Pigeon Breast

[Anonymous]

Has anyone heard or had experiences with "pigeon breast" in horses... I've never had any contact with it- altho I had heard of it- but when I was in town today I heard it is really going around up here this year- several folks have horses with it...

Horses develop swelling and abcess on either one or both shoulders-- treat by either lancing them or allowing them to rupture (depending on vets you talk to) and treat with Iodine....My old vet buddy says the state vet says their isn't any antibiotic that works on the infection.....

 

[Nicky]

Saw an article with pictures somewhere...Western Horseman probably. It looked downright disgusting if I remember correctly.

 

[Jerry H]

i worked in a feedyard a few years back "yep broke and no place else to go so i lowered my selof to ride pens" any how they seemed to always have at least one horse around there with this problem and when one of my horses got it the cowboss had me to give him naxel and lance the abcess and i don't think he ever missed a days work because of the problem
until later
jerry

 

[redneckcowgirlmn]

Looked this up for ya, I was a lg animal vet tech for 10 yrs "Pre-Kid" stage in my life. Hope it helps.

Dryland Distemper......Pigeon Fever

One of the most commonly diagnosed bacterial problems in
California (and several other western states) is dryland
distemper, otherwise known as pigeon fever.

This disease is caused by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis and
is seen worldwide. It usually is associated with very deep
abscesses and multiple sores along the chest and midline.

Clinical signs can include lameness, fever, lethargy, and weight
loss. Dryland distemper can occur in any age, sex, or breed of
horse, but most cases occur in young animals (less than five
years of age), according to Sharon Spier, DVM, PhD, Dipl.
ACVIM, of the University of California, Davis. The disease
is seasonal, with the majority of cases seen in the late fall,
but sporadic cases can "pop up" during other times of the year.

Some years have more cases than other years, but researchers
don't know why. Similar to strangles, outbreaks can occur when
herd immunity wanes or naive horses are exposed.

The causative bacteria live in the soil and can enter the horse's
body through wounds or broken skin, and through mucous membranes.


It can be transmitted by various flies, including house flies and
probably horn flies.

Dryland distemper might take weeks or months for abscesses to
develop fully after the horse is infected. This means that horses
might be transported to a region where dryland distemper is
unknown, develop active abscesses or sores, and because of the
scarcity of the disease in that region, not be diagnosed
properly, or at all. Abscesses usually form deep in muscles, such
as the pectorals. This causes swelling that looks like a
puffed-out pigeon breast, thus giving the name pigeon fever to
the disease.

These abscesses can be very large and might require hot
poultices, lancing, flushing, or draining. Some cases might
require surgical intervention to promote drainage.

The disease occurs in three forms--external abscesses, internal
abscesses, or limb infection known as ulcerative lymphangitis.

The external abscess "form" is the most common, said Spier. For
external abscesses, the use of antibiotics is controversial, and
timing is important. The use of antibiotics for external
abscesses might actually prolong the infection.

Antibiotics do need to be used for internal abscesses or for
infections involving the limbs (ulcerative lymphangitis), said
Spier.

While prognosis generally is good for a complete recovery, some
horses might have recurrence of abscesses or sores once treatment
is stopped. Other horses might seem to be cured, only to develop
more clinical signs in a matter of months.

It is recommended that contaminated stalls, paddocks, and
utensils be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected where possible.
Because flies can carry the bacteria, pest control can serve as a
deterrent to spread or continuance of the disease.

If you suspect your horse has dryland distemper, contact your
veterinarian for a diagnosis and a proper treatment regimen. Some
information for this article was taken from Equine Internal
Medicine by Stephen M. Reed, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, and Warwick M. Bayly, BVSc, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks redneck girl---thats pretty much the same thing the old Vet told me too...Luckily so far I haven't seen it in any of my horses....

 

[redneckcowgirlmn]

You're welcome...Hope you NEVER see it, it's NOT fun at all!
Have a good day! :wink:

 

[Jinglebob]

My old bay had it a few years ago. It went the rounds of this country with no rhyme or reason. Some got it and others didn't. None died that I know of. They called it pigeon fever.

