Bad Luck Srikes Again.....

GROSS ALERT- IF YOU DO NOT LIKE BLOOD PLEASE STOP READING NOW!!

I think I mentioned last Spring that Fritzy had a huge bump on her neck and I called the vet, only to cancel the appointment because I talked to someone at work and my vet at work and he told me to put Surpass on it. He even said that if it was an abscess that they usually drain on the inside. Well it took a couple weeks to go down, and it never went away completely. A small lump stayed on her neck throughout the summer. A week ago while I was feeding my horses, I noticed that Fritzy was having a hard time getting her head down to the ground to eat her hay. I immediately knew what was going on. I jumped the fence and sure enough, that big bump was back on her neck. She had the same symptoms as before, but this time the bump was bigger, way bigger. It was probably the size of both my hands put together and stuck out about an inch or 2. I called my vet and set up an appointment. I was not going to let this go. Something was going on, and something that needed fixed asap.

I had to work the day my vet came out. My OH was here and he kept me well informed of what was going on. He also kept sending me pictures of the entire process. BLOODY PICTURES AHEAD!!!!

The pictures were all taken by cell phone, so the quality is poor but you will see what is going on. My vet J, shaved Fritzy's neck and took ultrasound to see what she was dealing with. She and I had talked about what it could be and her first guess without seeing it was an abscess. Once she got here and saw it, she knew that that is exactly what it was. Actually there were 2 bumps, but with all of Fritzy's winter fur, I did not see or feel the 2nd bump.



The ultrasound showed many pockets of pus inside and it was very deep. It was very difficult to get to because the absecces were walled off behind the muscle.



Blood and pus poured out once she lanced it.



This process took a long time. She had to make sure she got out all the pus.



This is what came out of the abscess. This is what's on the ground, and it is at least the size of a man's size 11 boot. My OH just forgot to get his foot in the picture.



Blood still coming out. But now there isn't anymore pus. This picture is actually rotated wrong, I could not get this picture to rotate the right way. The top of Fritzy's neck is on the left of the pix.



Then J took a piece of gauze and ran it through one hole of Fritzy's neck and back through the other hole and tied it off. This is the drain.



So Fritzy is on Bute, antibiotics, a Nolvasan flush inside the neck and hotpacks. She can get her head down now, and that is actually really good for her because it stimulates drainage.

My vet J said this is the worst abscess she has seen. She couldn't believe that Fritzy did not get sick or have any other issues due to this abscess. She said that it was a sterile abscess and basically her body was fighting it and walled it off behind the muscle and kept it contained there. I know, very confusing stuff. She believes that this all started last Spring from her vaccinations. She had her vaccinations about 2-3 weeks before I noticed the first bump. I am kicking myself in the ass right now for NOT keeping that vet appointment when I first saw it. I hate it when people talk me out of having the vet out!! I need to do what I feel is right, and I should have just listened to my gut. Instead I listened to other people that said "oh don't have the vet out, they charge you an arm and a leg, and it is probably just this and this will take care of it!" and yes, that person did come out to look at Fritzy the first time and told me what I should do. Then I talked to the work vet. But I will not do that again. I am usually the most OCD pet owner and call the vet over everything, no matter how minor something looks. I will keep to that from now on.

Fritzy feels much better. We turned Brandy and Fritzy out in the grass pasture and moved Chance down to my sister's boys old pasture. It is bigger and closer to the house. I think she really likes it!!

I have been crazy busy, again. So I haven't had time for reading blogs or posting on my own. I would really like life to slow down sometime soon. My dad was here last week to put in our kitchen backsplash and bathroom counter. It looks awesome!! It is almost done. Still working on unpacking when I have a few spare minutes, but that is definitely an ongoing process!

We are having Thanksgiving here with my OH's family. I can't wait for them all to see the house! So excited for that! I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!