Thank you everyone! I did indeed take him down to the out of hours vet - before I'd seen your replies!! Something about reaching out to you was enough to get me to think straight
!! Of course, once he was at the vet, he stopped doing the 'gulping' completely....but perhaps that was just the adrenaline acting as a painkiller? The deciding factor was, in fact, realising that he also had a large lump next to the wound site which, to me, felt quite solid. So, he was as good as gold with the vet and, after she'd shaved (yet more) fur away, she aspirated (?) the lump and got fluid out, so it was actually an abcess. His temperature was slightly raised as well. So, antibiotic and painkiller jabs, plus tablets to start tonight, and taking him down for a further check tomorrow. He is very definitely not 'himself', but the gulping hasn't reappeared. I'm keeping him in for a couple of days to give him a rest from the bully boy outside (who actually gave Percy an abcess on his tail a few weeks ago
) Thank the Buddha that I have insurance.....£130 for the out of hours appointment, PLUS the jabs & medication? OUCH!