Do abscesses form within one day?

Question

We have a 3 month old pup, this morning at about 7 am she got in a scuffle with an older dog, I checked carefully and there were no bites or scratches that I could find; it was just a 20 second scuffle. Today I got up at 6pm and when I picked her(the pup) up I found her entire bottom jaw and upper neck swollen to an obvious degree, the area is hot and definitly feels fluid filled with a harder knot at the center. This pup is about 5lbs and the lump is nearly tennis ball sized already. She didn't eat her dinner at 4pm and she's acting grouchy and sick.

I'm taking her to the vet first thing in the morning if I can find anyone willing to see her on new years day but I need to know -

Could this abscess, which is what I think it is, have formed in the 12 hours between the fight and when I next saw her? Does this sound like an abscess?

Do you think this is life threatening enough that I insist on an emergency call from our vet tonight?

thanks

We live in the boonies the nearest emergency vet clinic is more than an hour away with icey roads and drunks between - it is new years. There are two local vets we could call but we'll essentially be pulling them from their new years celebrations if we can even get ahold of them so if this can at all wait until 7am tomorrow it needs to... thank you for the imput I'm definitly not giving her any meds and she's in a quiet bedroom for right now, she ate about half her dinner a few minutes ago.

Just got back from the vets - he found a puncture we didn't find right under her chin and he thinks it's definitly an abcess. She's on pain meds and anti-biotics for a week and if the lump isn't gone by friday he wants to see her in again to sedate and explore what's going on, I've got my fingers crossed it won't be needed since the lump has actually gone down a bit from midnight last night till this morning.

Answer 1

I think it's a hematoma.
Basically, huge bruise.

Every once in a while, an injury will cause blood to pool under the skin like that.
Abcesses are caused by infection and take a 5 days to a week to form.

It is problematic because she's small and doesn't have that much blood to lose, but, at this point, I don't think it's life threatening.

Keep her quiet and as still as possible.
Apply warm compresses IF she'll let you. Don't stress her out any more, if she won't, just leave her be.

DO NOT! give asprin or any other over the counter drugs.

Wait for the doctor.

Answer 2

I wouldn't leave it til tomorrow, I would get there tonight.

Answer 3

I urge you to find a veterinarian open tonight for this little bundle. At this point it could be an abscess or a hematoma, either way this needs to be addressed asap due to her age. The area needs to be assessed and drained asap. This puppy should be on IV fluids and on an antibiotic drip. Again, either call your vet (yes, this is an emergency call) or find an E-Vet open. Let me know how she does, OK?

Answer 4

Is there no cut or bruise to show a sign of why? If it is a allergic reaction then childrens bynadryril in a appropraite proportion I am sure you will have no antibiotic for the pup unless you have some for fish or other left from another dog. The human pills are way too many time to strong. I would be careful about the bynadryll for it will make the puppy sleepy also. Since you are not experience and can not get a vet then ask a local breeder to look f you can find one.

Answer 5

An abscess I don't think it is in a classic form. Sounds as if it might be tissue trauma from the scuffle she was in. I would make and emergency visit if possible. If this injury showed up so soon after the disagreement it's worth the visit. It is possible to have tissue trauma even without visible wounds. Life threatening is a possibility if the trachea or esophagus is involved.
Good luck

Answer 6

That doesn't sound good at all. The swelling or the not eating.PLEASE TAKE HER TO THE VET AS SOON A POSSIBLE.