Grass glands???

Fruitcake

Fruitcake

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Can anyone help please? I've never had a horse who got grass glands before but from what I read on here, it seems that lots do get them. I've never seen them before so don't know what they look like or exactly where they are. I noticed tonight that my horse seems to have a (very slightly) swollen face. I suppose you wouldn't notice it if you didn't know him. The 'half moon' shaped part of his cheeks seem slightly rounded outwards and feel a bit 'puddingy'. I did let him into the big field overnight last night (He had been in there previously 24/7 but I took him off into a smaller paddock a couple of days ago as he's not exactly a slim jim and I was concerned about the spring grass. Although the grass in the big field is still short, there're bright green shoots (and lots of them as it's a big field). Anyway, I didn't notice the puffy cheeks this morning when I put him back into the smaller paddock but that's not to say they weren't there as I didn't notice them immediately tonight either. I think I'm probably just worrying again. I have to take him for a gastroscope tomorrow to see if his ulcers have healed after a second round of Gastroguard and I'm really worked up about that. Thanks so much for reading. Sorry it's long! I suppose the question is, does this sound like grass glands? Where on the face do they show? He's his normal self otherwise.
 
Sounds exactly like grass glands. My mare sometimes gets the swellings behind her jaw, but if they are really bad then the flat cheek area also swells. Hers are always gone by the morning (stabled overnight).
 
Thanks so much. The area behind the jaw doesn't seem to be swollen at all. I'd say it's more just the cheek and only ever so slightly. I'm sure his cheeks don't usually feel this podgy but now I'm wondering if I'm overthinking it! Is it always the same place that swells? He's in overnight tonight as he has to go to vets for scope first thing in the morning so I suppose I'll know in the morning if they've gone down.
 
milliepops said:
^^this :D I'm assuming he's well in himself apart from the hamster cheeks? Then you are overthinking it. ;) My mare seems to get swellings in different places on different days.
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Ah. Thanks so much! I think that's just what I need; someone to tell me to stop worrying! :) I overthink absolutely everything and end up in a frenzy of worry! Yes. He's totally fine in himself and doesn't seem at all bothered. I'll go and have a cup of tea and calm down now! :D
 
My mare, who is very prone to grass glands, seems to have huge swellings this year. Is it just her or are the weather conditions having some kind of effect?
 
Magnetic Sparrow said:
My mare, who is very prone to grass glands, seems to have huge swellings this year. Is it just her or are the weather conditions having some kind of effect?
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My loan horse's have been very noticable this year and he is also quite prone to them. Think its because there's been quite good grass growth this year even over winter.
 
My boy had grass glands around this time last year, I took some close-up photos, I will see if I can find them and post them for you to see, they were more underneath his jaw rather than on his cheeks.

I was so worried at the time in case it was strangles (as there was a bit of a panic in our area about it at the time), that I had him blood-tested for strangles (even though his temperature was fine), and thankfully it came back negative - it was only grass glands!!

Here are the pics I've found, hopefully you can see the lumps under his jaw. Is this what yours looks like?

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Hope the pics have worked - I don't do this very often! :D
 
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Also probably to add re the photos above - he had just come from a yard with very sparce grazing into a lush grass field (as you can see the grass in the photos!) - so that probably had something to do with it.

Has your horse had recent access to fresh spring grass that might have brought it on?
 
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