Abscesses on fillies neck...4 GRAPHIC pictures

[Cara]

Im sorry.

 

[Marty]

Equine Nodular Sarcoma ???

http://www.arabianlines.com/horse_health/L...ids_graphic.htm

 

[Margaret]

So sorry,....I guess you have eliminated strangles as the cause, but if these are occuring on the neck area, that would have been my first suspicions, as it absesses in the neck area,- when allowed to run its course..

Also wanted to add that if it is strangles, recovery is possible by doing what you are doing.

 

[runaway ranch]

You have my prayers.

 

[willowoodstables]

Did the shipper mention anything about other horses getting sick? Or has anyone been even notified...I have an sneaking suspion there where a couple on that trailer that came up Ontario (Ottawa) way and maybe all the horses on the trailer owners should be notified??

Kim

 

[MeadowRidge Farm]

Kim, I agree, I think everyone who had a horse on that trailer should be notified also! I know I sure would want to know if my horses had been in contact with anything like this, a responsible shipper should be on top of this! I feel so bad for NIkki, she is doing everything she can think of along with her vet to try to help these fillies. Corinne

 

[iluvwalkers]

[SIZE=14pt]i spoke to the shipper and she said the other owners have been notified, and no other horses are sick. Nikki[/SIZE]

 

[hhpminis]

Nikki

Whatever this turns out to be, I hope it ends soon for you. Caring for these type of wounds is emotionally and physically exhausting. I am so sorry.

How is hubby this morning? I am very concerned about him as well.

I dont have any more ideas other than what has been given, I just wanted you to know that I am thinking of you.

Glad that the shipper is involved and the other owners have been notified. At least if something comes up on another animal on the trailer they can be a step ahead of the game. I'm so sorry.

 

[willowoodstables]

Nikki...

DId in fact these horses come to Ontario (Ottawa area)?? If so my colt was on that trailer, as was another filly who is owned by a friend of mine. My colt was quarantined when he got here, but I would like to make positive that he was not on that trailer. A lady I know lost a filly recently and she was just shipped in as well??!!

PM if you want

Kim

 

[CKC]

I used to own a mare(Jill owns her now) that she had the same sort of thing happen. I got a call from the trainers saying that she had this strange area on her neck that was opening up, etc. I was told while she was unhooking her from the cart a storm came up and the mare spooked and the end of the shaft hit her in the neck. Vet said it was a hematoma(deep bruising). It ended up needed to be lanced. They drained it, hosed it and it started to heal. I took her to a show not too long after it at healed. I was told she would be fine.

The day after I showed her the hematoma came back. I had to have a local vet at the show come. She had to open it up again and drain it. It didn't take long for her to heal. I would have to confirm with Jill, but I don't think there is a noticeable scar. I would have thought with as much skin tissue damage and as deep as the abscess was it would have a scar, but I don't believe it does.

Kim

 

[iluvwalkers]

[SIZE=14pt]Kim, i do not know what else was on the trailer or where or to whom it was going, these are not my horses, i did not hire the hauler or talk to her about who she was hauling for. the hauler has nothing to do with me. if you are concerned that your colt was on the trailer you should be contacting who ever hauled for you. i do not have that info. what i do have is 2 sick horses that i am doing my very best to take care of. and Annette thank you for your kind reply, it has been draining on us. Nikki[/SIZE]

 

[Magic]

This is scary, I sure hope that it isn't brucellosis! :new_shocked:

Keeping all of you in my prayers...

 

[iluvwalkers]

[SIZE=14pt]there were no cattle where this filly came from. so that's one good thing. i called the vet this morning but he hasn't called back yet, Nikki[/SIZE]

 

[hhpminis]

Guys, Nikki is exhausted and frustrated. She is a middle man that is doing the best she can with a terrible situation, no one is to blame including the previous owner or hauler.

We all know that horses can appear perfectly fine one day and get a clean bill of health from a vet and the next be sicker than sick. That is one reason I think health certificates are a waste of time, especially the 6 month ones, what a joke.

If you guys are concerned about horses that have been hauled into you, contact the hauler or who you bought them from. Nikki has enough to deal with right now. Not trying to be rude but give her a break OK.

 

[Mona]

Guys, Nikki is exhausted and frustrated. She is a middle man that is doing the best she can with a terrible situation, no one is to blame including the previous owner or hauler.

We all know that horses can appear perfectly fine one day and get a clean bill of health from a vet and the next be sicker than sick. That is one reason I think health certificates are a waste of time, especially the 6 month ones, what a joke.

If you guys are concerned about horses that have been hauled into you, contact the hauler or who you bought them from. Nikki has enough to deal with right now. Not trying to be rude but give her a break OK.

I agree with Annette. None of us would want to be in the shoes of either Nikki or the other owners of the horses on that trailer, BUT, we all know that we are taking that risk each and every time we have a horse hauled, or for that matter, each and every time we attend a show. As sad as it is, sometimes the horses do arrive sick. Knock on wood, so far, I have not had to deal with that yet.

