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  Discussion on Swollen cheeks
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Member:
Cpacer

Posted on Friday, Feb 24, 2006 - 8:32 pm:

I'm not sure where to post this--and just when I thought I'd asked just about everything there is to ask I have something new.

My horse looks like he has mumps. His jaw is swollen into his neck area. The swelling was about as round as the cup of my hand mostly on his jaw, and swelled a little more into a goose egg like shape, but still over a large area while I was there (over a 2-3 hr period).

I couldn't do a search for swollen cheeks, and I have no idea if this is one of those normal type of things, but everyone that saw it tonight was left scratching their heads. Vet hasn't called me back yet so of course I turn to you...

He's eating normal and seems to be acting fine. I did post about a gooey nose a couple of weeks ago--do you think it could be related? Could it be an allergy to something? Someone at the barn said to give him Benedryl--??

I'm hoping that when I go there tomorrow it will be gone.
Member:
Cpacer

Posted on Saturday, Feb 25, 2006 - 8:07 am:

want to add that his nose is not running anymore.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Feb 25, 2006 - 10:20 am:

Cp I am having problems identifying the location. Would it be possible to post a photo and also a description of the consistency when pushed. Something that may help is Equine Diseases » Skin Diseases » Swellings / Localized Infection / Abscesses » Diagnosing and Assessing Swellings in Horses. It has pictures with typical swelling labeled.
DrO
Member:
Cpacer

Posted on Saturday, Feb 25, 2006 - 5:30 pm:

Well as I had hoped the swelling on the jaw was down today, but it did remain in the neck where the jaw bone connects. Unfortunately with his dark coloring a photo wouldn't have shown much by today (I did take my camera to do so though).

It was pretty even on both sides of his face and had the same feel as a filet mignon cooked to medium doneness.

Guess I'm just curious what the heck it could have been or is. He's always into something though--you'd think by the number of posts I have out there that I had 10 horses, and he continues to bring "I ain't never seen that before" comments to the experts around the farm.

I'll check out your reference and see if anything looks familiar. Since my vet never called back I'm guessing he didn't think it was a big deal.
Member:
Cpacer

Posted on Friday, Mar 10, 2006 - 10:23 pm:

Hi again,

he is still swollen a few weeks later. The location is in tune with the light green reference in above/below mentioned article. When I first posted it was more prevalent in his cheeks, but now that the swelling in the cheeks has gone down you really notice it in the neck--still even on both sides.

"LIGHT GREEN:
* Firm swellings could be either lymph nodes or salivary glands.
* Generalized fluctuant swelling may be the guttural pouch."

What does that mean exactly?

Our vet thought it was a seasonal thing and would go down after a couple of days, which it did, but it keeps coming back. Do you think it could be an allergy to something?

The only other difference I notice in him is that he's been kind of kicky when I brush his belly, which isn't really like him, and he DrOps some water when he poops--?

Think it's okay to ride him like normal? I'm planning a 16 mile ride for Sunday but wouldn't want to push him if he's not feeling well. How can I tell?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Mar 12, 2006 - 11:11 am:

Firm means they feel like a well cooked hotdog or maybe even harder. Fluctuant means they are like a air or water filled balloon. Which does yours feel like? Your veterinarian's response suggest he thinks it is the lymph nodes. As to whether it is OK to ride, that really is not something I can decide from here but if there have not been any signs of systemic illness like fever or depression in the past month there is nothing in your posts above that say he can't go. Is he use to riding 16 miles at a time in the manner you plan to ride?
DrO
Member:
Cpacer

Posted on Sunday, Mar 12, 2006 - 4:22 pm:

Thanks for responding DrO. They were more firm then I wrote in before, I think more like the well cooked hotdog. Of course today they were gone, but they'll probably be back again.

I didn't end up going on the ride--he was not my usual pleasant baby today. We've just recently gotten to the point where I can easily load him into my trailer, and I thought I could get him into someone elses but was mistaken. He did have a bad loading experience in that particular trailer which I didn't take into account, and I feel that group of horses that we were going with make him nervous (or it's probably me making him nervous thinking about it). I just thought he'd be less stressed trailering with other horses rather than pulling him alone in mine--not next time!

Anyway, I got a bad feeling about the whole thing and and told the group to go without me, deciding to just work with him at the ranch instead. It took me about 2-hours to get him calmed down, and was finally able to load him back in my trailer again. He was hot, hot, hot--the hot little arabian that's usually a wrongful accusation.

So what causes the lymph nodes to swell off and on like that? Another horse came up with a swollen neck this morning only it was under his jaw. They gave him Benedryl.

I'm also a little concerned about all the water that comes out of his behind when he's pooping lately. Should I be? It comes out separately from the mass and has been happening about a week now.

I have another question in response to your question about conditioning, but i'll open a new discussion for it.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Mar 13, 2006 - 8:05 am:

It sounds like you have a mild respiratory infection circling around the barn. Lymph nodes do this in response to antigenic inflammation, if he is young and coming into contact with respiratory bugs this could be perfectly normal. I don't think this are usually allergies.

We have a section on teaching a horse to load see, Training Horses » Training Your Horse's Mind » Trailer Loading a Horse.
DrO
Member:
Cpacer

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 26, 2006 - 11:46 am:

DrO, just want to follow up on this and ask a question about a cough that's developed. I haven't noticed swelling for about 2 or 3 weeks now, but did realize the last time swelling was apparent it was actually on the cheeks, not behind the jaw line, however both areas did swell at different times.

Anyway, he has recently been coughing when I trot him. I'm wondering if this would signify the tail-end of whatever bug he had (reminder: he started with a cream-colored snotty nose, then got the swelling off and on, now cough).

I'll be moving him to another barn at the end of May, closer to the house I have a contract on until he can come home to me permanently. I don't want to bring any infection to the horses at the new barn, do you think we're safe to move?

Would you recommend a vet check before doing so, or does it sound mild enough not to worry?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Apr 27, 2006 - 8:13 am:

I do think the cough is likely a transient sequelae of the URT infection but I would like for you to review Equine Diseases » Respiratory System » Chronic Cough Without Fever so that you can review other common causes and rule them in or out. By the end of May you should be fine with respect to the past infection but that is not the same as saying you are absolutely safe. If the cough persists, the horse does not appear well, or just prior to moving, a veterinary exam might be sensible.
DrO
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