Has anyone had anything like this?

[Amylea]

My 2 year old formed a lump on her jaw about 2 months ago. I've attached 3 photos, the first is September 22nd, the next about 8 weeks ago, and the other this week, after it had been clipped (so it looks a bit weird!.) I think it is the same size in both photos. ignore the hole in the second photo, this was done by the vet.
She has had ultrasounds, different drugs, I hot clothed it for weeks... and everyone is scratching their heads. Any ideas are greatly appreciated!! Thanks!

 

[ycbm]

I'm surprised your vet hasn't suggested an mrI scan or maybe a biopsy? I would be very unhappy to leave that any longer without more investigation.
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[Amylea]

I'm surprised your vet hasn't suggested an mrI scan or maybe a biopsy? I would be very unhappy to leave that any longer without more investigation.
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Samples were taken, and karidox was prescribed. 2 bottles of this made no difference. Before this, penicillin was given. The 2 strains found in the sample are apparently penicillin resistant, hence the karidox.

 

[PurBee]

Is it squidgey and soft or fairly firm?

it started off small per the pics and has been getting bigger. Is there a sinus gland where it originally started? (Im no expert on location of all sinus glands in the horses head)

ycbm - i described earlier this year a lump just behind the cheek, on the throat of my horse that comes and goes, and you mentioned grass galls was it called? I remembered looking it up and it described it perfectly.

my horse gets a fairly firm small lump in that throat sinus, and it will weep yellowish stuff....but it doesnt weep every year...sometimes it disappears slowly without weeping. Ive noticed it happens at roughly the same time of year....when the field grazing grass has headed...and i think he gets an infection via the pollen...as the years when i manage to top the grass before heading, he doesnt get the lump appear in early autumn.

im wondering if your horse has a similar sinus infection thats just got worse and worse and infecting surrounding tissue?

Nutrients vitA,C,E, selenium and zinc are good for immune boosting.
Is it a lump the vet can drain?

 

[Amylea]

Is it squidgey and soft or fairly firm?

it started off small per the pics and has been getting bigger. Is there a sinus gland where it originally started? (Im no expert on location of all sinus glands in the horses head)

ycbm - i described earlier this year a lump just behind the cheek, on the throat of my horse that comes and goes, and you mentioned grass galls was it called? I remembered looking it up and it described it perfectly.

my horse gets a fairly firm small lump in that throat sinus, and it will weep yellowish stuff....but it doesnt weep every year...sometimes it disappears slowly without weeping. Ive noticed it happens at roughly the same time of year....when the field grazing grass has headed...and i think he gets an infection via the pollen...as the years when i manage to top the grass before heading, he doesnt get the lump appear in early autumn.

im wondering if your horse has a similar sinus infection thats just got worse and worse and infecting surrounding tissue?

Nutrients vitA,C,E, selenium and zinc are good for immune boosting.
Is it a lump the vet can drain?

The vet made an incision, but only blood came out. The pictures are a bit misleading (it's weirdly hard to take a photo of) it hasn't got much bigger. It looks quite different depending on if she's eating etc. Nothing came out despite all the hot clothing i did, and it is quite firm. She doesn't particularly like me touching it, although, it can't hurt that much because I can have a good feel while she's eating, and more recently it seems to be a bit itchy for her.

 

[Amylea]

 

[PurBee]

Could she have been kicked by another horse and its swollen and become infected? My gelding doesnt mind me squeezing his lump when he gets it, so if its tender for her maybe jaw is bruised from a kick?

could she have been scratching her jaw on a post and got a splinter in there thats infected? Hard to see such a small splinter within all the hair....now she’s clipped have you inspected for a splinter?

my gelding loves to itch his jaw on trees, and occasionally catches himself on a branch, causing a little jaw cut, sometimes they get a tiny bit infected and would crust over.

seems so weird your horses lump isnt changing size/shape etc...since september.

 

[BronsonNutter]

Has it been x-rayed to check the tooth roots?

 

[Marigold4]

My 4 year old recently had an infected lymph node under his jaw and swollen cheeks. Lymph node developed a tract and was draining. Swabs taken. Xrays of teeth done and shown to specialist tooth vet. No evidence of tooth infection. Lump and swelling went down after second lot of antibiotics, changed to target a different bacteria showing up on the swab. Lump now gone and cheek swelling down, but no one has any idea of the cause. Horse well throughout, no temp or nasal discharge.

 

[ycbm]

Samples were taken, and karidox was prescribed. 2 bottles of this made no difference. Before this, penicillin was given. The 2 strains found in the sample are apparently penicillin resistant, hence the karidox.

Has the vet actually diagnosed it as an abscess/infection then? What have they said about it not responding to the antibiotics?
.

 

[Amylea]

Has it been x-rayed to check the tooth roots?

It hasn't been x-rayed, just ultrasound.

 

[Amylea]

Has the vet actually diagnosed it as an abscess/infection then? What have they said about it not responding to the antibiotics?
.

Originally diagnosed as an infection, samples taken, cultured at the lab. there were 2 strains of bacteria, both penicillin resistant (hence that not working) - SWAB RESULTS: Profuse growth of Bacillus spp & moderate growth of Pseudomonas spp.
They sent the ultrasound to the hospital, who have said £750 for a head CT, unknown amount for surgery. The surgeon has said that the ultrasound is very unusual, could be an anuersymal bone cyst.
so....no one knows...

 

[Amylea]

Could she have been kicked by another horse and its swollen and become infected? My gelding doesnt mind me squeezing his lump when he gets it, so if its tender for her maybe jaw is bruised from a kick?

could she have been scratching her jaw on a post and got a splinter in there thats infected? Hard to see such a small splinter within all the hair....now she’s clipped have you inspected for a splinter?

my gelding loves to itch his jaw on trees, and occasionally catches himself on a branch, causing a little jaw cut, sometimes they get a tiny bit infected and would crust over.

seems so weird your horses lump isnt changing size/shape etc...since september.

She was living with her 'sister' - a miniature shetland. So a kick is unlikely, and there were no marks/soreness. I originally thought perhaps she has a splinter or something in it. And her teeth aren't great, but the dentist doesn't think it's tooth related.

 

[Amylea]

My 4 year old recently had an infected lymph node under his jaw and swollen cheeks. Lymph node developed a tract and was draining. Swabs taken. Xrays of teeth done and shown to specialist tooth vet. No evidence of tooth infection. Lump and swelling went down after second lot of antibiotics, changed to target a different bacteria showing up on the swab. Lump now gone and cheek swelling down, but no one has any idea of the cause. Horse well throughout, no temp or nasal discharge.

Yeah this sounds similar doesn't it. Although, hers has never drained, despite being lanced and hot clothed. I was hoping that the more targeted 2nd lot of antibiotics would work . But she is well in herself, she doesn't particularly want me to touch it, but I think it's because of what I might be doing, rather that it actually bothering her, because she lets me scratch it once she's realized that's all I'm doing.