Bulges over eyes when chewing

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BBP

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My understanding is that this is fatty tissue being displaced as the jaw moves during chewing. Can anyone tell me, are they meant to alternate or both bulge together? I think horses don't just have an up and down bite but slightly side to side, is that correct? In which case would you expect them to bulge alternately? And would you expect both to be the same size or should one be bigger than the other depending on which way the jaw moves across to?

(I'm obsessed with my horses head and trying to work out if all the things I see are 'normal' or not!)
 
I had a look when I turned the horses out. It seems to bulge whenever they chew on that side, neither together or alternate as the chewing seems to have a circular element. Or maybe mine are just weird.


Eta, the bulge was larger on the side they bit down on the hardest.
Are you getting a fixation on your horse's head?
 
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Totally fixated! But I'm learning a lot in the process. I'm not overly stressing but more trying to understand a bit more of the underlying anatomy and physiology of what I can see, even if it's totally normal I find it fascinating! Like there is definitely a difference in his temporal muscles after a craniosacral session and 9 days on bute trial.
 
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No, sometimes one side bulged and sometimes both, just depended on how they rolled the food around in their mouth.
I'm sure your horse's head is absolutely fine.
 
I see what you mean. Just watched vid I took of my sisters boy and it looks like what you're saying. I love that even after 30 years around horses you can still find things to question!
 
Don't worry, you are both right, cobgoblin answered the question that I asked, I had just simplified it without all the horses background. I don't believe my horses head is fine but it's not something I'd expect others to see. What interested me most about my latest observation is that the bulges over the eyes are uneven. One fills to just below the level of the facial bones, the other is a couple of cm bigger when it bulges. The other horses here seem more symmetrical in size even if they alternate in the same sort of way.

Interestingly after 10 days on bute the temporal muscles have started to soften and flatten and his eyes look a little brighter (despite losing his friend yesterday). The temporal muscles now have a ridge across them where the top half is a hard lump and the bottom half is a little softer and less pronounced than before.

Craniosacral lady returns on Monday and bute trial ends on Thursday so will speak to vet again then. I'll post video and photos tonight if I have time.
 
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