I am having difficulty posting photos on the site. I will add pictures when I get to a new location.

The BLM has finally “caught up” on data entry. New Gather “update” here.

Included under today’s date is the first mention of Pigeon Fever. It also includes a link to a “report” on Pigeon Fever by Dr. Sanford.

It also lists another death for today: One 12 year-old mare was euthanized for a spinal fracture due to collision with a fence while sorting.

And one on March 27th: One five year old stallion was found dead in general population and died of unknown causes.

Here is Sanford’s piece on Pigeon Fever.

Pigeon Fever at Indian Lakes Road Facility in Fallon, NV
Veterinarian report prepared by: Richard Sanford, DVM. NV# 565
Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis: bacteria which is found in the soil, is most likely transmitted by biting flies and has a very long incubation period (weeks – months). The disease has nothing to do with pigeons. The name comes from the large chest abscesses that some horses can get, which look like the large breast of a pigeon. (Also known as “Dryland Distemper” or “Pigeon Breast”)
Of the Calico Complex horses gathered from December 29, 2009 – February 4, 2010, approximately 2 percent of the 1,922 horses received at the facility showed clinical signs of healed chest abscesses from recent Pigeon Fever infection and .25 percent to .50 percent showed more recent or currently were infected with Pigeon Fever.
As of March 31, 2010, at the Indian Lakes Road facility, Pigeon Fever is still noted at the .25 percent to .50 percent rate, mostly found in the juvenile horses. The incidence of Pigeon Fever at the Indian Lakes Facility is at the same percentages that exist on the Calico Complex. The chest swellings range from golf ball size to grapefruit size. Fly season occurs at the end of summer. Therefore, it is expected that incidents of Pigeon Fever will decrease over time. Disease may or may not reoccur during the 2010 fly season based on environmental factors, such as temperatures, precipitation levels, soil conditions, fly conditions, etc. It is noted that California had severe Pigeon Fever conditions during the 2009 fly season. It is speculated those conditions apply to Nevada as well.
Horses housed at the Indian Lakes Road facility that have active Pigeon Fever are being monitored. No treatments have been administered to date. Abscesses have all resolved without treatment. No deaths or complications have been associated with infection. Based on 25 years of past experience with wild horses and burros, Pigeon Fever can exist in many of our wild herds depending on current year environmental conditions.

Now here are my comments:

1. Let’s look at this first

Of the Calico Complex horses gathered from December 29, 2009 – February 4, 2010, approximately 2 percent of the 1,922 horses received at the facility showed clinical signs of healed chest abscesses from recent Pigeon Fever infection and .25 percent to .50 percent showed more recent or currently were infected with Pigeon Fever.

We can now ask “if” this was the case why would it not be part of the information posted on updates? And why was Don Glenn of the BLM completely unaware that Pigeon Fever was even present? Why were the horses from the areas where Pigeon Fever symptoms were present processed and moved into pens with horses from other areas?

2. This blanket statement may be a temporary current statement about the horses at the facility but it is NOT true about Pigeon Fever in general.

No deaths or complications have been associated with infection.

Death is rare, but can occur. Complications, including infection after rupture or from internal abscesses, are not uncommon. There is also a death listed above that I’m sure “unknown cause” works fine without a necropsy in a diseased population….

3. All I need is this piece of the last statement:

Based on 25 years of past experience with wild horses and burros,

Based on 25 years with horses and burros you consider a feral invasive species. 25 years of Equine Veterinary (or even a boarding barn!) would create a different situation where precautions to protect the horses and the facility itself would have occurred.

If you don’t remember Sanford here’s the “complete” vet report on “Hope.”

February 6, 2010

History and Report on Sloughed Hoof Colt

An eight month old colt arrived at the Indian Lakes Facility on about 1/20/2010

and was in very poor body condition and had sore feet.  It was placed in the sick pen area where treatment could be administered.  Over the next ten days, thecolt was treated with phenylbutazone (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug), penicillin (an antibiotic) and foot bandages (one front foot and both hind feet) on three occasions before it was euthanized on 1/30/2010.

The colt alternately improved and regressed.  The colt would be standing while eating and drinking one day and not on the next day.  The colt never was able to actually gain weight, improve body condition or show increased energy.

Lameness improved with treatment but eventually the colt became too weak to stand.  Hoof wall separation occurred on the front foot and one hind foot.  The colt was euthanized for humane reasons.

The gather most likely caused the hoof trauma in this case.  However, the poor body condition and weakness was most likely present before the gather.

Richard Sanford, DVM

NV # 565

Link to previous post about the Vet report and time line of little “Hope.”

One of the things that frustrates me the most is that they want to talk the language of “management.” Then they claim superior management in statements like “In 25 years of wild horse and burro management…”

The common definition of “insanity” is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.