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Discussion on Infection
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New Member:
Scherer
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Posted on Saturday, Jan 3, 2004 - 3:32 am:
Long term Abscess on neck
Two month ago, my 16 yr old foundation bred Q-horse mare started out with a strange golfball sized lump on her neck, about three inches behind the ear. It was cool to the touch and did not seem to bother her. We suspected an insect bite and waited for the bump to go away all by its own. It did not. We called the vet. The vet suggested to poultice with numotizine for a week. Then, the lump started to be become fairly warm to the touch and seemed to hurt. The vet came to aspirate the bump and took a sample for a histology test with the result no bacteria present. We restarted poultice. After three days, the bump opened and a little puss drained. The surrounding was swollen. A new lab test resulted in strep infection. Sulf. based antibiotics were given for 10 days, wound care is once daily flushing with 50:50 iodine/water solution ever since along with bandaging to prevent flies and dust to enter the open wound. We are now into the fifth week since the abscess opened and the lump is still half a golf ball size. General condition of the mare is very good. The remaining bump is hard and not draining well. What's going wrong? How dangerous is the situation? I would greatly appreciate comments and advise. This mare is blind in one eye but she is the smartest and kindest horse I ever had and I'm getting more worried every day. Should I take her to the Equine Hospital for ultrasound and more aggressive treatment? Thank you for your help. Elisabeth
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Sunday, Jan 4, 2004 - 9:54 am:
Elisabeth, these are questios that really can only be answered by someone who can examine the lump, but considering the history a bit of granulation / scar tissue would be expected during the healing. Heat and pain are signs things are seriously wrong.
DrO
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