Do you think its an infected fly bite?

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popsicle

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Sorry! No pics. 15 Year old mare has a long hard lump about 4 inches in front of her teats. It has been weeping and flies keep landing on it. It has got bigger the last couple of weeks and is now about 3 inches long and about 1.5 inches wide and protrudes about 3/4 of an inch and is hard. also she has some swelling around her teats. She has been really affected by flies this year and for the first time we have had to buy a fly rug. She is not pregnant and has never seen a stallion. The swollen teats in my opinion are definately related to this lump. Any Ideas?
 
There are little flies, midline midges, that love this area. Make sure to give her udder a good clean. Put some vaseline on first to soften everything up, leave for an hour, then wipe clean with cottonwool and babybath. Once the area is clean, then make sure to put some flygel on every day, just make sure it's one that doesn't contain DEET as that can make her sore on such a sensitive area.
 
My mare has got a big lump on her neck from a horse fly bite and is very hard and swollen around it. I have been bathing it all last week with TCP diluted in cooled boiled water and it is starting to go down. You could do this it will help any infection and reduce swelling.
 
Get some hibiscrub from the chemist (pink stuff for hospital use) and dilute about a table spoon in half bucket warm water. Bathe the area several times a day if you can. In hot weather mares get sweaty between their teats and you get a build up of grease, skin and hair, that chaffs, and can cause swelling. Then you get flies landing on it and laying eggs etc. Our pony mare has the same and the swelling has dropped in front of her bag the same.
Fly spray the area but no DEET
Hope that helps
 
Thanks very much everyone, I was worried it might be something more sinister.
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Is there any fluid coming out of the teets if you squeeze her bag? If there is make sure it isn't discoloured or bloody as this would indicate an infection that would need veterinary attention.
My mare is having problems like this at the min but she was very poor and has gained a considerable amount of weight, the vet thinks everything has gone into overdrive and her swelling reaches right up to behind her front legs. (my yard owner calls this Keep but don't know the technical term) Her bag was very swollen and quite hot but any fluid was clear. She has been on a high dosage of bute for the last couple of days and is starting to improve. We have been monitoring temp and fluid type 3 times a day on the vets instruction, obviously your horses isn't as drastic but worth checking the things I have mentioned I would say.
 
Silverbreeze. Will check if there is any discharge tomorrow. The only soft swelling is round her teats, this other lump is just big and hard and is about 4 inches further along her belly, but is very hard and has been weeping. Thanks you. Hope your horse is better soon x
 
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