Page 676 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

for foals and small horses.

VetBooks.ir Treatment

The aim of treatment is to:
• eliminate the bacterial infection

• remove the fluid and pus from the pleural cavity

• provide good nursing and supportive care to minimize the risk of complications.

Treatment includes:

• complete rest

• drainage of the chest cavity (Figure 15.11)

• flushing of the pleural cavity if pus and debris are present
• antibiotics for a long period of time including metronidazole to eliminate anaerobic

bacteria

• analgesics as the condition is very painful
• intravenous fluids as necessary

• careful nursing to make the horse as comfortable as possible and minimize stress; the

horse should be tempted to eat
• if there is a discrete abscess in the pleural cavity, a portion of rib may be removed under

local analgesia with the horse standing; the abscess is drained and flushed, then the chest
is left open to drain and heal by second intention

• surgical drainage under general anaesthesia is occasionally carried out as a salvage
procedure to try and save, for example, a valuable mare for breeding.