Pigeon Fever

This is NOT what you want to see on your good rope horse. Recently, one of Jerold's students bought a Pro-caliber calf horse, and as cowboy luck would have it, the horse broke with Pigeon Fever 4 days after he was bought. Through no fault of the seller, and just plain bad luck, the horse first broke with infection 4 days after the purchase but 14 days before a significant roping that was critical to year end standings. In case you face the same situation here's some advice from one of the vets that the Camarillo's sometimes use. Dr. B. Farquer.
"Pigeon Fever, once considered a California equine disease primarily has been found with increasing frequency throughout the US. James Voss of Colorado State University reports a significant increase in cases in Colorado. "The disease is caused by a bacteria called Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis" says Dr. Farquer. "There are similar diseases in cattle, sheep and goats" he adds. There is a seasonal component and it seems to peak in the fall. "Our new calf horse broke with the disease in late September, consistent with the seasonality" says Dr. Farquer. The bacteria is ubiquitous to normal soil which means it lives there naturally. "This disease is highly contagious" says Dr. Farquer and "precautions must be taken". He indicates that the pus that drains from open sores should be cleaned up, soil should be treated with clorox bleach or lyme and sunlight. "This is not something you want all over a dark, and moist indoor barn stall" Dr. Farquer says. One of the complications involves pendulous edema, a filling of the skin and soft tissues with lymph fluid around the lesion area. Cold water, massage, and exercise may help. "There are other medications we may use for the edema" Dr. Farquer adds, "but they can have complications, so veterinarians tend to prescribe on a case-by-case basis". One thing that helps these horses is to exercise them. Walk/Trot and limited saddled riding helps with the edema, but should not be done until the veterinarian clears the horse to do so. "Contamination is a problem in the under-belly area on chinches" says Dr. Farquer. "I have my clients use a preg-check sleeve with the hand portion cut off, like a plastic tube, that is placed over the chinch. This way, if there is fluid draining it will not contaminate the chinch". He notes that it may be necessary to autoclave (a form of steam sterilization at high pressure) or disposal of contaminated tack. "You have to understand that this is NOT something you want spread between horses, and tack is a common pathway" says Dr. Farquer. "If in doubt, through it out".