I had to keep Woodrow penned seperate for a month with no contact with any other horse.

I heard of different ones who swole up and broke in every concievable place. Any lumps, get it checked.

I hate giving antibiotics for a month. :x

 

[OldDog/NewTricks]

Had this 15 years ago

FACT SHEET: PIGEON FEVER IN EQUINES

Common Names:
Pigeon fever, pigeon breast, breastbone fever, dryland distemper, dryland strangles, false strangles, false distemperGeographic Incidence: Endemic to California, but now found in most Western states in the U.S.Seasonal: Usually appears in late fall but can appear sporadically at any time of year.

Cause: Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis

Vaccine: None at this time.

Reservoirs and mode of transmission: Can live in the soil and enter the horse's body through wounds or broken skin and through mucous membranes.
May possibly be transmitted by flies, including the common housefly and horn flies.
Disease is usually highly contagious and can easily infect multiple horses on the premises.
Bacterium in the pus draining from abscesses on infected horses can survive from one to 55 days in the environment. It has also been shown to survive from one to eight days on surface contaminants and from seven to 55 days within feces, hay, straw or wood shavings.
Lower temperatures prolong the survival time.

Clinical signs: Early signs can include lameness, fever, lethargy, depression and weight loss.
Infections can range from mild, small, localized abscesses to a severe disease with multiple massive abscesses containing liters of liquid, tan-colored pus.
External, deep abscesses, swelling and multiple sores develop along the chest, midline and groin area, and, occasionally, on the back.

Incubation period: Horses may become infected but not develop abscesses for weeks.Animals affected:The disease usually manifests in younger horses, but can occur in any age, sex, and breed.
A different biotype of the organism is responsible for a chronic contagious disease of sheet and goats, Caseous lymphadenitis, or CL. Either biotype can occur in cattle.

Disease forms: Generally 3 types: external abscesses, internal abscesses or limb infection (ulcerative lymphangitis).
The ulcerative lymphangitis is the most common form worldwide and rarely involves more than one leg at a time. Usually, multiple small, draining sores develop above the fetlock.
The most common form of the disease in the United States is external abscessation, which often form deep in the muscles and can be very large. Usually they appear in the pectoral region, the ventral abdomen and the groin area. After spontaneous rupture, or lancing, the wound will exude liquid, light tan-colored, malodorous pus.
Internal abscesses can occur and are very difficult to treat

Diagnosis: Your veterinarian can easily collect a sample for culture at a diagnostic laboratory. It is important to isolate the bacterium to get a definitive diagnosis since pigeon fever can superficially resemble other diseases.

Treatment: Hot packs or poultices should be applied to abscesses to encourage opening. Open abscesses should be drained and regularly flushed with saline.
Surgical or deep lancing may be required, depending on the depth of the abscess or the thickness of the capsule, and should be done by your veterinarian.
Ultrasound can aid in locating deep abscesses so that drainage can be accomplished.
External abscesses can be cleaned with a 0.1 percent povidone-iodine solution
Antiseptic soaked gauze may be packed into the open wound
A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug such as phenylbutazone can be used to control swelling and pain
Antibiotics are controversial. Their use in these cases has sometimes been associated with chronic abscessation and, if inadequately used, may contribute to abscesses, according to one study.
The most commonly used antibiotic for the treatment of this condition is procaine penicillin G, administered intramuscularly, or trimethoprim-sulfa.
In the case of internal abscesses, prolonged penicillin therapy is necessary

Care required: Buckets or other containers should be used to collect pus from draining abscesses and this infectious material should be disposed of properly.
Consistent and careful disposal of infected bedding, hay, straw or other material used in the stall is vitally important.
Thoroughly clean and disinfect stalls, paddocks, all utensils and tack.
Pest control for insects is also very important.

Recovery time: Usually anywhere from two weeks to 77 days.

Prognosis: Usually good with complete recovery, although some horses may experience recurrence.

I used a neddle to drain (from the bottom) when needed and injecter Hydrogen Peroxide (Neddle hole let the Peroxide drain