Abscess under the jaw

[outerbanks77]

Last Monday, my I went out to exercise my new mare and she had a large swelling under her jaw, and was lethargic. Took her temp, which registered at 103.8, so I started getting alarmed and called the vet, who suggested the dreaded “S” word (strangles), so I promptly brought her in after hours.

Long story short, she tested negative for strangles via PCR test, and her temperature has come down. The abscess was lanced and has been draining pus, but is still large and protruding beyond her jaw line. She was sent home with instructions to give SMZs and flush the abscess. I’m wondering if there is anything else I can do to help the process along? The abscess is just as large as before it was lanced, and feels quite firm. The incision is pretty closed up, but will drain a bit I did put a warm washcloth on it for a bit tonight and she seemed to like it at first, but then got a bit fussy about it. Still don’t know the cause; waiting for culture results.

[BuckskinTB]

I had a similar situation years ago. It turned out to be a teeny tiny splinter that we finally located. I kept with the warm compresses for a few days to help it drain and made sure it stayed clean.

[Lord_Helpus]

I have had 2 horses with jaw abscesses. Both times the vet thought it might be a splinter, but said it was hit or miss to find it (does not show up on x-rays). So I did what you are doing. Both horses ended up with hard lumps which never got smaller…

So, I guess they recovered…

[vineyridge]

My horse had a under jaw abscess from a non displaced fracture of the lower jaw bone along with a broken tooth root.

[J-Lu]

I’ve seen similar abscesses in horses that were caused by a) a reaction to a spider bite or another stinging insect such as a wasp and more recently b) actinomyces. The later is quite rare in horses but generally affects the jaw or throat area. A horse in my barn was recently diagnosed - very firm, large swelling that was ambiguous on ultrasound and the culture provided the diagnostic. The horse responded well to a longer course of antibiotics and daily flushing (lump was lanced open enough to drain) and it eventually totally resorbed.

Please update!

[outerbanks77]

Thanks! No lab results back yet. Started warm compresses today. I think the vet may need to lance it again. I was able to get just a little bit of drainage today, but it seemed minor relative to the size of the abscess. Most of the incision seems to be closed up.

My equine bodyworker recommended using frankincense, clove and thyme oils on it (and melaleuca, but I couldn’t find any). It was interesting because my mare wanted nothing to do with the other essential oils I had on hand, but she was really into this recommended mixture I put together (diluted with avocado oil), so I added it to the warm washcloth and she seemed to enjoy the compress and almost fell asleep while I was applying it.

She is eating well and seems to feel good, but is a little less energetic than normal.

I have to go out of town this week for work, but will see if I can get the barn manager to continue with the compresses

[outerbanks77]

Culture came back, large populations of pasteurella and another type of bacteria. Vet and I were both on the road so couldn’t hear too well. Anyway, changing course to a different antibiotic and may need to open it up again next week depending on how things go. Vet said that both bacteria were very unusual infections for a horse and she didn’t know what caused it. Random and frustrating, but hopefully on the right path now.

[Dutchmare433]

@outerbanks77

Culture came back, large populations of pasteurella and another type of bacteria. Vet and I were both on the road so couldn’t hear too well. Anyway, changing course to a different antibiotic and may need to open it up again next week depending on how things go. Vet said that both bacteria were very unusual infections for a horse and she didn’t know what caused it. Random and frustrating, but hopefully on the right path now.

Any chance there was a bite or scratch from another animal? That’d be the most likely explanation for the Pasteurella sp.

[csaper58]

Is your horse around goats? They get abscesses caused by pasteurella, that is sometimes associated with pneumonia.

Rabbits are also a source of pasteurella.

Wash your hands, some pasteurella sp. are contagious to people.

[Jealoushe]

My mare had an abscess and I poulticed around it after hot compress twice a day, and I re poked her hole twice a day with a clean needle. It took a few weeks but eventually all drained out and closes nicely.

[outerbanks77]

@csaper58

Is your horse around goats? They get abscesses caused by pasteurella, that is sometimes associated with pneumonia.

Rabbits are also a source of pasteurella.

Wash your hands, some pasteurella sp. are contagious to people.

Thanks - There were baby goats at the facility I bought her from, but she wouldn’t have been in direct contact, being stalled in a separate barn. There are sheep next door to current stable, but again, no direct contact.

As of tonight, she’s had three days on the new antibiotic. I’ve been out of town, so hadn’t seen it since Sunday, and it is definitely draining now and looking better. Will start again with the hot compress.

Jealoushe, what were you using for the poultice? I’d like to get this drawn out because her bridle is a Micklem and I’m afraid the jaw strap will interfere. She seems well enough to work if I can fit the tack to avoid the abscess.

[mbv]

Pasteurella sp. can be part of the normal upper respiratory and oral bacteria in horses (as well as other animal species, which is why they are commonly isolated from animal bite wounds in humans). They are considered opportunistic pathogens and can definitely cause disease in horses when they get into the “wrong” places. Therefore, horses can get Pasteurella sp. infections without “getting” the bacteria from other horses or other species of animals. Abscesses regularly consist of mixed infections of multiple different types of bacteria. If I were you, I would be pleased that it isn’t strangles or Actinomyces! Drainage should be your friend in getting it to resolve because antibiotics can’t always penetrate abscesses very well.

[outerbanks77]

Thank you mbv. Of course I was greatly relieved when we learned that it wasn’t strangles!

She is feeling 100% again, based on her antics on the lunge line last night. The abscess is shrinking a bit each day. She was switched from SMZs to Minocycline on Wednesday and that seems to be making a big difference.

[pryme_thyme]

My previous horse got bitten by a ‘harmless’ snake a few years ago. Caused a hard lump under the jaw. Vet treated with a general antibiotic, it was gone within two weeks. (Cannot recall the name of the drug but it was the basic general one that I tend to see often)

[BigMama1]

Glad to hear your horse is on the mend! Just an FYI re maleleuca- it’s more common name is tea tree oil, so you may have better luck looking for it under that name.

[outerbanks77]

@BigMama1

Glad to hear your horse is on the mend! Just an FYI re maleleuca- it’s more common name is tea tree oil, so you may have better luck looking for it under that name.

Doh! I already had that on hand. Oh well. She loves the mixture of frankincense, clove and thyme, so even if it’s not doing anything physically, at least she’s enjoying the aromatherapy, lol.

She is now back to work and I’m putting her back in the Micklem bridle tomorrow as the abscess has shrunk enough to not be bothered by the jaw strap. She may need to go back in to get it re-opened to finish draining next week as it’s no longer draining on its own, but it doesn’t seem to bother her much at all.