Pleuropneumonia / Shipping Fever

Veterinary care required

This condition belongs in veterinary diagnosis and treatment. Compounds are at most supportive.

Priority · vet & management

Pleuropneumonia is an urgent veterinary EMERGENCY — with fever, breathing difficulty and chest pain after transport, call the vet immediately. Diagnosis (ultrasound, thoracocentesis, lab) and therapy (including antibiosis, possibly drainage) belong solely in veterinary hands; the earlier the treatment, the better the outlook. Complementary feeds have no role in the acute phase.

Possible causes

• · bacterial infection of the deep airways (often Streptococcus equi zooepidemicus and anaerobes)
• · long transports with a permanently raised head (impaired self-cleaning)
• · stress and weakened defences after transport/competition
• · pre-existing airway irritation or infection

Supportive compounds · supplementary feed, not medication

Prevention

Transport breaks with a lowered head, shorter journey times, good ventilation and low-dust hay, as well as avoiding transport with an existing infection, markedly lower the risk of shipping fever.

Equiterna's take

Equiterna keeps pleuropneumonia strictly as an emergency with a clear transport link — compounds at most concern antioxidant support during convalescence, never the acute therapy.