Huge lump appeared overnight??!

Update from today: head of vet practice coming out again on Monday to look at him again :( the tests for strangles haven't come back yet, and without the confirmed negative we can't put him on antibiotics... very frustrated right now, poor lad can barely bend his head as the swelling is moving further down his face. The entire right cheek is about twice the size of the left one!

Still going with 2-3 hot poultices every day, whenever I can make it up to the yard I'm putting one on, and it does seem to be making a difference, as my YO called me at work this morning to say that there seems to be a scabby spot where the skin is thinner. She pulled the scab off and reckons it might burst this weekend, in which case we'll clean, drain and flush it then call the vet out for the next move. If her prediction is incorrect, the vet might have to rupture it for him, or put him on meds. He's very uncomfortable now, won't let me touch it, but bless him he just gives me this look, would never bite or kick. Not off his food yet though :)
 
DappleGreyDaydreamer said:
Update from today: head of vet practice coming out again on Monday to look at him again :( the tests for strangles haven't come back yet, and without the confirmed negative we can't put him on antibiotics... very frustrated right now, poor lad can barely bend his head as the swelling is moving further down his face. The entire right cheek is about twice the size of the left one!

Still going with 2-3 hot poultices every day, whenever I can make it up to the yard I'm putting one on, and it does seem to be making a difference, as my YO called me at work this morning to say that there seems to be a scabby spot where the skin is thinner. She pulled the scab off and reckons it might burst this weekend, in which case we'll clean, drain and flush it then call the vet out for the next move. If her prediction is incorrect, the vet might have to rupture it for him, or put him on meds. He's very uncomfortable now, won't let me touch it, but bless him he just gives me this look, would never bite or kick. Not off his food yet though :)
Click to expand...
Yes if it is strangles he might be better with no antibiotics tbh, maybe that is the thinking.
We had the results back from the AHT via the vet in 24 hours, not sure why it is taking so long was it a blood test.
I know that the book says swoosh out with hibiscrub, that is the book my [useless] vet read, we tried and we failed and after one lot of abcess bursting there was another four weeks later, we gave him antibiotics because [useless vet] mover him to a cold draghty boz and when I got to him he was shaking and shiverig and I demanded the locum vet came out, we then agreed to give him antibiotic, but I think this prolonged the progress of the disease, I allowed the useless vet to drain the second abscess but the first one burst, what I am trying to say is , don't rely on flushing or antibiotics to cure strangles.

Give him his water and his mash at mouth height, whay I fed all thru his ilness was a petscoop of D&H mare and youngstock plush tasty mash chaff, lots of tiny meals and lots of fibre in his mash, as he can t be expected to eat a lot of hay. You could get some ready grass.
Make sure no one touches him!
You must make sure the vet comes to him first thing Monday.
 
Last edited:
Oh bless him I feel so sorry for him:-( really hope tests come back negative and he can start with anti b's. Sounds like a really bad infection.

If he's still eating that's good !
 
The vet 99% assured me it wasn't strangles, and yeah antibiotics would not be the way to go if it was, but the bloods just went off to put the YO's conscience to rest!

Yeah the poor lad's not feeling very well, but I went up this evening to do the poultice and the swelling has gone down so quickly I could barely believe it!! His jaw still isn't looking normal and he can't bend his head as much as he usually can, but it's mostly dispersing fluids now and not so much rock hard inflammation. Vet's coming out on Monday to make sure I'm doing everything I should be, but I think there's good progress being made and he was so much more lively tonight! He's been so quiet and lethargic, when he's normally bubbly, nosy and cheeky - was so happy to see him back to normal a bit tonight I almost cried haha :)

Thank you all for good advice and support, we're getting this sorted out slowly but surely now. I'm very glad it's going down, as I'm going away on holiday in a couple week's time and there was no way I was leaving him alone in that state!
 
Just got home from seeing the vet, and it's totally good news :D He reckoned it was a lymph node infection, probably from something he'd eaten out in the field, but because it's gone down so quickly we're not going to treat it with any medication, just going to leave it for his immune system to get rid of. I'm absolutely thrilled with it, as it's smaller now than I've ever seen it, not inflamed at all and my boy's completely back to normal and itching to get out and buck. Back into work by the weekend hopefully, thank you all for your support!
 
Ugh we're doing downhill again :( honestly, this thing is a nightmare! Good news is, the inflammation in his lymph nodes has gone right down, just left with some dispersing fluids now. But yesterday evening I spotted a little lump where the original abscess was, about the size, shape and colour of a walnut, which obviously was what remained of the abscess itself as it burst this afternoon. Quite a mess, I have to say, and seems really painful for him as he's not himself at all, really lethargic and quiet, which I'm sure isn't normal for any youngster haha
Anyway, vet put him on a 5 day course of antibiotics to avoid any infection as the abscess drains and heals over, so it's not a total panic, but seeing a horse who's usually full of excitement about everything just slouching about with his ears back isn't nice at all.
 
Gradually getting better, thank you for asking! I had a panic when the abscess burst because he wouldn't stop rubbing it and I didn't want an infection, but he's on some antibiotics until Sunday now (started on Wednesday) and it's stopped bleeding at last, and a scab is developing - and everything has drained out of it. Should be smooth goings from here on out :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top