What do you think this is?

[poiuytrewq]

I noticed this last night.
I can’t swear to having missed it previously so am not totally sure how long it’s been there. Someone else did him for me Sunday and they didn’t notice it either.
I change his full neck rugs daily and put fly masks on and off so I like to think I’d have noticed.

It definitely wasn’t like this a few weeks ago but i had been feeling the area and wondering if it felt odd. Just a passing thought and decided it was fine, then last week was looking carefully wondering if it looked a bit swollen, so it’s been in the back ground for I’d say a fortnight maybe, not to like this though.
It’s hard, no heat, had a visible vein, not massively painful but he isn’t keen on having it fiddled with.
He’s eating and drinking very normally. Demolishing huge amounts of hay as per.
Vets coming Thursday. She thought possibly Lymph node but also mentioned it’s a bit further over than she would expect, friend thought a bite which would explain the over night huge appearance.
He is pretty sensitive, and does react to flies.
He’s having a bit of bute for a few days incase it is sore. What do we think?

 

[poiuytrewq]

Strangles was also suggested but he’s retired and never leaves the farm or comes into any contact with other horses.
I had this weekend off the racing yard but there was no sign of anything the previous that I could have accidentally transferred to mine. So very unlikely.

 

[Pinkvboots]

It could be bites Arabi swells like that when bitten by horse flies Louis does sometimes as well.

 

[Cragrat]

I'd go with Horsefly bite. Tooth infection would be an option if it was hot, but I thnk it's too far up towards his neck?

 

[Sanversera]

Swollen salivary gland?

 

[poiuytrewq]

I haven't seen any horseflies here but I'm sure there must be some.

 

[Follysmum]

We had one with similar swelling . Vet called and it was an abscess . Drained really well and no probs since

 

[PurBee]

Horse fly bites can swell for 24hrs, then reduce. We’ve had sporadic swarms recently and i noticed similar swellings on mine.
Horse flies seem to especially love their cheeks and under chin area…aswell as between legs. Bloody things!

 

[poiuytrewq]

We had one with similar swelling . Vet called and it was an abscess . Drained really well and no probs since

This is what my money is on I think

 

[poiuytrewq]

Horse fly bites can swell for 24hrs, then reduce. We’ve had sporadic swarms recently and i noticed similar swellings on mine.
Horse flies seem to especially love their cheeks and under chin area…aswell as between legs. Bloody things!

Not reducing at all yet!

 

[maya2008]

Wasp sting?

 

[poiuytrewq]

Wasp sting?

Maybe. Again I haven't seen any wasps around *touch wood* but yes possibly so.

 

[ElectricChampagne]

We had something similar and turned out a small twig had gotten caught in his throat and caused an abscess. He actually managed to cough it out himself thankfully and then a course of antibiotics and anti inflamatories had him back to himself in no time.

It wasn't massively painful, just annoying him and he kept his head turned away from it to relieve the pressure.

 

[Pinkvboots]

When my horses get the horsefly swellings they are massive and take days to go down I put the hose on them or put ice packs on them, I then put hydrocortisone cream on and have often fed bute for a few days.

 

[poiuytrewq]

We had something similar and turned out a small twig had gotten caught in his throat and caused an abscess. He actually managed to cough it out himself thankfully and then a course of antibiotics and anti inflamatories had him back to himself in no time.

It wasn't massively painful, just annoying him and he kept his head turned away from it to relieve the pressure.

He has been coughing a little, I’d put it down to him keeping eating hay the baler missed that's gone a bit manky.
I’ll mention that to the vet incase I’m wrong and it’s related!

 

[poiuytrewq]

When my horses get the horsefly swellings they are massive and take days to go down I put the hose on them or put ice packs on them, I then put hydrocortisone cream on and have often fed bute for a few days.

I really hope this is the cause

 

[Pinkvboots]

I really hope this is the cause

Fingers crossed for you.

Louis had a bite on the inside of his thigh once it was massive and he was walking strange for a few days.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I think we are about to explode!

Vet came and checked him over, Temp was fine and he's well and eating normally so she thought it was an abcess type thing but wasn't ready to drain or burst. She told me to hot cloth it as aften as possible and if it was still the same next week she would scan to be sure and drain it.

He's been good about the hot clothing, Today he was a bit more antsy, polo's are helping. However its less round, had a definite head this morning and is now rock hard with a peak which is soft and has gone bald.

I'm torn between being quite excited by this and a repulsed/scared i may pass out or something
He's on bute and when it breaks i have a clean syringe to flush it out (again may pass out!)

I think it will be tonight, going by how much its changed today.

 

[ester]

Frank had one very similar that was an abscess, he was very dramatic about feeling sorry for himself though! Had ridden in the evening fine but spotted that he was hanging round the gate and not eating about 9pm. Didn't explode much in the end either.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Frank had one very similar that was an abscess, he was very dramatic about feeling sorry for himself though! Had ridden in the evening fine but spotted that he was hanging round the gate and not eating about 9pm. Didn't explode much in the end either.

As much as I'm dreading it, I will be very disappointed if nothing much happens at all, likewise if it happens overnight and is gone in the morning.

 

[LEC]

My 2yo has exactly the same. @TheMule has her with hers. It had a little bit of pus but not much.

 

[poiuytrewq]

@LEC Once it was out did it just heal up and that was that?

 

[Archangel]

He's been good about the hot clothing, Today he was a bit more antsy, polo's are helping. However its less round, had a definite head this morning and is now rock hard with a peak which is soft and has gone bald.

In between passing out, please ensure you video the actual bursting.

 

[poiuytrewq]

In between passing out, please ensure you video the actual bursting.

I’ll try! From my position on the floor on my back I’ll probably be at just the right angle!
My vet was saying that the ones she has to go and burst/drain there’s alway someone asking for a video and lots wanting to watch

 

[LEC]

@LEC Once it was out did it just heal up and that was that?

It’s still ongoing! @TheMule keeps her for me and occasionally I get updates about lumpy head. TM has fortunately found herself a useful partner who is an equine vet but essentially it’s just left alone.