Grass glands

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Lucy_Ally

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Anyone elses horse 'glandy' at the moment? Spring has come up like a hamster in the last couple of days which is very unusual for her. There are a few at our yard with what appear to be grass glands - i.e. no snotty noses, coughs etc, all bright and eating well but with enlarged salivary glands.

I plan to keep an eye on them, make sure she is eating ok and they don't get bigger or hot, in which case I will get the vet.

Horses hey? Just making sure I always have something to worry about!!
 
Yes, it's weird. Never had it before and mine has had it a couple of times lately.
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Grass glands are quite common when neds first go out on spring grass. They eat and eat and their poor old salivary glands have to work like mad and they get enlarged. But I'd be more concerned about the ones at your yard that have snotty noses and coughs coz that's something else.
 
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Grass glands are quite common when neds first go out on spring grass. They eat and eat and their poor old salivary glands have to work like mad and they get enlarged. But I'd be more concerned about the ones at your yard that have snotty noses and coughs coz that's something else.

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Thanks for your reply, I am aware what grass glands are and why they usually happen, however my mare is still in her rather bare winter paddock and has never been 'glandy' on spring grass before. But I think there must be something coming through that is setting it off. I actually said that the horses on my yard that have enlarged glands do not have runny noses etc, which is why I am not overly worried at the moment.
 
Sorry Dr S - didn't realise you were totally clued up already, probably miles more than me! Just that a few years ago my boy developed grass glands and I'd never heard of them before so (natch!) got the vet out and of course it was nothing!!! But I got loads of info off them and felt better. But my vets did say it's just the glands that swell up, no other symptoms so when I thought you said snotty noses and coughs and swollen glands I though uh-oh, could be something nastier! I've just re-read your post and of course you said NO runny noses etc. Oh god. Gotta get my eyes and brain tested! Sorry again Dr S. Let us know how things pan out. Hope it's nothing major x
 
the swollen glands are caused by an excess of saliva,I have heard the theory that its to do with very short grass ie lots of grazing with little reward = excess of saliva. does sort of tie in with the grazing my boy has and hasnt had since I got him but obviously cant rule out other causes!
 
My mare looks like a hamster every night and has done for about 3 weeks now. she hasnt been like this before and this is a new yard for us this spring so i do wonder if there is something that she reacts to as well or possibly she is getting greedier as she gets older if thats possible!
they usually go down in a few hours.
I have heard alot more about it this year though.
 
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