Clicking

[Dino7]

Hi everyone.

just wondered if anyone can help with my little query?

A few days ago my horse suddenly started 'clicking' while eating his net (of soaked hay). The first time it clicked he stopped and started 'quidding' but then carried on as normal and has been eating normally ever since. the 'clicking' sounds like an electric fence shorting out (as a friend put it!!) and is really quite loud - you can hear it just walking past his stable. It is coming from somewhere along the offside of his face. My initail thought was a broken tooth. I had the vet out yesterday who has no idea what it is - says he's never seen or heard of it before. I have my equine dentist coming out this weekend just to double check his teeth (the vet said his teeth look fine). Anyone any ideas??? Maybe something to do with his jaw? he seems absolutely fine in himself and is eating normally (touch wood!).

Thanks in advance for any responses!

 

[gina2201]

Sounds jaw related. Can't help much but my dad also has a clicking jaw when he eats, doens't hurt but is just noisy!

 

[Nickijem]

Can't really help but I suppose its like any joint, it is prone to 'clicking'. It doesn't mean there is pain there but I can imagine it is a bit of a worry. My horse, Jerry, has clicking knees - he is on glucosamine which has helped a fair bit. I'm not sure if it would work for your horsey but may be worth giving a go if you think it is his jaw clicking.
Btw - it takes a good few weeks to have any effect.

 

[Stinkbomb]

Maybe totally unrelated but my old pony Simon had septic arthritis of the temporomandibular joint (tmj). This is where the jaw joint is. His symptoms were far worse including abcesses above his eye. I am not saying this is what your pony has but it may be a problem with the TMJ. Simon's jaw clicked along with him quidding his food. They cant chew properly as the jaw cant move properly, thus the quidding. Its is worth mentioning to your dentist. Simons was only diagnosed after xrays.