 

[minih]

I looked at those pictures last night, and you know that has got to be painful. I also feel sorry for Nikki having to look at it and care for it. It's bound to be hard, tiring and worrying! Bless you for taking care of them the best you can. I will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers for a recovery soon.

Last winter I had our little gelding Rebel come up with a fungus all over his little body. He itched and rubbed raw spots and lost hair. We had to shave and bathe him in midwinter for two months. He had to stay wrapped in blankets and stalled until spring. Trying to keep the other horses from catching it (thank goodness they didn't) was awful. I cringe when I think about it and I know he does too. Hang in there, there will be a time when you can say last year too.

:

 

[iluvwalkers]

[SIZE=14pt]thank you all for the kind words

: . i spoke with the vet and he said he was testing for brucellosis as well as may other things and we will know by Friday. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt][/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]i also wanted to say thank you to hppminis and Mona, you both said exactly what i was thinking. both of these horses seemed to be perfectly healthy when they arrived and both had coggins and health papers to travel in the u.s. i do not blame this on anyone, not the sellers, hauler or owner, it is just something that i do not think could have been prevented. just my luck they ended up here though . Nikki [/SIZE]

 

[MeadowRidge Farm]

Nikki, why dont you post that cute picture of you and the filly, (you in your jammies) so everyone can see for thereselves how nice she looked, just 10 days (??)ago! We all know your doing your best and you just make sure you take care of yourself on top of everything else! (((HUGS))) Corinne

 

[2minis]

there isis a condition that looks like this that is pretty prevalent at times in southern california called Dryland Distemper (about 20 horses at my former boarding stable had it: multiple honeycombing abscesses usually on the chest or neck- some as large as a foot long (on an arab)- you could fit your whole fist up into another horses chest. luckily all healed with hardly a scar. don't know if they have it in other areas of the country. I think another common name for it is pigeon fever.

 

[rabbitsfizz]

Found this:-

FORT COLLINS - Equine veterinarians at Colorado State University's James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital report a serious increase in the number of cases of pigeon fever they have treated since early fall and warn horse owners to be alert for signs of the highly contagious disease. Seventy-six cases from Colorado's Front Range have been confirmed by the Colorado State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory since early fall, more than six times the number of cases from last year's total of 12 confirmed cases and far above the seven confirmed cases in 2000."What was once considered a disease of California horses is now a growing problem for the Colorado equine population," said Andrea Torres, veterinarian and microbiology resident who conducted a study of the disease in Colorado in 2000-2001. "The increased number of confirmed cases may be due to a more educated horse-owning public and/or to more veterinarians being aware of the disease and testing for it."Torres and other veterinarians at the hospital point out that the signs of pigeon fever can also initially resemble those of other diseases such as strangles. Sometimes the only initial signs are lameness and a reluctance to move.Pigeon fever, also called pigeon breast, breastbone fever, false strangles, dryland strangles or dryland distemper, is caused by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis and is found worldwide. It can strike a horse of any age, sex or breed, but usually attacks young adult animals. There is a low incidence in foals.It has also been diagnosed in cattle, and a similar disease affects sheep and goats. The disease is not transmissible to humans, although humans can carry the infectious agent on shoes, clothing, hands or barn tools and transfer it to another animal.Clinical signs include lameness, fever, lethargy and weight loss and usually is accompanied by very deep abscesses and multiple sores along the chest, midline and groin area and, sometimes, the back. Abscesses also can develop internally.The disease is called pigeon fever because infected animals often develop abscesses in their pectoral muscles, which swell and resemble a pigeon's chest. Although the disease is considered seasonal, with most cases occurring in early fall, a number of cases have been confirmed during winter months and other times of the year as well.The causative bacteria live in the soil and can enter the animal's body through wounds, broken skin or through mucous membranes. Additionally, some researchers believe pigeon fever may be transmitted by flies.The disease occurs in three forms: external abscesses, internal abscesses and limb infection, also known as ulcerative lymphangitis. The most common forms are external abscess and lymphangitis, with the prognosis of a full recovery being generally good. Internal abscesses are much more difficult to treat."Because this disease is so highly contagious, it is very important that veterinarians accurately diagnose these cases to tailor treatment and control," said Torres."Horse owners should be aware of the clinical signs and understand that veterinary care must be timely. Infected horses should be isolated, the abscesses properly treated and the drainage properly disposed of. The area where the infected horse is kept must be properly cleaned and completely disinfected because this is a very hardy bacterium. Pest control is extremely important"As a service to horse owners, Colorado State's equine veterinarians have created a fact sheet on pigeon fever (attached) that is posted on the Colorado State University website at www.cvmbs.colostate.edu/vth and www.colostate.edu on the news page.

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.

This does look very simialr in description!!