"We're asking vets to get behing this year's campaign which can only benefit all of us who work with, and love, horses" - Andie McPherson, Chairperson of SAW.

SAW is providing free resources to practices to encourage conversations with clients.

Redwings Horse Sanctuary is urging veterinary professionals to get involved with this year's Strangles Awareness Week (SAW), taking place from 2 - 8 May 2022.

Strangles, which is the most commonly diagnosed equine infectious disease worldwide, can cause laboured breathing, difficulty eating and depression, a high fever, thick nasal discharge, painful abscesses, and can even pose a risk to a horse's life. 

Andie McPherson, chairperson of SAW and campaigns manager at Redwings, urged veterinary professionals: “We know that horse owners are eight times more likely to turn to their vet for advice about strangles than they are their friends yet these conversations tend to happen on discovery of a case, when stress levels are high. 

“SAW is all about education before an outbreak happens. We’re asking vets to get behind this year’s campaign which can only benefit all of us who work with, and love, horses.”

The organisers of SAW are providing tools for veterinary professionals to encourage and support more conversations about strangles with clients. Veterinary practices are encouraged to apply for free resources, including a 'Talk to be about strangles' badge to prompt conversation with clients, and well as an editable presentation on the disease, to provide information and raise awareness.

David Rendle, junior vice president of the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA), said: “BEVA are very pleased to support another Strangles Awareness Week and to see new initiatives being developed to prevent the spread of strangles and other infectious disease. 

“BEVA would urge every horse owner and yard owner to discuss infectious disease control with their vet and to have plans and protocols in place.”

During SAW this year, horse owners are being encouraged to take the 'Temperature Check Challenge', by checking their horse's resting temperature every day, and inputting the data into a free online checker, designed to calculate an average and assist owners in familiarising themselves with temperature fluctuation. 

“It is essential that horse owners are familiar with practical measures such as temperature checking so that they can identify infectious diseases such as strangles before they can spread,” David added. 

“The Temperature Check Challenge is a great way to become more familiar with temperature checking.”

More about SAW can be found at redwings.org.uk/strangles, and any veterinary professionals keen to become an ambassador and promote SAW through social media can sign up via the website, or email campaigns@redwings.co.uk 

Image (C) Redwings Horse Sanctuary/Strangles Awareness Week