"Inflamed lymph node" in jaw area - tell me what you think

[endlessclimb]

Here’s the timeline.

Saturday morning, I walk in and my young horse is laying down. I’m not worried. I go in to snuggle with her, and find a bite mark? Cyst? Puncture wound? I don’t know under her jaw, and the left side of her jaw is HOT and inflamed, feels like a pitting type edema. She’s running a mild fever. I call my vet and ask to be seen as soon as feasible. Horse is eating and drinking, a little lethargic - it’s not a “get here now” emergency, but I wanted her to be looked at.

I apply a few hot compresses with a damp towel, get some pus out of the little wound area, more if I press on it. I’m thinking “looks like an abcess, vet will have to lance/drain.” I get a little more pus every time I do a hot compress.

Vet comes Monday, says it’s an inflamed lymphnode and that it doesn’t need anything but benign neglect.

Am I in the wrong for being full of question marks and doubt right now? I don’t want to be “that owner” but I can get pus out of it by pressing. I am about to lance the damn thing myself.

Mare continues to be bright, alert, eating, drinking, and her fever has subsided.

Thoughts? I’m frustrated with this vet - between the “tympany” on my old horse and now this, I think it might be time to change. There’s a limited number of vets in the area though.

Picture of the wound, and circled where it is swollen and really hot/sensitive to the touch.

[NancyM]

Warm epsom salt poultice works well. Just bathe the area with a wet towel or sponge. That stuff will suck popcorn through a paper bag. If it’s draining already it doesn’t need lancing.

[endlessclimb]

It’s not draining much though, like a pea sized amount every time I compress. Then it looks like the little wound area dries out again, and it can’t get out.

I haven’t tried epsom salt, good idea. I’ll give it a go tonight.

[NancyM]

It will make the channel it needs, as it needs it. I lanced one years ago, it spewed pus big time. And cleared right up as a result- but it wasn’t draining yet, just a great big pimple.

[NaturallyHappy]

We had one that did this. NancyM’s idea is a good one. We used Icthamol to get it to drain. Slathered it on at night and cleaned it up w alcohol in the morning. I think the Icthamol kept it from sealing up and closing until it was completely drained. It took longer than I thought it should have.

[endlessclimb]

Great, thank you for the info.

I have a jar of the epsom salt poultice stuff in a tote in my garage (I think). I believe I have icthamol too, but will have to dig a little more to find that one.

I think I’ll hold off on calling for a second opinion until I try this concoction for a day or two. The horse is otherwise fine - eating, drinking, no fever, bright eyed and bushy tailed.

[BootsAndCoffee]

I really like Drawing Salve for those sorts of things. Once things are open and draining, sterile saline flush via curved tip syringe is good stuff.

[endlessclimb]

Can you link to what you’re talking about exactly? I know many substances draw, but I don’t have to deal with this too often so don’t know what’s the best to use.

[BootsAndCoffee]

Sorry about that! Icthamol..

[endlessclimb]

Thank you! I swear I have a jar of that stuff somewhere, I can see the label in my head. Just have to dig.

Thanks all.

[Simkie]

I’m not sure lancing stuff like this is the recommended standard of care anymore? Even when I had nasty, gooey strangles abscesses, there was no recommendation to lance.

To me, this looks like a tick bite that will resolve if left alone. They get pussy…uh… purulent like this sometimes.

[NaturallyHappy]

The one we had was swollen literally for years. Several vets looked at at many, many times…all said to leave it alone and that it would drain when ready. It looked just like the posted picture when it finally drained. I used rubber gloves to smear it on…it starts w “ich” for a reason😀. I was also careful to make sure he didn’t get it on the rim of his water bucket and fed him in a pan on the ground.

[LilRanger]

My horses strangles started like that. I just mention so that it/when you get stuff out, biosecurity is important! If it’s not contagious, no worries. I’m sure you’re already doing this, but I thought I’d remind you.

[endlessclimb]

Yep, the S word came up with the vet. Apparently she is not concerned. I kept the mare on “house arrest” until she was looked at.

[horsepoor]

I had something similar on my horse several years ago and, like others, used ichthammol. Made sure to use a halter I wasn’t too attached too as it gets nasty (does anything remove ichthammol? don’t get it on your clothes either!). Washed off every day with chlorhexidine and also used a heating pad to help draw as well. He was an easy guy to do stuff with so just used his halter to hold the heating pad on his jaw while in the cross ties. I can’t remember how long it took, but it did drain and heal on its own without vet intervention, just had my vet consult based on pictures and description via text. Also made sure his tetanus was up to date, as I would with any wound/abscess.

[GoodTimes]

My mare (almost 5yo now) had something like this when we got her as a weanling, except that it wasn’t hot. Vet dug around a little bit, but didn’t find anything, just a tiny amount of pus. She still has a small lump, but it isn’t sore, and hasn’t changed over the years.

[SLW]

How is your mare today?? Swelling reducing??

[endlessclimb]

It’s worse. I put icthamol on it last night and gave her a light workout on the lunge. I’m going to try the Epsom salt today and see how that goes.

Poor shayney.

[endlessclimb]

I’m looking to get a second opinion.

Just “benign neglect” doesn’t cut it for me when my horse is clearly uncomfortable with the area being touched. Not to mention there’s no way I can really ride her - no way could she get on the bit with this wad of whatever-it-is in between her mandibles.

Dex? DMSO? Bute? Other steroids? Something has got to help her here. I can’t just “leave it be” when it’s hurting her.

[cayuse]

Any chance this might be a spider bite? They can leave a nasty wound that takes awhile to heal depending on the spider. I think a second opinion is a good thing. Hope she feels better quickly.