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  Discussion on Swelling at injection site
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Posted on Wednesday, Feb 27, 2002 - 6:00 pm:

Two months ago I began using Lasix, due to a
"bleeder diagnosis". I have always given injections in the neck. Several times after the injection a small lump at the site would occur. I would treat it with cold water and lots of rubbing and it would be gone the next day, and did not seem to bother my gelding. Sunday I used the Lasix, no lump. Today he has a awollen area about the size of my hand. I have treated it with, 2 grams of bute orally, and DMSO on the area with a hot pack. I am always very careful with keeping the needle sterile and use a new needle for each injection. Is this going to fester into an abcess? Now I am freaked out about having to use the Lasix. We barrel race almost every weekend.
Any advice on how to treat this and to prevent
further problems would be much appreciated.

Posted on Thursday, Feb 28, 2002 - 8:07 am:

Hello Dianne,
It is impossible to tell from here whether this represents a problem from bacterial contamination (most likely) or from a unusual reaction to the drug and proper treatment will depend on the likely diagnosis. Unfortunatley early on it is hard to differentiate the two, so when a substance is injected that usually does not cause reactions does, a combination of antibiotics and NSAIDs is frequently used. I tend to be more conservative and try a 24 to 48 yours course of NSAIDs first but frequently this is a close call and examination and history are everything in making the decision.

We recommend you get your vet involved to create a treatment plan. The degree and behavior of fever, response to treatment with NSAIDs alone, and possibly ultrasound are the ways to differentiate these two possibilities.

Prevention depends on the cause.
DrO
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