Viewing Single Post From: Symmetrical tooth root infections ... 4 months apart?

Viewing Single Post From: Symmetrical tooth root infections ... 4 months apart?
Onelanerode	Jun 11 2009, 06:40 PM
Thomas H. Cruise! Posts: 633 Group: Members Member #130 Joined: January 7, 2007	Four-year-old Appendix mare presented with bony lump on lower right jaw in late January. First vet came out, palpated, said it was nothing to worry about. I wasn't satisfied with that answer and had my regular vet out, who did rads, said she wasn't sure what this was, and then took rads to the vet school. A tooth root infection of the first premolar was diagnosed, and 30 days of metronidazole/SMZs prescribed. Mid-March, we did another set of rads to see how things were progressing, and there was some slight improvement. Regular vet consults with vet school once again, recommends another 30 days of antibiotics. I opted to send both sets of rads to dental expert for second opinion, he concurs with original diagnosis, says that doing another round of antibiotics may/may not be helpful, I could do it if I was so inclined but he didn't think it'd be a problem not to. Mare had developed diarrhea and gone off feed while on first round of antibiotics, so I decided against another round. Lump is still about the same size. Mare turns five in early April. Late April/early May, lump suddenly shrinks pretty drastically, continues to shrink. I talk w/ regular vet about scheduling one more set of rads, she says wait another month. Early June I call, schedule appt. for 6/15. Today after riding I palpate lump, compare to other side to see how close to "normal" we are, and WHOA. Mare has a very similar lump on the lower left jaw. WTF! This was not there a week ago when I last palpated. I'm hoping it's not another tooth root infection, but it looks very similar to what we saw four months ago. So now I'm calling my regular vet in the morning to give her this latest update. Anyone seen anything like this?! I'm beginning to wonder if the first lump wasn't an infection at all, but something else entirely. Bone cysts? Bone cancer? Exostosis? Weird genetic thing? Some strange manifestation of the inadequate nutrition she had as a youngster, before I bought her? I just can't believe she's got another one on the opposite side, same premolar.


Symmetrical tooth root infections ... 4 months apart? · The ER