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Fistulous Withers in Horses
Seek veterinary advice if you suspect this disease.
Fistulous withers is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterised by pus-filled wounds and swelling on the horse’s withers. The swelling is called a fistula and the withers are the highest part of the horse’s back.
The main causes of Fistulous Withers are: Infection – mainly through the organism Brucella Abortus found near cattle, parasites, trauma to the area or ill-fitting saddles, overloading or badly balanced loads.
Symptoms of Fistulous Withers in Horses
- Swollen withers
- Hot withers
- Sensitive withers
- Sore withers
- Pus discharge
- Reluctant to move
- Fur loss
- Stiff posture
- Low appetite
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Lameness
- Fever
- Weightloss
Common in
- Living with livestock
Treatment of Fistulous Withers in Horses
The most successful treatment is complete dissection and removal of the infected bursa together with antibiotics effective against Brucella organisms.
Prevention of Fistulous Withers in Horses
Prompt attention to any injuries to the withers area will help prevent infections that cause fistulous withers. Horses should not be pastured in areas where infected cattle have been for at least three months after the cattle have been removed.
Reduce the rubbing of harnesses and saddles.
How Happie can help you manage your horse's health
Digital health management offers numerous benefits in modern equine healthcare.
With the Happie Horse App, you can track symptom patterns and body values, such as Temperature, Pulse and Respiration. Allowing you to notice abnormal changes in body and behaviour early on, leading to more successful treatments.
The Happie symptom checker allows you to add all of your horse’s abnormal symptoms in order to present potential causes and diseases.
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