Abcess on Jaw

[Flibble]

When I bought my horse he had a small lump on his jaw bone about an inch above where his nose band does up. The vet said it might be a small abcess but there was no pain. This has grown larger and I have come back from my hols to find it has formed a tiny head secreting puss. This isnt your gaping abcess sort of thing and it still doesnt appear to be causing trouble I will obviously talk to my vet tomorrow but what suggestions do you have as to what it migh have been caused by ? Its on the inner side of the jawbone.

 

[stencilface]

Don't know what its been caused by but my old horse did have a couple of them.

From what I remember (was a few years ago!!!) due to their position they were well drained (ugh!) and we cleaned it regularly and (I think) squirted some hydrogen peroxide into it to help clean it out (although could have been just saline solution.....)

They both went, and never came back, never caused him much problem, although obvously couldn't ride whilst they were healing!

 

[kellyeaton]

are you sure they are not strangles!

 

[Flibble]

199% sure there is only one abscess and it looks like its on the inside of the bone. I have had and seen strangles totally different kettle of fish or is that kettle of puss!

Sorry to be flippant about strangles but I have seen it first hand and broken my heart over it so its allowed.

 

[spaniel]

Friends elderly pony developed one of these and it had to be opened, drained and squirted for weeks to allow it to heal from the inside. It was pretty grim to be honest but it didnt seem to bother the pony very much.

Sadly it transpired the pony had also a fractured jaw.

 

[AmyMay]

Keep a close eye on it to ensure that it's not compromising the bone. Abcess on the jaw can be funny things, and can take an absolute age to clear up.

When the vet next looks at him, ask him to look inside the mouth as well.

 

[Ani]

we have a horse with similar at the mo' vet says it is an abscess in the tooth root (it's nowhere near the teeth) but vet said it has drained downwards (obviously) vet has said it will be fine and even said it would be fine to go cubbing, he's on some antibiotics. the vet did say though that it might re occur again and again.