An 18-year-old Standardbred gelding was presented to the Cornell Equine Hospital with a five-hour history of decreased appetite and soft manure after a 25-hour trailer ride. Aside from mild weight loss earlier in the year, there was no other recent history of illness and the patient was current on core vaccinations and dental examinations. On presentation, the patient was tachycardic, tachypneic, exhibited increased respiratory effort, and had an elevated temperature. Bilateral harsh lung sounds and right cranio-ventral pleural rubbing were auscultated. Thoracic ultrasound showed bilateral cranio-ventral consolidation and pleural effusion. Initial blood work revealed mild hyperlactatemia, mild increased anion gap, hypochloremia, and mild metabolic alkalosis. Given the clinical history and signs, pleuropneumonia was diagnosed. The patient responded well to intravenous flunixin meglumine, penicillin, gentamicin, and oral metronidazole. Serial thoracic ultrasounds and blood work were performed and showed resolved pleural effusion, improved lung consolidation, and improved hyperfibrinogenemia at the time of discharge. The patient was discharged with a ten-day course of trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole and a five-day course of metronidazole. Repeat blood work five days after discharge was within normal reference intervals.
This case report will discuss etiology, pathophysiology, treatments, and complications of equine pleuropneumonia, commonly referred to as shipping fever.