Loss of CLG Cowboy Kisses to "Swamp Cancer" a Blow to CVFC

It's official that the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company has lost three mares so far this year.  Two did not appear for the Spring Round-Up in April, and haven't been seen in months, and yesterday, 11 June, the attending veterinarian decided it was best to put down (euthanize) CLG Cowboy Kisses. 

   The first mare to be missed was Carol's Little Freedom, a bay tobiano with one blue eye, born on 22 July 1999.  Her sire was Hurricane, and her dam was Silk and Lace.  She was last seen in early March of 2019. She had been in Hoppy's herd for the last three years.  She was a Buy Back from Carol Smith.  (**Photo by DSC Photography**)

   The second mare to leave us was Cody's Little Jigsaw Puzzle, a bay tobiano, born 5 June 2013.  There are two possible sires for her, Wild Thing, or Tornado's Prince of Tides; her dam was Dakota Sky's Cody Two Socks.  She was a Buy Back who brought a bid of $4,000.  She was in Tornado's Legacy's herd and was definitely with foal when she disappeared a few days before Spring Round-Up in April.  It was assumed she had gone apart to foal and would soon reappear.  Unfortunately, it didn't happen that way.

Jigsaw is at left; Sweetheart at right

  On Wednesday afternoon, 10 July, it was reported that CLG Cowboy Kisses had been spotted with a nasty-looking wound to her hind leg by a client on the Refuge Bus Tour.  It was reported to the CVFC and they asked Darcy Cole to pinpoint her location on Thursday morning so the Saltwater Cowboys could bring her in by trailer to be seen by a veterinarian at the Carnival Grounds.  Darcy found her, and the cowboys and vet were alerted.  She was trailered to Chincoteague, where the CVFC Pony Committee members and the veterinarian decided that the most humane thing to do was to euthanize her.  CLG Cowboy Kisses was  golden palomino, sired by Chief Golden Eagle, and out of Pony Ladies' Sweet Surprise.  She was first seen on 8 April 2017, and the Chincoteague Legacy Group paid $15,000 for this promising Buy Back filly.
   CLG Cowboy Kisses had received all three of the Equine Pythiosis  ("Swamp Cancer") vaccinations given to all members of the CVFC herds.  It was with great sorrow that the attending veterinarian and the CVFC members decided that the cause of the terrible wound to Cowboy Kisses was due to an infection caused by Equine Pythiosis....

CLG Cowboy Kisses at right, in front

"Swamp Cancer" Cause of Four More Chincoteague Pony Deaths

On the afternoon of 28 December, a somber group of veterinarians, pony lovers, and members of the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company's Pony Committee made the difficult and heart-rending decision to euthanize the last four ponies that were infected with equine pythiosis, also known as "swamp cancer."   Seven ponies were identified having the disease at the Fall Round-up in mid-October.  They all had round-the-clock care, veterinarian visits every other day, surgeries to remove infected areas, medications galore - antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and several new drugs in the test phases.  None of these remedies worked.  Having lost three ponies earlier, and watch this disease enter into bones, it was decided that putting the ponies down was truly best.  They would suffer no more.
    So far, all ponies infected have been females - mares and fillies.  Pictured below are the four girls who survived the longest, although Lyra's Vega had the longest fight, lasting nine months.   Crossing the Rainbow Bridge to green pastures were 13-year-old TSG's Elusive Star, 5-year-old Calcetin'n (a daughter of Lyra's Vega), 3-year-old Shadow, and 2-year-old Lightning…..

    Rest in peace, beautiful girls!

Elusive Star

Calceti'n

 Shadow

 Lightning

Third Chincoteague Pony Lost to "Swamp Cancer"

