Lump behind jaw - thoughts?

[MarvelVillis]

A couple of weeks ago I brought my gelding in from the field and he wasn't quite himself - couldn't put my finger on what it was until I saw a big lump behind his jaw (not sure how I didn't notice it bringing him in!) Rang vet, they came out that evening. He ruled out grass glands and suspected it may be an abscess from a field injury, and upon closer inspection there was a small cut where the lump was. He was fairly confident it wasn't strangles, which was subsequently confirmed from blood results later that week. The lump did seem to be decreasing gradually, but it's now at a point where it's still bigger than normal and doesn't seem to be getting any smaller (or bigger). I've got the vets coming back out this week, but I wondered if anyone had any thoughts on what it could be. Is it likely to be an abscess which needs draining? Any other thoughts?

Photo is day it was first discovered. Haven't taken any recent snaps, but the lump is smaller than in the photo but still visibly noticeable:

 

[Goldenstar]

I would it’s clearly an abscess and I think it likely they will lance it .

 

[ycbm]

I would hot cloth that as often as feasible until the vet arrives in the hope of bringing it to a head.
.

 

[SEL]

Have you got blackthorn hedges? I wonder if there's a tiny bit of thorn in there.

 

[MarvelVillis]

Have you got blackthorn hedges? I wonder if there's a tiny bit of thorn in there.

We have got hedges that surround the field but there is electric fencing inbetween, however I have seen them reach across and pick in the hedge so it may be from that actually. I'll mention it to the vet.

 

[MarvelVillis]

Update - vet has just been out. They aren't too concerned by it, so we're going to monitor it for the next couple of weeks and hope it goes down naturally. If not they're going to ultrasound it to check if it swollen lymph node or an abscess and we'll go from there.

 

[BBP]

My young pony had something like that. Turned out that during his wrestling games with one of the other horses, the older horse likes to grab him by the throat and hang on like a pitbull. So we think it was oedema (think that’s the right word, fluid from a prolonged hard bite). It took it a few weeks to go away.

 

[MarvelVillis]

My young pony had something like that. Turned out that during his wrestling games with one of the other horses, the older horse likes to grab him by the throat and hang on like a pitbull. So we think it was oedema (think that’s the right word, fluid from a prolonged hard bite). It took it a few weeks to go away.

Oh that's interesting, I think that could be the cause too. A new gelding was put into their field the week before and they've been very playful with each other so it wouldn't surprise me!