PIGEON BREAST/PIGEON FEVER/FALSE STRANGLES
(Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis)
KEY POINTS:
- Using Natural Immunotherapy can dramatically improve the outcome of conditions characterized by abscess formation
- Enhancing the effectiveness of cell-mediated immunity is an important supportive therapy for deep abscessation
- Pigeon Breast Quarter Horse. Transfer Factor Premix Pellets can Enhance clinical outcomes when using traditional antibiotic therapy.
Patient: Mahza
age/breed/sex: 22 year old Quarter Horse Mare
History:
Mahza presented with both internal and external abscessation. Two other veterinarians had attempted therapy with Trimethoprim-Sulfa and Penicillin with no results.
Diagnostics:
2/2/2009—Mahza was taken to the UC Davis Veterinary Hospital with multiple external abscesses.
2/3/2009—Lab work revealed an elevated WBC with increased neutrophils (77 %) and decreased lymphocytes (16 %). UC Davis diagnosed Mahza with Pigeon Breast. It was confirmed later by a positive titer of 1:5120. The culture was positive for corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis.
Therapy:
2/2/2009—The owner requested that Dr. Ramaekers start Mahza on his Equine Immune Formula that day, and they went to UC Davis. Mahza did not receive antibiotics, but her owners continued to give her the Ramaekers Equine Immune Formula on a daily basis.
Follow up:
3/25/2009—Mahza showed marked clinical improvements with respect to the external abscesses. Also, she had a much-improved appetite and level of activity. Repeat lab work showed a normal WBC with both the neutrophils (54%) and lymphocytes (40%) returning to normal levels.
5/11/2009—Mahza continues to improve overall appearance and health. The external abscess was nearly completely healed.
Attending Veterinarian: Dr. Joe Ramaekers