What could this be?

[Shadow-01]

I was just wondering if anyone else has come across this?

My gelding suddenly became headshy a few days ago. Upon inspection he appeared to have a hard lump under his jaw, the size of a ping pong ball but slightly flatter.

Called vet/EDT who wasn't 100% sure of what it could be. She clipped area and it looked like a tiny amount of fluid was visible. Suggested I treat as an abcess and to poultice (no easy task!) and prescribed anti biotics and anti inflamatories. If no better in 2 weeks, vet would like to x ray.

He's happy in himself and eating/drinking normally.

Just wondering if anyone else has come across this before?

 

[Suelin]

My first thought would be strangles.

 

[FairyLights]

Blocked salivary gland?

 

[Gloi]

Whereabouts under his jaw?

 

[Nugget La Poneh]

Could be something simply like an infected wound from a thorn etc.

Where on the jaw? if towards the nose and roughly where a nose band sits could be an infected follicle. If the fluid is clear, I wouldn't overly worry. If it goes yellow/green or starts to stink, then worry.

 

[Shadow-01]

Sorry, I wasn't very specific before!

Lump is near his chin, just below where the noseband would sit. The vet ruled out strangles as his lymph nodes were normal and the swelling is much further down.

Fluid was clear in colour so hopefully it is not serious. I've done some more research since and the symptoms sound very like those of a blocked salivary gland.