lump under ear

[lunker]

I have a cow that suddenly developed swelling under its jaw in
mid march. Kind of had that wormy bottle jaw look. (I wormed
her hard for the 2nd time in 3 months.)
The swelling was only under the jaw at first but now it has
slowly moved across her jaw and is under her ear only.
(about the size of a cantelope )
It feels like a hard knot.
She is eating and somewhat maintaning her condition.
She had her calf at the same time I noticed the swelling
under her jaw.

I had a very similiar incidence last year.
Vet said it was an abcess maybe from cancer in the lympth
nodes. That cow got shipped as it was losing condition fast.
The vet did not have a clear answer or any solution.

Has anyone had similiar experiences ?
What caused the initial swelling ?
Why would it go away under the jaw and get larger
under her ear ?
If she continues to eat, maintain condition, and raise
her current calf, should I leave be till weaning time?


P.S. This is an old (0) salebarn cow as are the 45 others
on the place.
Is it possible the problem has existed for a long time and only
pops up from time to time.

lunker

 

[Scotty]

Pen her and get her into a squeez shute. Secure the head. Stick a 16 guage needle into the lump and draw back on the syringe. If it is green or close you have an abcess. Probe around a little. Also check for a localized fever in the area. If you have fever and puss lance the abcess at the lowest point so it will drain. Flush the cavity with nolvasan or hot soapy water. She should heal fine. The cow that you shipped may have lost weight do to the abcess becasue her jaw hurt and she did not want to eat.

 

[lunker]

I lanced it sunday.
Squeezed out about 2 cupfulls of green puss.
The lump is still there and almost as big.
I gave her a shot of LA 200 ( heavy dosage)
She hasn't been acting like it bothers her much.
I guess i'll just keep an eye on her.
lunker

 

[Farmhand]

Sounds like you have a handle on things. May have to lance it again if it swells back up. We also give LA200 in this situation. The only thing different we do is spray it with iodine after lancing also.

 

[Scotty]

I have started using Excenel in the place of LA 200.

 

[Farmhand]

We have Excenel around too. We like to be able to use the LA more than the Excenel because of the cost difference. Usually we go by gut feeling as to which one to use. If it's a simple thing - LA, if seems a bit more than simple - then Excenel.