Lump on top of neck

[Southdown]

After shearing my Suffolk ewe, I felt a lump on the top of her neck. It's located right where the wool starts on the top of the neck. I don't believe it's an abscess, it seem too firm. I'm not too worried about it, but yet I'm wondering what it is.

 

[Goat Whisperer]

Is it a location for CL? I would quarantine her and get her tested. I think it would be a good thing to rule out.

This is for goats, I imagine it would be the same with sheep?

 

[norseofcourse]

How big is the lump? Is it within the skin or under the skin? Can you move it around or is it firmly attached? Firm all the way through, or squishy in the middle?

One of my sheep has a hard pea-sized lump on her neck, within the skin, I think it's where she got one of her vaccinations. Doesn't seem to bother her and I'm watching it to make sure it doesn't change for the worse.

 

[Southdown]

I lanced it tonight and squeezed out a black, tarry, thick substance. I was able to squeeze hard and almost completely deflate the thing. Is it a hematoma? Hubby thinks the black tarry stuff is dried blood. I'm not sure. It's definitely not pus anyway. It was very thick and hard to squeeze out and very black in color. I cleaned it with hydrogen peroxide afterward. We'll see what happens next. She does like to ram a lot and has nearly broken a gate from ramming so hard, so maybe the rubbing on the top her head created this. I just don't want it to be anything contagious.

 

[Sheepshape]

Doesn't sound like CL....the stuff which comes out is copious thick pus with 'cheesy' lumps in it. If old blood the cavity shouldn't re-fill.

A hard lump after vaccination can persist for many months, especially if the vaccine were given a bit deeply.

 

[Southdown]

It refilled some now. Argh.