Something to keep flies off draining abscess on throatlatch

[saitou_amaya]

My 23 year old gelding suddenly developed very swollen, painful lymph nodes that have abscessed over the weekend in his throat latch area, behind the jaw where the head meets the neck. The vet came out today and was able to drain the fluid out of the abscess and is sending some to culture. But for now he has an open, draining wound. There is about a 2 inch incision and an open pocket you can put a couple fingers in. The vet says to leave it open and draining for the next couple days. He covered it in swat and told me to keep putting swat on it.

Once it is done draining, I am able to cover it. I’m really stressed about flies getting in there while it heals. Even if I put his fly mask and fly sheet with neck on, it is still exposed. I’m looking for suggestions on how to keep the flies off while it heals. The vet suggested perhaps a neck slinky? He is stalled right now because he is in isolation so at least I won’t need to worry about him being outside.

[EmilyM]

can you put SWAT on it?

[saitou_amaya]

Yes, it is currently covered in swat and I will continue to cover it, but I’m worried that won’t be enough.

[endlessclimb]

I’d see how the swat is working, and then maybe a slinky but I’d cut a hole in it where the wound is and stich mesh over that spot.

A former barnmate had a horse with a permanent trach, and she did something similar for the forever throat-hole.

[OzarksRider]

I use Desitin diaper rash paste to keep flies off minor skin wounds. If I think there’s a risk of infection I smear a little triple antibiotic ointment or Biozide gel on first, then coat with Desitin. I’ve used Swat in the past, but I think Desitin works much better.

[theresak]

I used Swat for a strangles abscess under the jaw in July and it worked well and prevented the drainage from scalding the skin.

[BayMoose]

Can you bandage it in lightplast and something very adsorbent such as an abdominal pad? I used an abdominal pad plus lightplast on my weanling last year when he had an abscess under his jaw and it worked very well and didn’t cause premature closure.

[saitou_amaya]

Okay, great! That is actually really reassuring because this looks just like a strangles abscess, we just don’t know if it’s strangle or a different bacteria yet.

As an aside, I have no idea what caused this! He is 23 and has been vaccinated every year for strangles. This spring he just had a titer done that showed immunity. He is retired and doesn’t go anywhere! I feel like surely this must be a different bacteria. He has no fever, is eating and drinking, and is alert and happy.

[frugalannie]

Don’t know if this would work, but how about cutting the top part off of a pair of supportive panty hose? You could put that around his neck and maybe have a dressing under it if you wanted. Honestly, when I’ve had a really messy leaking wound, I’ve used a maxi pad that gets changed as often as necessary. The sticky strip on the back helps hold it in place.

As you can tell, I’m very creative when it comes to bandaging!

[saitou_amaya]

This is my first time trying to post a picture. Not sure if it worked but this is the abscess today after being opened and drained.

[endlessclimb]

If that area isn’t shaved, I would definitely do that…

[Jump314]

I would clip around there to keep it clean, apply SWAT several times a day plus Vaseline on the surrounding skin to keep it from scalding, then turn on a high-powered fan in his stall to blow the flies away.

[WildGooseChase]

Use Swat AROUND the wound, not on it. It’s not meant to be a wound treatment. I would clip the area, use a mild disinfectant to clean, cover the wound with a triple antibiotic ointment, then Desitin ointment, and then put a thick ring of Swat around the wound, like a bullseye. If you don’t clean/treat the wound before covering it with a barrier cream like Desitin, you’re just sealing in the infection.

Per ValleyVet this is the label: https://valleyvet.cvpservice.com/product/view/basic/1000499

it says very clearly in the directions to NOT apply directly on the wound.

[Displaced_Yankee]

@frugalannie

Don’t know if this would work, but how about cutting the top part off of a pair of supportive panty hose? You could put that around his neck and maybe have a dressing under it if you wanted. Honestly, when I’ve had a really messy leaking wound, I’ve used a maxi pad that gets changed as often as necessary. The sticky strip on the back helps hold it in place.

As you can tell, I’m very creative when it comes to bandaging!

I think this is a great idea. It seems that it would allow for drainage, but keep the flies from getting up in there. (although they could ‘touch’ the wound through the pantyhose). I probably wouldn’t put a dressing on it just to allow it to drain.

A daily (2 times a day?) scrub and change of pantyhose would keep things clean. I also second clipping and using SWAT around the wound.

[skydy]

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Four New Strangles Cases Have Emerged in Michigan – The Horse