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  Discussion on Small Abcess under cheeks on head
Author Message
Member:
Muffi

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 31, 2006 - 4:05 pm:

My 6 year old Gelding has a small (size of a nickel) abcess or wound not sure under his head in the area just in front of his neck. He is eating fine, pooping and happy, temperature is normal. but I noticed that it appeared to be "goopy" for lack of a better word when I first saw it. I have cleaned it with Warm Water and then Betadine and water, Sprayed it with an Antibacterial -Tea Tree Oil wound spray then coated it with Neosporin to stop further infection. It doesn't seem to be Oozing or anything any more.
My Question to Dr O or any one else is could this be the result of an injury or something more serious ? Should I be worried about Strangles? His glands don't seem swollen to me (I know it's not Pigeon fever as another horse had that and I would recognise it again if it were) It's not abcessing but more like an open wound, it is just there I mean it doesn't appear to be Gooing anymore. I am going away this weekend and will be boarding him with other horses. Is that wise? I don't want to endanger my friends stable. Should I have the Vet come out and look at him?
Member:
Hwood

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 31, 2006 - 4:45 pm:

Muffy, if it were Strangles, he would have gone off his feed. Horses with Strangles really DON'T feel well . . . they get sore throats and fever like we do when we get strep throat.

My first guess is that it is just a wound. If it gets sore around the wound and if he goes off is feed or develops a fever, then you will want to get antibiotics for him, I think. Until then, it is probably just a surface thing and keeping it clean and letting it drain is the best thing. There has been some discussion on this site of the caustic effects of Tea Tree Oil. You might want to forego that part of your treatment.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 1, 2006 - 8:46 am:

Horses with incomplete immunity to Strangles, like most vaccinates, will sometimes pop a submandibular ln. abscess without much for systemic signs so I don't think it can be ruled out completely.

Is this an abscess that popped open or is this a traumatic wound? If you were not going to board your horse elsewhere this would not be a big worry, good care and let it heal. But without knowing the answer we cannot say that this might not be something that will spread to your friends horses. The vet may be able to make a better determination of this following an exam.
DrO
Member:
Muffi

Posted on Thursday, Feb 2, 2006 - 9:32 pm:

Well I think it was a trauma an nothing more - A little residue from when he pulled his Houdini trick last week and opened the gate and ran around while I was not home in the inner fencing. He had quite a jolly on 10 acres here.
The thing has healed over completly now and looks good. Hairless but nice and healthy pink skin.
I talked the vet and she agrees (She is scheduled to come out next week adn thought the Over the phone diagnosis was fine) as Well my friend that is taking him this weekend is sure he is fine. But will watch him just to be on the safe side. We both use the same vet so I am not worried. Thanks all
By the Way Holly - I used Neosporin more than Tea Tree and it worked fine. but the Tea Tree spray that I works is great for standard nicks and scrapes that two horses give to each other - I think it helps the hair to grow back faster? not sure but It doesn't seem to irritate either of my two babies and I do think it helps!
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Feb 3, 2006 - 9:06 am:

Tea tree oil has demonstrated some properties that look promising in wound care but there are also a number of problems with its use on wounds:
  • It has cytotoxic properties for skin cells and fibroblast.
  • Some studies did not find good antibacterial properties.
  • Hypersensitivity (allergic) reactions are common.
Obviously wounds can heal with its use but it seems very possible they will not heal as fast and with repeated use the chance of developing a allergic reaction goes up.
DrO
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