In actuality, the euthanasia of Lyra's Vega on the evening of 16 December was the sixth death that was caused by equine pythiosis, aslo known as "Swamp Cancer."  Lyra was the third pony that has crossed the Rainbow Bridge of the seven ponies that were diagnosed with this disease at the Fall Round-Up .  Essie, and then Raindancer, have died previously since treatments and surgeries began in late October.  Tidewater Princess died in 2016, and TJ's Firefly and Diamond's Jewel passed away in 2017, all from "Swamp Cancer."
   The four ponies now fighting this disease are TSG's Elusive Star (born 2005, by Wild Bill, out of Fuddy Duddy); Calceti'n, Lyra's daughter  (born 2013, by Prince of Tides, out of Lyra's Vega); Shadow (2015, by Puzzle, out of Destiny's Feathering Spirit); and Lightning (2016, by Courtney's Boy, out of CJ Samm'n).
   Lyra's Vega was born on 14 April 2005 on Assateague from the union of North Star and Sashay Lady.  She was a Buy-Back foal and netted the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company $3,100 at the Pony Auction.  She became a proud member of Surfer Dude's herd, and, after his winter death in 2015, she became a part of his son's (Surfer's Riptide) herd.  She had her first of six foals with Surfer Dude in 2010, a chestnut colt named Neptune's Silver Star.  In 2012 and 2013, her daughters were Buy-Backs, also; Dreamer's Gift is on Assateague, while Calceti'n is fighting the disease that killed her mother. She had two more daughters with Surfer Dude, Chai Latte in 2014, and Surfer's Twilight Stardust in 2015.  She had a colt (un-named in the Registry) with Surfer Dude in 2011; and an un-named colt in 2016 with Riptide.  Her last foal was a filly named Fleck of San (Sandy) in 2017 with Riptide.
   Lyra's Vega had been fighting equine pythiosis for 9 months.  She had surgery, removing infected flesh, and seemed better.  Then she had secondary swelling, and a return of the disease, which invaded her bones.  As she continued to fail, it was decided to give her a release from the constant pain and weariness of fighting a disease that was killing her slowly.  Believe me, the firemen, Saltwater Cowboys, and veterinarians do make such decisions lightly.  These ponies are family members and loved all over the world.
  Gallop in green pastures, you beautiful girl, enjoying the company of other members of the Chincoteague pony herds that have crossed the Rainbow Bridge - including your first love, Surfer Dude.  Rest in peace, Lyra's Vega.

 Lyra and Sandy

 Lyra and Sandy

Lyra and Butterfly Kisses

"Swamp Cancer" Claims Chincoteague Pony; Three New Foals

First, the awful news.  Essie, born 11 May 2013, a daughter of North Star and Surfer Dude's Gidget, lost her battle against the island ponies' newest enemy, "swamp cancer," also known as equine pythiosis.  She was in poor health prior to her surgery, and despite 24-hour care, she went into a decline. That leaves six ponies battling this dread disease, alphabetically:
1.  Carol's Lightning Rose  -  "Lightning"   born 8 May 2016
          sire:  Courtney's Boy     dam:  C J Samm'n
2.  Calceti'n          born 1 May 2013
          sire:  Tornado's Prince of Tides      dam:  Lyra's Vega
3.  Destiny's Shadowing Moonbeam     -  "Shadow"      born 3 May 2015
          sire:  Archer's Gambit (Puzzle)     dam:  Destiny's Feathering Spirit (Feather)
4.  Kachina Shenandoah Raindancer  -  "Raindancer"     born 25 June 2018
          sire: Effie's Papa Bear (Hoppy)    dam: Kachina Grand Star
5.  Lyra's Vega         born 14 April 2005
          sire:  North Star     dam: Shashay Lady
6.  TSG's Elusive Star       born 25 July 2005
          sire:  Wild Bill     dam:  Fuddy Duddy

  The good news is that since the Fall Round-Up, three new foals have been born - two fillies and a colt.   On 15 October, two days after the round-up, 15 Friends of Freckles gave birth to a bay pinto filly sired by Maverick.  On 30 October, Thetis and Wild Thing produced a chestnut pinto medicine hat colt, with two blue eyes.  On Halloween morning, Jessica's Sandy presented Maverick with a solid bay filly.
 
 I'm in my 60s now, and I wan't able to to understand my grief about the deaths of people and animals I love (loved) until I was 60 years old.  I have finally come to accept the circle of life, and have stopped asking why a specific creature or person departed this world.  I have to admit that I still feel anger when a person or creature meets a violent death due to a vehicular collision, due to someone's stupidity, or due to a person's anger or outrage.  But I have found acceptance of death.
   I grieve for Essie.  I sends all my healing powers to the surviving six ponies and use my will to (hopefully) cause a good outcome.  But the wheel of life and time turns inevitably onward; death and life are a part of the universe.

