Hamster Cheeks?

[josie_s]

Why do some horses get these and what can be done to help prevent them / or get them to go down quicker.

I have a gelding who if he goes out in the field thats got less grass in, his cheeks fill up like a hamster. If he goes out in the field with lots of grass in they're not so bad. But they take ages to go down and when they're up I dont really feel like its fair to ask him into an outline so he gets to slob about on a long rein (which, of course, he prefers

)

 

[Halfstep]

My gelding gets terrible hamster cheeks and it is very annoying, especially if I want to ride in the evening. I would love to know if anyone has a good way of preventing these!

 

[Foxglove]

My 19 yr old mare gets these. According to my vet it is because she has too many teeth for the space inside the mouth, so the grass gets stuck between the teeth and inside cheek. She also doesn't grind her teeth properly so I have them down every 6 months and this has definately helped reduce the occurance the 'hamster pouches'.

I am not sure there is a way to prevent this so too speak but if you slide you finger up the inside of the cheek, you can normally dislodge the grass. Obviously doesn't go down too well with grumpy, aged mares!

 

[merlinsquest]

Do you mean the cheeks or the glands where the head joins the neck area???

Not likely to be grass impacted if its the throat area I suppose??

 

[catembi]

If you mean 'grass glands' or 'grass mumps', the vet said it's just an allergy to a particular kind of grass. Apparently it's impossible to work out exactly what it is as there are so many varieties of grass & plants in a pasture.

I get the impression that it's a nuisance but not harmful, altho I hate it when mine comes in with a fat face.

 

[josie_s]

Yes, its more the very back part of the cheek where the head joins the neck