Pigeon Fever

By Lisa Woodland

It’s that time of year again when flies are getting thick. Flies are not only a pest for humans they can cause a serious illness in horses called Pigeon Fever. This is a nasty disease that is passed from horse to horse by flies. Once this disease gets in you heard it can and usually spread through the entire heard.

Last year we were lucky and we new the signs and what to watch for. We were able to catch it in the very early stages and treat it in time to keep is from spreading to the rest of our heard. We saw the inflammation in his chest and rushed him right to the vet. We put him on a high dose of penicillin prescribed by our local veterinarian. Within a week the swelling was gone and we never had to deal with an external abscess.

Early signs can include lameness, fever, lethargy, depression, weight loss and a profound abcess usually on the chest. Infections can vary from mild small abscesses to severe disease with multiple massive abscesses, swelling, and multiple sores that generally develops along the chest, midline and groin area. Occasionally they are found on the back. The disease is passed by flies getting in the open would and then taking it to another horse.

Treatment: This is there is no vaccine. You just treat the symptoms. Hot packs or poultices should be applied to the abscesses to encourage opening. Once they are opened, they should be drained regularly flushed with saline. If the abscess is deep and thick, it will require a surgical or deep lancing done by a veterinarian.

External abscesses can be cleaned with a .1% povidone-iodine solution. Antiseptic soaked gauze may be packed into the open wound. A non-steroidal 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.

From our experience preventing this disease is the best thing. Wipe your horses down with fly spray once a day. We also used the Victor® Fly Magnet® Trap. There are many pest control products I recommend shopping online at www.horse.com or www.countrysupply.com, make sure to enter the code CULBR at checkout.