My goal is to send you interesting stories and helpful tips for your horse care, training, and riding. It started as an egg sized swelling a few weeks ago but matured to larger than grapefruit size rather quickly. It is caused by infection from the bacteria corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis . It is not known exactly how the bacteria is carried into the horse's tissues, but it is almost certain to be an insect of some type. Horses that get Pigeon Breast can be of any age or sex and are usually in good health.
Most cases occur in California and Texas in the late summer and early fall.
My veterinarian said that in all of his years of practice, he has only seen two cases - about 11 years ago and both were horses that moved here to Colorado from California and came down with it soon after arrival. Since then he has not had a single case until this year. If a thick, creamy pus is aspirated, it is time to open the abscess. After the drainage incision is made and the exudate is released, the deep cavity is flushed thoroughly with betadine solution. Follow up includes hydrotherapy, a thorough cleansing with Betadine Scrub, and flushing with betadine solution.