10/15/2026
🚨 PIGEON FEVER ALERT: We’ve been seeing a LOT of cases recently throughout our area! 🚨
Pigeon Fever is a bacterial infection affecting horses, and we want our clients to know how it spreads, what to watch for, and what to do if you suspect your horse may be affected.
🦠 What causes Pigeon Fever?
Pigeon Fever is caused by a bacterium called Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. This bacterium lives in the soil and can survive in the environment for more than 8 months, making it difficult to eliminate once an area has been affected.
🪰 How does it spread, and how long does it take for signs to appear?
The bacteria can enter a horse’s body through mucous membranes and any break in the skin. Flies can carry the bacteria between horses, and transmission may also occur through abscess drainage (i.e., from horse to horse) if direct contact with broken skin occurs.
Abscesses typically develop 3–4 weeks after infection, so a horse may have been exposed well before you notice any signs.
🐴 What signs should you look for?
There are two main forms of Pigeon Fever:
1️⃣ External abscesses — The most common form
These are pockets of infection that develop under the skin. They can appear almost anywhere on the body but are most commonly found on the chest and under the belly. Swelling on the chest can resemble a pigeon’s breast, which is where the disease gets its name. Other possible locations include the legs, axillary regions, and sheath or mammary glands.
Abscesses may begin as painful swellings but eventually open to drain thick, typically tan-colored pus. Most horses with external abscesses otherwise feel relatively normal, although mild fever (re**al temperature >101.5°F) can occur.
2️⃣ Internal abscesses — The more serious form
In approximately 8% of affected horses, the bacteria cause abscesses inside the body, potentially involving the liver, kidneys, spleen, or lungs. These abscesses may occur with or without visible external abscesses. Signs can be vague and may include fever, lethargy or depression, a reduced appetite, weight loss or poor overall condition, and colic-like signs or other signs related to the organ affected.
Internal infection can be life-threatening, so a horse that seems unwell, especially with a persistent or moderate to marked fever or unexplained weight loss, should be evaluated by a veterinarian, even if no external abscesses are present.
🩺 How is Pigeon Fever treated?
Treatment depends on the location and severity of the infection.
✅ External abscesses: External abscesses usually respond well to warm compresses, poulticing, veterinary-guided drainage via ultrasound, flushing, and anti-inflammatory medication for pain and inflammation. Antibiotics are not always necessary and may even delay resolution, so treatment decisions should be made by your veterinarian.
✅ Internal abscesses: This form generally requires more intensive treatment, including antibiotics. Diagnostic testing and repeat examinations
may be needed to monitor progress.
Your veterinarian may recommend testing to confirm the diagnosis or running bloodwork to investigate the horse’s overall health status. Keeping tetanus vaccination current is also important.
⚠️ What should you do if you suspect Pigeon Fever?
• Contact your veterinarian promptly if you notice suspicious swellings, draining abscesses, fever, or unexplained weight loss.
• Separate the affected horse as far from other horses as possible while awaiting veterinary guidance.
• Wear gloves when handling abscess drainage and carefully collect and dispose of contaminated materials double-bagged directly into a trash can or dumpster with the lid closed.
• Prevent abscess drainage from soiling stalls, paddocks, shared equipment, and other horses by covering affected areas, if possible.
• Improve fly control by using appropriate repellents (e.g., fly spray, SWAT, etc.), fly sheets, fly traps, Fly Predators, etc., and quickly muck manure and contaminated bedding.
• Avoid sharing buckets, grooming tools, and other equipment between affected and healthy horses.
📍 Important for our horse owners: Pigeon Fever is immediately reportable in Oregon. If you suspect a case, contact your veterinarian promptly so it can be appropriately reported to the state veterinarian.
There is currently no commercially available vaccine for Pigeon Fever, so fly control, early recognition, isolation, and good hygiene are especially important.
The good news is that most horses with simple external abscesses recover well with appropriate care. However, because internal infections can be much more serious, please don't ignore signs that your horse isn't feeling well.
If you notice suspicious swellings or have another concern about your horse, please reach out to our team. We're here to help!
📚 Want to learn more or follow reported cases? Check out these resources:
🔹 American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Pigeon Fever Guidelines:
https://aaep.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Pigeon-Fever-DZ-Guidelines-2026-FINAL.pdf
🔹 Oregon Department of Agriculture Pigeon Fever Information for Animal Owners:
https://www.oregon.gov/oda/animal-health-feeds-livestock-id/animal-diseases/PigeonFever/Pages/Pigeon-Fever-Information-for-Animal-Owners.aspx
🔹 Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) Reported Case Alerts:
https://www.equinediseasecc.org/pigeon-fever
Please share this post with fellow horse owners to help spread awareness and protect our local equine community! 🐴💙
