Ridecamp: Re: [RC] pigeon fever -contagious?

Hi Teresa
You might want to look at the archives; we recently just had a big 
discussion on this and whether or not antibiotics help or prolong. Also, 
it is spread by flies biting one infected animal and passing it on to 
another by biting. If your horses have been exposed, you might not want 
to take them as you may be putting others at risk.
Bette (who still can't eat Bismarks!)

Teresa Van Hove wrote:

> Trying to determine if I need to scratch plans to attend a ride
> this sat.  Couple horses on our place have pigeon fever.  No sign
> of it on Grey Moun, but I dont want to take him somewhere if he
> could be contagious, and it sounds like they can have the bacteria
> before they show any swellings.  Also I separated him, but they
> have a common water tank.  Can it be spread in the drinking
> water, or is spread caused only by flies, or direct contact
> with an oozing abcess?   
>
> Also what is recommendation for antibiotics?  I did a bit of
> web searching and it sounds like some vets recommend against
> antibiotics for external swelling/abcessing.  The first horse
> is already getting antibiotics, but since Shade has so many
> nerve endings (she feels -and resents- shots even when twitched)
> I'm holding off on giving her penicillan; and our vet said the
> oral antibiotics are not as effective.  Seems to be some thinking
> that antibiotics could increase chances of internalized abcessing;
> hopefully not if an abcess has already opened like it has on 
> Star.  
>
> Thanks in advance,


--
Bette Lamore
Whispering Oaks Arabians
Home of 16.2h TLA Halynov
who lives on through his legacy
Hal's Riverdance!
http://www.arabiansporthorse.com


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