128>Please help. My thoroughbred ran through a fence and had a few cuts and bruises. He was injected with penicillin and an anti inflammatory. Where the injection was given on the neck, he developed an abcess. This great swelling then developed into a bigger one below. The vet lanced the top one and we have been able to drain the puss. He thinks the bottom one is cancer because the skin is tight and no puss comes out when he lanced it. What do you think?
Reply:Usually a vet knows to give something like Penicillin low enough in a big muscle that is for any reason, it abscesses, it drains well on it%26#039;s own, after lancing or not even needing lancing. Abscesses are causes by introducing either unclean substances or foreign animal protein, which causes a reaction and ultimately, an abscess. I can%26#039;t imagine that if the vet thought that there was even a remote possibility of cancer present, he/she hasn%26#039;t already taken a biopsy. Was there nothing at that site prior to the injection? I would personally get another vet opinion as soon as possible, even if you have to haul to a vet to get your horse in sooner. I would also seriously consider changing vets. Oh, the suggestion about the hot packs and feeding on the ground is something that a genuine horseman would suggest, so I would certainly listen to that person. It%26#039;s common sense and there is no substitute for that. Just curious, is this vet usually a small animal vet? I used to use a female vet (actually a friend) that would give shots destined for deep large muscles, in the neck...I finally discovered that she had been kicked a few times and simply was protecting herself, besides, it was easier to give it in the neck...needless to say she didn%26#039;t work on our horses any more...one heck of a small animal vet though.
Reply:I think it would be strange for it to come up so fast more likly an elergic reaction I would not worry to much but get the vet to keep an eye on it
Reply:It%26#039;s very possible, because that is how it would react, but wouldn%26#039;t be able to tell without a biopsy. I am also very surprized that an abcess developed at the injection site. Usually that happens due to an infection within or a bite. If it were an injection, I am thinking unclean area, needle, Perhaps even from the fence, was there barbwire involved? The anti inflammatory and the penicillin should have done the trick and certainly not caused the abcess. Had the horse had a tetnas shot? I have always heard of lockjaw, but not sure what all of that entails so had to look it up. You will find this article an interesting read for humans and animals,
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkboo...
Reply:I%26#039;m so sorry about your horse. Its possible it could be cancer. If your vet suspects it, shouldn%26#039;t you get it tested? It might be a tumor, but it doesnt mean it definetly has cancer. I would definetly get it tested.
Reply:It came directly after a penicillin shot? I doubt it is cancer. It is probably edema. Did he also give a tetanus? or was you TB already vaccinated for it?
Either way I would get a second opinion from another vet.
Reply:What vet would think a cancerous tumor would come up instantly from an injection reaction??? Penicillin is a tough drug and we never inject it into the neck because of the mess it creates.
Get another vet!
In the meantime, start your horse on some anti-inflammatory (bute) for 5 days and put heat packs twice a day for 20 minutes on his neck to take down the swelling. Use massage (gently) to get the circulation going in the area. Let him have lots of turnout, and feed his hay on the ground so he uses his neck muscles to daily maximum use.
I%26#039;m betting in a couple of weeks you%26#039;ll notice a positive difference
Reply:I think you need a new vet. I don%26#039;t understand why your vet gave penicillin for a few cuts and bruises. Most will tell you to give an oral antibiotic like SMZ for 7-10 days to prevent infection. The anti-inflammatory (most likely bute) would be a pain reliever. Unless the cuts were severe enough to need stitches, you don%26#039;t even need a vet for that type of injury. With a prescription from the vet, you can order your own supplies.
Reply:Its hard to say, you really need a biopsy done of that area.
I would also get a second opinion from another vet that you value.
When diagnosis like that come back, I usually get 2-3 opinions, just to make sure that I give my animals the best outcome. Sometimes I get 2-3 opinions too lol.
Good luck and hope it all works out for you.
Just because no puss came out, is not a definitive diagnosis for cancer either. It could be fibrin tissue buildup from the receeding abcess from an old hematoma. Seen that happen sometimes. But again, without a biopsy, its all guessing.
Reply:I couldn%26#039;t tell you. Have your vet preform a byopsy or what ever it is called when thay take a sample of the area and test it for cancer. I could be pricy but if you really cared about your horse price would be no objection.
Reply:I%26#039;ve never heard of that although seen penicillin cause neck abscesses. It%26#039;s always best to give a big shot of penicillin in the back of the hind leg as there is less chance of it abscessing and as the horse moves, it then drains. If it has to go in the neck, a big dose should be put in 2 syringes and half go in one side and half in the other. Cancer doesn%26#039;t just occur over night and I would ask for either biopsy or get another vet to look at it. Vets are human too and make mistakes and I%26#039;ve heard some of them come out with stuff that is just nonsense - just because they have a degree doesn%26#039;t make them infallible. In addition to hot packs, you can rub the hard swelling with neat DMSO a few times per day, that will often take down swellings. I%26#039;ve seen horses that have had huge neck swellings because the vein has been blown out when people have injected outside of the vein - a few days of rubbing with DMSO always takes it down.
Reply:well for one WHITE horses are known for cancer. But i think your vet might have made a mistake injecting him, he has probably had a reaction the the penicillin. If it is a tumer get your vet to test it but chaced are if it is an absess at the injection sight it is just taking time to absess the infection
Reply:Hey sounds like he has developed a sarcoid cancer... which occur when the wound or even a knock to the muscle or bone become granulated and hardens... yes this is a form of cancer and it can be a perminant lump, but it can also go away on its own in time... The best ways to get ride of them quickly are; (i have only ever used sulfa powder but others have used the others)
-sulfa powder (the yellow stuff u can buy from produce0
- dmso roll on (try and break down the tissue)
- vegimite (Aussies only i guess)
things that wont help, pawpaw cream, moisturiser
Below is a site i found that has lots of FAQ%26#039;s about sarcoids answered... have a read and talk to your vet...
A sarcoid cancer can not be a detremential problem to your horse if it is located in the %26quot;right%26quot; area...
Best of luck, any injury is stressful... remember to think positive!!!
http://pcwww.liv.ac.uk/sarcoid/facts.htm
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