How do you treat an infected guttural pouch?
Treatment of choice includes antibiotics, flushing the guttural pouch with a physiologic solution to remove the pus, and analgesic (pain-killing) drugs. In severe cases, the pus might have to be removed by surgical drainage. In rare cases, the pus hardens into round balls called chondroids.
What is a guttural pouch flush horse?
• after an outbreak of Strangles on a yard. The guttural pouches are two air filled sacs which open into the back of the horses’ throat. Bacteria can reside in these pouches without the horse showing any signs of being unwell. These horses are known as carriers and can act as a reservoir for infection to other animals.
Is strangles a real horse virus?
Strangles is a highly contagious upper respiratory tract infection caused by the bacteria Streptococcus equi. It affects horses, donkeys and ponies of all ages, breed and sex. The bacteria often infect the lymph nodes around the jaw, causing them to become swollen.
How do you flush a guttural pouch?
Balanced electrolyte solutions with acetylcys- teine, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), or a combination of antimicrobials can be used to flush the guttural pouches. Dilute povidone-iodine solutions (1%) are also used; however, iodine can be neutralized by exudates.
What is the purpose of guttural pouch?
Recently, investigators determined that the equine guttural pouches function during selective brain-cooling to maintain blood carried by the internal carotid arteries at a temperature below the core body temperature during hyperthermia, induced by exercise.
What does the guttural pouch do?
What clinical signs are associated with an infection of the guttural pouch?
Clinical signs include intermittent purulent nasal discharge, painful swelling in the parotid area, and in severe cases, stiff head carriage and stertorous breathing. Fever, depression, and anorexia may or may not be seen. Diagnosis is determined by endoscopic examination of the guttural pouch.
How long is strangles contagious for?
Horses who have had strangles may be contagious to other horses for a minimum of 3 weeks after all signs have resolved. Some horses are contagious for much longer (months).
How do you prevent guttural pouch mycosis?
With no definitive cause identified, veterinarians can only speculate how to lessen the chances your horse will develop guttural pouch mycosis: Keep stalls clean and dry. Be sure to clean out the corners of the horse’s stall where molds and fungi might accumulate.
Why are guttural pouches prone to infection?
Due to the general inaccessibility of the pouches in horses, they can be an area of infection by fungi and bacteria, and these infections can be extremely severe and hard to treat. The condition guttural pouch tympany affects several breeds, including the Arabian horse.
Can a horse get an infection in the guttural pouch?
In most cases a horse’s immune system fights off these microorganisms, but in some cases they become trapped in the guttural pouch, leading to infection. Keep an eye out for some of the most common symptoms of guttural pouch: How is it Diagnosed?
How does guttural pouch disease affect Arabian horses?
A genetic basis of disease has been identified in Arabian and German warmblood breeds. In some cases, the condition is acquired due to inflammation of the upper respiratory tract. The affected guttural pouch is distended with air and forms a characteristic nonpainful swelling in the parotid region.
Are there any rare diseases of the guttural pouches?
Temporohyoid osteoarthropathy is another rare disease of guttural pouches. This is also caused by an infection, but the infection affects the middle ear of the horse. The middle ear is very close to where the stylohyoid bone forms a joint with the skull on the roof of the guttural pouch.
What to do about pus in the guttural pouch?
Guttural pouch empyema, or pus in the guttural pouch, is frequently related to strangles (Streptococcus equi infection). Affected horses are often infectious. Drainage from the guttural pouch openings may be seen on endoscopy. Treatment generally involves lavage of the guttural pouch combined with systemic and/or local antimicrobials.