of an outbreak among a group of horses.