Horse has swollen head/face?!!

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NicoleS_007

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Ok so beasty was turned out at about 7am this morning and as far as I could see in a normal state, no abnormalities!! Sister got her in in the afternoon and I arrived at the yard this evening to discover her head has swellings on both sides covering half her jaw and reaches up to were her ear is. Farrier was also out at about 4.30 and didn't notice it but maybe I'm just more observant as my sister didn't notice either! Shes eating, drinking, pooping and peeing fine, sees quieter than she was at the beginning of the week but that may be due to being in the field all day as she had a good buck etc this morning. Doesn't seem disorientated as she stood fine to be shod and is walking fine etc. Will be going back to yard in a short while to check on her again, but I'm completely baffled as to what would cause this:confused: Has anyone experienced this before? If shes no better or no worse I might just give her some danilon and see how she is in the morning. Ideas pleas, I'm baffled ...
Pics not great but the swelling covers half her cheeks and runs up to her ear
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..And reeeelllaxxx!!! :)

Nothing to worry about - very common at this time of year. My mare has had this for the last few weeks on and off and does so every single year.

:)
 
I had the same worry a week ago my mares face came up the same and had always gone down by morning. once i had moved her into a paddock with longer grass she doesn't get a swollen face at all so nothing to worry about :)
 
Mine has also had exactly the same problem over the last 4 weeks and I had the vet out. As long as temperature is normal and no listlessness then it is an allergic reaction though no one seems to know what too!! If you are lucky and it is a histamine reaction then you can use anti histamine to reduce the swelling, other wise it will be a cortisone reaction and only steroids will reduce it quickly. The good news though is that it goes down on it's own overnight and I have got more or less on top of it by turning mine out overnight and that seems to have solved the problem. If you are really worried call the vet but it seems that this year lots of horses who don't normally react to the new grass seem to be making damn good impressions of hamsters!
 
They are grass glands- nothing to worry about, quite normal- my vet was out for one of my horses the other day and when they were treating my horse for something completely different they noticed my horses huuge grass glands!!- they agreed that they were nothing to worry about and said that no one really knows why horses get them and what flares them up, but is probably different grasses etc- my vet had a vet student with them and showed them what grass glands look like and not to panic!
 
Looks liek grass glands, might be worth while taking her temp throughout the day and putting a grazing muzzle on her. Make sure there is no sign of breathing difficulties, any more swellings anywhere else and no muscus from the nose x
 
Well that's a relief :) Phew!! I have never had a horse with such weird facial swellings!! I always thought the glands were behind the jaw as were I used to work there was one which would get swollen glands behind the jaw never on the face, hence my panic ;)
 
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