Pigeon Fever

[Watermark_Farm]

@Appsolute;8096734

Yes - vet at the seminar I went to recommended swat on the mid line - and on any tiny little cuts or abrasions your horse may have.

A lot about transmission etc is not really understood.

This!

I live in CA and had a really bad year with PF. Several horses had external and one nearly died from the internal version (saved only with weeks of meds).

I did not quarantine the affected horses because it’s really pointless – the bacteria is in the soil and is carried around by flies. So I had a mixed turnout group, some who wound up with PF and some who didn’t.

Without exception, the horses who tended to have chronic belly sores from flies were the ones who got pigeon fever. I believe it’s transmitted by flies and when the horse lays down on infected soil.

I am pretty hard-core these days about putting Swat, vaseline, anything greasy on those midlines during summer. To date, not a single case of PF, and my pasture definitely has the bacteria sitting in it.

[Appsolute]

Just an update about the vaccine.

I spoke with the vet again (who has been in close contact with the people developing the vaccine).

The vaccine will not be administered to new horses at this time - not until the reactions are understood.

Horses who got the first (of the two shot series), AND did not have reactions, can now get the second shot (my horse is in this category).

So mine will be getting the second round this week. Titers will be run at a later date to further research the vaccine.

[Quelah]

That sounds like a sensible approach

[Appsolute]

And yet another update on the vaccine.

Apparently reactions to the second round of vaccine were proving more severe than the first.

I observed a horse at my barn that was quite stiff, with stocking up in the hind legs for about a week.

I decided to NOT get the second round, did not want the additional risks.