Grass Glands or something more sinister?

[hectorwoodcroft]

My little connemara, 7yr old came out with huge swellings directly on his cheeks after a few days out at grass, I rode him that day and the next they went down, I just wanted to ask what others thought of this and whether it was worth being concerned about or just one of those things, willow poisoning has been suggested too, thanks

 

[mummymole]

Mine gets them badly .He looks like a hamster when he comes in . Our grass is very short and they really have to chomp which makes the silivary glands work hard .Our vet came out for something else when our horse had just come in from field and said it was fine . Give a haynet and keep head up for a while when they come in they soon go down . These are different to what i call sugar eyes when the swelling is in the eye socket this you have to be careful of

 

[Auslander]

willow poisoning has been suggested too, thanks

Willows aren't poisonous. Many horses with aches and pains will actively seek out and eat willow, as it contains salicylic acid (the active ingredient in aspirin)

 

[hectorwoodcroft]

Thank you!

 

[mummymole]

Yes we have a willow on the yard and the horses love a nibble on it ,also my lovebirds love it as a perch .They sit and shred it for hours