Therapeutic management of pulmonary abscess in a horse

A gelding horse was presented with chronic respiratory distress, reduced drafting utility and weight loss. Clinical examination showed high fever, congested conjunctiva, inspiratory distress, tachycardia and mucoid nasal discharge. Lung auscultation revealed inspiratory distress, whizzing, tachypnoea and tracheal noise with neutrophilia and high total leucocyte count. Pulmonary scan showed multiple abscesses on both lungs surface with varied diameter suggesting chronic obstructive lung disease. On basis of clinical and pulmonary ultrasonographic findings, horse received Tab. Rifampicin @ 5 mg/ kg, Tab. Azithromycin @ 10 mg/ kg SID (for initial five days) and Tab. Rantidine@10 mg/ kg b. wt. BID for one month with complete rest. Horse showed significant reduction in respiratory distress after one and half month treatment regime and resumed normal riding activity.