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  Discussion on Too early for pigeon fever?
Author Message
Member:
mrose

Posted on Monday, Apr 19, 2010 - 4:49 pm:

When I went out to feed this a.m. I saw that one of my mares has a hard swelling all along her midline, from udder to girth area, with an additional swelling about the size of a baseball to the right of the main swelling in approximately the girth area. She has no other symptoms. I did make an appointment for her to see the vet on Wednesday, but am wondering about the posibility of p.f. There were a lot of cases in this area last summer and fall, with several cases, one nearby, that is still ongoing.

The mare is Libby, the mare that had the severe tendon injury and infection a few years ago. She is mostly confined to a large stall and pen and hand walked due to the time of year, so hasn't been exposed to any other horses than our own. We did have a boarder come in a couple of months ago, but there has been no contact between the two horses and he is quite aways from her.
Member:
lilo

Posted on Monday, Apr 19, 2010 - 8:58 pm:

Hi Sara,

Moonlight got pigeon fever in late March of 2004. I remember the date, because I had to go out of town on business in early April, and had to hire a neighbor to come and do the rinsing and wrapping of the front legs. Poor lady, the abscess broke open while I was gone and it was no fun!!!

I hope it is not pigeon fever, but I don't think the time of year rules it out.

Lilo
Member:
mrose

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 20, 2010 - 11:06 am:

I hope it's not also! Quite awhile back we had a mare that had it and it was a mess to deal with, as you know! We have't had any flies yet, so am hoping she's not got it, but vet tech said she thinks horses can get it without showing symptoms and then it breaks out later. My other worry is liver disease since she had so many meds when she had that severe infection and has had quite a bit of bute over the years since. She was on gastroguard, but hasn't been this last year. She hasn't been getting a lot of bute for some time now, but still does get it occassionaly. I'm concerned there may be damage to her liver that is now catching up to her. I have high hopes she's just retaining fluid from standing around so much. Hopefully the vet will be able to tell me what's going on.
Member:
canter

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 20, 2010 - 12:55 pm:

Sara, I'll keep my fingers crossed that it is not PF, but something hopefully mild and quick to heal. I think we're all very fond of Libby, just because of what she's been through and her fighting spirit.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 20, 2010 - 1:08 pm:

Sara, the most common reason I see a midline swelling this during the warm season is a reaction to fly bites but the bigger off center swelling could be trauma. Is there any fever?
DrO
Member:
mrose

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 20, 2010 - 1:25 pm:

No Dr. O, no fever. And, I have yet to see one fly. We have only been warm now for a few days; (had snow and very cold nights until this past weekend.) I have seen spiders though; could a spider bite cause this? She isn't in with other horses, or where anyone could reach through and bite or kick her and I see no signs of trauma.
Member:
vickiann

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 20, 2010 - 2:56 pm:

Hope that Libby's swelling reduces soon and that this is not serious, Sara.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Apr 22, 2010 - 5:31 am:

I guess if you have seen poisonous spiders that were in the areas where your horses frequent this would be a possibility.
DrO
Member:
mrose

Posted on Thursday, Apr 22, 2010 - 10:41 am:

Libby went to the vet's yesterday, and of course by then the swelling had gone down a lot. He wasn't sure what had caused the swelling, but said it could have been a bite (we do have black widows and lots of other spiders in the area.) He said to walk her, which I have been, gave me some oral meds to help with edema and said to let him know if it didn't continue to go down or if it got worse. She seemed to enjoy her outing; ate a little grass (even though it was snowing) and seems even better this a.m. So, guess it was nothing serious. I'm just paranoid about this mare in particular, and all the others also after the year we had last year! Thanks for all the good thoughts.
Member:
vickiann

Posted on Thursday, Apr 22, 2010 - 2:49 pm:

Glad to hear that things are going better with the swelling, Sara.
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