   This is the announcement from the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company on 30 October 2018:
"Got some good news and some bad news.  First, the bad.  I'm sorry to tell you all that Essie did not survive this "swamp cancer".  She had her surgery but apparently her infection was too far gone.  We had our hopes up but it wasn't meant to be.  So far the others seem to be doing ok.  It's a waiting game.  Good news is, Harry and I met with the USFWS today.  They are bringing some other biologist in who know more about this fungus.  Over time, they will be collecting soil, water and plant samples to see if we can get this mess contained.  There has just got to be a solution!!  The other good news is that we have yet another baby!  A two blue eye, Medicine Hat baby boy!  He is gorgeous!!  Thanks you all for your continued prayers and kindness as we deal with all this.  Our cowboys have been at the carnival grounds day and night taking care of these precious animals.  Their dedication is nothing short of amazing."

Tax-free donations for combating equine pythiosis (aka swamp cancer) may be made on the website for the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company using Pay Pal.  On the donation usage  line write Vet Care      http://cvfc3.com/about-us/donate

Seven Chincoteague Ponies Diagnosed With "Swamp Cancer"

Last Monday, the spokesperson for the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company released a statement saying that other than the terrible incident with Pixie Dust's colt, the entire Fall Round-Up was a great success - other than the very concerning information regarding "Swamp Cancer."  That got a lot of people interested and asking questions.  The CVFC was contacting veterinarians around the country on the recommendation of Dr. Charlie Cameron, the CVFC vet of record.
  Then it was announced that seven of the Chincoteague pones were diagnosed with "Swamp Cancer" and that the initial vet care cost would be $1,500 per pony.  The CVFC has set up a donation page on their website for donations to help with the veterinary costs.  This can be found at:  https://cvfc3.com/about-us/donate    In the message area of the first page, asking for name, e-mail address, and type of donation - type in Pony Veterinary Care Donation - then you will be sent on to the PayPal page.   More information regarding this outbreak and how it affects our ponies may be read at:  https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/virginia/2018/10/19/chincoteague-ponies-swamp-cancer/1681611002/?fbclid=IwAR0xps8FRiCUcqtHob7jq3GF7YOi1PppU-zAC6le2_PNiX0vlubVzQaCSVo 
   The names of the seven ponies who were positive for this disease were NOT released.
 So, what exactly, is "Swamp Cancer?" First of all, it is not cancer; it's real name is pythiosis.  Pythiosis is a deadly tropical disease caused by the oomycete Pythium insidiosum.  It was long regarded as being caused by a fungal infection and the actual culprit wasn't identified until 1987.  It occurs most commonly in horses, dogs, and humans, with isolated cases in other large mammals.  The disease is contracted after exposure to stagnant water such as swamps, marshes, ponds, lakes, and rice paddies. Pythium insidiosum is different from other members of the genus in that human and horse hair, skin, and decaying animal and plant tissues are chemo-attractants for its zoospores.
  Pythiosis occurs in areas with mild winters because the organism survives in standing water that does not reach freezing temperatures.  In the United States, it is most commonly found in the Gulf states, especially Louisiana, Florida and Texas; but it has also been reported as far away as California and Wisconsin - and now Virginia.  It is also found in southeast Asia, eastern Australia, New Zealand, and South America.  (Something else we can blame on global warming, now.)
  In horses, subcutaneous pythiosis is the most common form and infection occurs through a wound while standing in water containing the pathogen.  The disease is also known as leeches, kunkers, swamp cancer and bursatti.  Lesions are most commonly found on the lower limbs, abdomen, chest and genitals.  They are granulomatous and itchy, and may be ulcerated or fistulated, looking like proud flesh.  The lesions often contain yellow, firm masses of dead tissue known as kunkers.  It is possible for the disease to spread and infect bone, and travel to the lungs, causing pulmonary failure.
   Listed below are several articles about Equine Pythiosis, please read them if you are interested.

Warning!  The photos that accompany some of the articles

are extremely ugly, upsetting, and heart-breaking.

If you have a weak stomach, do NOT look at these articles.

https://thehorse.com/149887/what-is-equine-pythiosis/

https://todaysveterinarynurse.com/articles/equine-pythiosis-an-overview/

http://www.horsenation.com/2014/10/14/what-the-muck-is-that-swamp-cancer/

http://www.horseandman.com/medical/pythiosis-insidiosum-swamp-cancer-heard-success-story-new-treatment-please-give-feedback/05/05/2014/

http://www.lsuagcenter.com/profiles/aiverson/articles/page1507830652025