Good suggestion. The only info I have is that I believe they used to do surgery for fistula - open it up, clean it out and let it heal cleanly. I seem to remember that in one of my early vet books, that has info on stuff you hardly ever see any more.
By the way - fistula can be triggered any type of blow or bruise to the withers. If she rolled and struck a rock, or somehow fell backwards doing something strange.... It doesn't have to be a bad saddle fit.
On Jul 8, 2009, at 9:17 AM, Dot Wiggins wrote:
In the 40s and 50s, and earlier, before testing and vacines for brucellosis in cattle, fistula in horses was not unusual, more in draft horses with collar bruises but saddle horses as well.
When brucellosis was more under control fewer horses were affected. Cross species exposure?
I seem to remember a young vet working with cattle used the current cattle vacine on horses with fistula and it helped to clear it up. He was real proud of his work as fistula is difficult to heal.
This old, way out of the past and may not be useful, but worth looking into. good luck.
