Doe with lump, tested with WADDL...

[DRR Fainters]

We sent in blood and sucked out some puss with an 18 gauge needle....both came back negative for CL. We also tested her for CAE & Johnes. Both neg. (We also did a whole herd test for CL in case she DID have it...everyone was negative.)

So, it's right along her lower jawline - kind of getting hard now. She is quarantined still..just haven't done anything with her after getting our results back.

So, say it's a tooth abcess or thorn or whatever...how should I be treating her? I don't want her to die from infection. Should I cut it open and clean it up? Should I give penicillin // will that reduce it? My DH says to just leave it...but I don't want her walking around looking like that even tho I have test results to show she is not experiencing a CL abcess.

[needstoknowmore]

Chances are it is just a sliver or peice of something that got in there and has created a staph infection. Or could be a tooth. It is still best to keep her away from the others and in an area that is cleanable. Just like when we humans get slivers, it will come out. You can use hot packs on it to help it come out faster! Or lance it. But you do want to protect yourself and other animals while doing this! Wearing rubber gloves, burn or discard all material used to clean the area. Although it is not CL, the staph gunk can live on!!! I'm not the best person to try and explain it. I don't think I would be comfortable lancing it on my own. It should eventually come to a head and will loose hair on the tip when it is getting ready.

[jill.costello]

Hmm, if you've already been able to get pus out of it with an 18g needle, then I might try the reverse.....inject a bit of Pen-G into the abscess itself; maybe use a 16g; draw off a bit more pus, then fill the cavity you made with Pen? Or better still, we use mastitis treatment inside puncture wounds on the horses.....insert the plastic tube tip into the puncture.

I'm pretty brave about treating my animals myself....if the Pen didn't improve the lump within 3 days, I'd just cut open the sucker with a scalpel and treat as an infected wound....