Consider how pneumonia appears in the horse, and you might picture a foal in intensive care, but in reality the condition can affect horses of all ages. While some pneumonia cases are very challenging to treat, veterinarians can rehabilitate many of these patients successfully with the proper approaches.

During a presentation at the 2011 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention, held Nov. 18-22 in San Antonio, Texas, Harold McKenzie III, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM, gave attendees an in-depth look at the most effective techniques for diagnosing and managing equine bacterial pneumonia.

"Bacterial lower respiratory infections have greater clinical impact than viral infections because of the substantial risk of complications ranging from focal abscessation to pleuropneumonia," said McKenzie, an associate professor in equine medicine at the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center in Leesburg, Va