Abby update

[LuvMyAbby&Kaela]

Well she is feeling poorly Not eating laying around. But the lump seems the same size as yesterday (which was about child fist size)...but where it was rock hard yesterday it has a spongy quality to it in the centre now. So that must be good right? Almost like the tissue is done being hard and inflamed and ready to burst or weep?? There seems to be another new lump below it on her chest and I am just hoping this is another gland or maybe it is weeping downwards on the inside? I dont know what to do. If it is the same or better by 8 am I am not taking her to the vet. He gave me a 7 day course of abx...I will give it a chance unless it is dramatically worse because he said himself he doesnt like to operate in that area. Carotid artery, nerves etc,...

Oh and the thing I forgot on the other post - and why Monday was a time frame....My vet is gone on holidays - this new vet is leaving Tuesday...so that was part of it. As long as it doesnt seem worse I am not going tomorrow AM. And I guess if after Tuesday it is worse I can always make an emergency call to the other vet in that town to do the surgery.

Do you know if a rock hard lump turning spongy is a good sign?

[LuvMyAbby&Kaela]

She lost a good 5 pounds!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

So what was it exactly? I am glad that she is doing better.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Yeah, I had the same question; what is it exactly?
My cats would get something that sounded exaclty like this and my biology partnere ( and a 4H member also ) taught me this home remedy:
Many times these lumps are parastites. Just icky bugs looking and lurking in the brush waiting for a host. They attach to animals and large absesses form Apply vaseline generously. This suffocates the parasite and they work thier way back out quicker. Of course not a substitute for vet treatment or antibiotics.
Seemed to work for me on a few occasions.

[LuvMyAbby&Kaela]

Personally because it ruptured outwards I think the original puncture must have been on the outside. We think it is from a bite from her playing with her friend (who still has sharp puppy teeth) - or from the groomer the week before. Aneorobic bacteria which can be anywhere flow in and you have a staph type infection. If the original entrance was inside the throat it would probably have ruptured inside. And if there is a piece of something we will soon know because it will reinfect and then it will mean surgery.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Reg, is it possible to look at the area and see if there is something there?
As long as it stays open and is kept very clean, it shouldn't become reinfected, but if there is a piece of something imbedded in the tissues, another abscess could form, especially if the area heals up with the object still in there. At least, that's the way it works with human skin abscesses. Hopefully, if it was a splinter that entered from the outside, it was tiny and was washed out with the exudate when it burst.
How is she today?

[LuvMyAbby&Kaela]

She is awesome today! Man what a lot of drainage - I think it has almost stopped today. I cant see anything at all because of all the fur and I dont think I should shave it because I am afraid it will be less protected. But she feels 100% better....she is a rotten brat again!! Yippeeee! LOL (I love brats). I will clean it again this evening and put more Betadine on it. Cross your fingers that there is no object.

I spared you the gross details of yesterday morning...

What looked like watered down blood literally poured out and made a squelching sound when she moved her head. She felt the wetness and started to shake....well YUCK! It splattered all over and I was trying to contain her while running around with a disinfectant wipe to clean the splatter...what a disaster!

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

Phew! I am soooo glad she is feeling better. Sounds like Abby's own immune system kicked in to wall off something it recognized as 'foreign’ to her body. Could have been a puncture wound, splinter or even a spider bite. That drainage was the dead white blood cells (aka pus) that ‘died in the line of duty’ attempting to get rid of the ‘enemy’. Years ago I had an English Setter (Lorien) that was bitten in the flew by a rattle snake while we were on a hunting trip. Fortunately the fangs went completely through the flew so very little poison stayed in the wound. Of course we went immediately to the vet who gave her an anti-venom shot. But afterwards she had an abscess very similar to what you described about Abby’s. When the abscess finally ruptured Lorien had the same ‘watery blood’ drainage and lots of it. After the wound quit draining and started healing the skin in that area died and sloughed off. Eventually skin and hair grew back and all that was left were two tiny circular scars. Kind of a long story just to tell you not to be surprised if the skin around the abscess starts to sloughed in that area. Again, what a relief to hear Abby is feeling better.

[Rose]

I'm glad to hear Abby is feeling better!

[Michele Barton]

Oh, I am so glad to hear that Abby is better! I haven't been able to get on my computer since Sunday, and I was thinking about her all day yesterday. I had an abscess deep in my nose (gross, sorry) years back, and it was so painful all I did was cry, which of course made it worse. I'd rather go through childbirth again than have that happen!
On another note, my face gets numb too when I drink. Glad to know that I'm not the only one!

[Stella]

Glad to hear that she is feeling better. What happened to the second lump that appeared? Did it go away too??

[Adrianne Matzkin]

The Doodles G-ds were watching over all of you! I am thrilled to hear that she is feeling better!!!!!
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