Grass Glands!

[ROSE8BLUE]

My 14.3 Welshcob suffers from grass glands nearly all year round, and has done for the last 3 years. One side sweels more than the other and she gets runny eyes often when i bring her in from the field. I have had my vet check it twice because it scared the living daylights out of me at first as it looks awfull, and he says that there is nothing to worry about as long as they go down at night, which they do over night and riding helps them go down quicker. They never compeletly disapear though, they just go down to a much smaller size.
My farrier told me he knows of a lady who gives her horse pirton tablets and this stops the glands from coming up so bad, has anyone else tryed this, ive never heard of it ?
Otherwise does anyone else no of anything that may help other than moving yards/fields. She is a very healthy horse, ive had her for 13 years and this only started in the last 3 years and i have always kept her at the same yard, the glands appear to not hurt her at all, and she is more than happy to be ridden and eats fine.
Any ideas ???

 

[surreyhorsechick]

I've noticed the same thing on my 13.2 Welsh cob - hadn't seen it before but was told by other people on the yard that it's a sign the spring grass is coming through. I have to say that although our fields are incredibly muddy at the mo the horses are looking great and have their heads down most of the day! Mine doesn't suffer from runny eyes tho, just the swollen glands.

 

[ElvisandTilly]

My old mare gets grass glands every spring where ever I keep her. They swell so big even round her lips swell! They are completely gone by the morning and aren't painfull so have just left them. Not sure if there is any treatment and never had piriton suggested. I'd just leave them unless they are causing a problem. x

 

[Shrek-Eventing-SW]

yea i have the same problem.
My 14.2hh pony comes in nearly every day with 'hamster cheeks' on the beginning of spring each year. i have heard that u can still ride them but try not to work them on the bit.

 

[bex777]

There is a girl at our yard who has given Piriton tablets to her horse....IMO they made no difference. The amount of dosage you would need to administer for the them to be affective on something the size of a horse (which they are not tested for) would be extortionate as an on going treatment.

Have you asked he vet for antihistamines which would have the desired effect at a fraction of the price?

I have just had then prescribed for my lad for glands and a rash. He had 5 tablets (horse strength) and they cost me 40p I would imagine you would need loads more piriton to make a difference and they are expensive for a packet.

Also you would not know what dosage to give a horse I guess?

 

[emmiec12]

my boy gets this!! it is gone by the morning and does not bother him so i don't do anything. i just never leave him out on grass for 24 hours - in the summer he comes in for at least 3 hours to let it go down.

 

[StinkiPinki]

My 16.3 gelderlander gets this , normally when hes grazing close to the earth, i always thought it was a creeping buttercup allergy, ive had him for 10 years now and it has never really affected him, and he competes in afil dressage to a high level!
So i woudnt really worry about it

 

[rlhnlk]

Mine both got this earlier this year around february time. I've solved it for mine by giving them a pile of haylage each when I leaving on a morning and this seems to be enough to top the glands swelling. I'm lucky that I can do this though as I know many yards don't allow feeding in the field. It could be worth giving them some hay/ haylage before they go out and see if tht helps.