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  Discussion on Odd swelling under the ears and cheeks
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Member:
Fjens99

Posted on Tuesday, Nov 23, 2004 - 2:57 pm:

My yearling who is HYPP N/Y and does show symptoms though mild so far has had on and off swelling bilateral below the ears and into the cheeks. This has be on and off since summer. Its a spongy feeling swelling, at first we thought something had bitten him or a reaction to feed, fly sprays or something we were using during the show season. He is now showing swelling again although he has not had a change of feed or application of any thing. I have never seen any thing like it. It is a soft swelling that seems to start right below the ears, then seems to gravitate towards his cheeks.
any ideas what this may be? This is my first HYPP horse I dont know if there is any relation or not.
Other than the swelling he seems to be fine. Not off his feed or acting like there is anything wrong at all.
He is in a stall with paddock at nght and just recently being turned out in a large pasture during the day. He had the swelling on and off all summer just being inside.
I am quite baffled
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Nov 24, 2004 - 9:12 am:

Frances, you probably are seeing guttaral pouch tympany or possibly enlargment of the lymph nodes in this regoin. The spongy feel and history of coming and going makes me think tympany. Have your vet out for a diagnosis. This is the second discussion in the last month indicating I need to put together a article on this fairly common condition, Ill see if I can get it up in the next week.
DrO
Member:
Fjens99

Posted on Thursday, Nov 25, 2004 - 9:09 am:

Dr O,
Thanks for the input. What is the usual outcome and treatment for somthing like this?
I have never heard of it before.
If this is lymph node enlargement would that indicate a viral-or infection type reaction?
The swelling generally starts at the base of the ears and then seems to drain? or moves down into the cheeks and finally just goes away. When the swelling goes to the cheeks its like the ear swelling goes down there as the ears are not swollen at that point.The fluid or whatever seems to DrOp down. I look forward to the article when you put it together.

Frances
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Nov 30, 2004 - 10:23 am:

Frances, I have the article up at Equine Diseases » Respiratory System » Topic Guttural Pouch Tympany. A number of things can stimulate lymph nodes and often when no other symptoms are present we just don't know and yes they are normally transient. In these cases we assume it is from otherwise subclinical infection.
DrO
Member:
Fjens99

Posted on Tuesday, Nov 30, 2004 - 8:50 pm:

Dr O,
Thank you for the article. After reading the treatment options - does this always involve surgery? If not treated surgically what risks would an owner be taking?The yearling horse seems to has transient episodes that last a day or two then disapear for weeks-months at a time.
The swelling has not presented itself except in a mild to moderate noticable state, It was interesing to read in your article that Paint horses are one of the breeds more affected by this as the Yearling we have been discussing is indeed a Reg. APHA Paint
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 1, 2004 - 7:39 am:

Always is a tough word to get around, but usually surgery is required as the problem rarely resolves permanantly without it. As the article states if the problem becomes severe, difficult breathing, difficult swallowing, and aspiration pneumonia are common complications.
DrO
Member:
4merri

Posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 10:31 pm:

Hello:

Interesting that I have a 12 year old TB mare that shows similar clinical signs, but only in the spring as the grasses begin to grow. I was told one time that clover was the culpret. Again this past month the same symptoms come and go. Cheeks and throatlatch area quite edematous, a little tearing from the eyes, like an allergy, but like I said intermittantly and so I can call the vet out and of course it's not present.. Appetite good behaviour normal as is everything else. Comments? Any ideas other than the clover theory? Cynthia
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, May 12, 2005 - 7:22 am:

Cynthina if yours is edematous then tympany is not the problem. The seasonality and other symptoms do suggest allergies but I see no reason to blame the clover. This time of year pollens from numerous sources are circulating.
DrO
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