Lump along lower jaw line...

phantomhorse

phantomhorse

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I notice my filly (who's 2yrs 3mo's old) has a single swelling just anterior to the angle of her mandible, on the right side. It's about 2.5 inches diameter. Hard, but not bony. She has no loss of appetite, has no temperature, nor other areas of concern, isn't quidding and is good tempered (unless you palpate the area specifically). Then it appears to be a little uncomfortable to touch. Could she be teething as someone at the yard suggested this evening? I seem to remember teething lumps under the jaw being smaller, more bony to touch and not as uncomfortable to palpate, so am not sure. Someone else suggested they could be 'grass lumps'????? General consensus at yard was not to worry, since the filly is eating well and happy in herself. Unfortunately, as the filly has just returned home from 4 months away, I do not know when the lump appeared and how long it's been there. Needless to say, she's remaining in for a couple of days, so I can keep an eye on her.

Suggestions as to what it may be?
 
This is teething, or the jaws reaction to its new growing teeth. Perfectly normal and common in a horse this age, and could come and go throughout the process. Dont worry.
 
As Scarto says, it sounds just like the lumps they get when they're teething. They look quite dramatic but will normally completely disappear once the teeth have settled down.
 
Also, please dont keep her in, there is no need.
Dont worry it is not a strangles ascess developing, they are in a very different place.
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teething lumps. you could get a dentist to check she has dropped the baby teeth above to let the new ones come up. and they are not capped. very common in tbs or tb crosses.
 
Thanks guys. That's reassuring. Because she arrived home only this morning I almost died when I first glimpsed the lump there. Immediate thought was, "Oh no! Not Strangles", but on closer inspection I realised it wasn't thank goodness. And I'm just glad no one else at the yard has jumped to those conclusions, either.

Scarto: she's staying in the youngster's open barn until Friday morning. She's come back from stud wormy and I've given her a dose of anthelmintic this evening. She'll be going back out onto the new pasture Friday morning once the dose has cleared her system.
 
Yes, I realise for owners this is alarming if they have not come across it before. First thought is its strangles and then worrying about yard gossip
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Have encountered strangles a good few times working on dealers yards, etc. Very unpleasant and your horse would be in pain. These lumps are innocent in contrast.
 
caused by the root of a molar pushing as it tries to shed the cap.best to get a dentist to check that all is well as some caps can stick or fracture and leave fragments ect
 
Her flu booster is due next week so I'll have my equine vet take look at her mouth then, to advise. Hopefully it'll be nothing too bad. She really doesn't seem at all bothered by it at the moment. Well, providing no one pokes it
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Now that's more like what I expect teething lumps to look like. My filly's lump is a bit further up along the lower jaw, closer to her jowl. She was in good spirits this morning and enjoyed a walk out in hand. Don't think it can be anything too serious. It really doesn't seem to be bothering her. Maybe it's even a reaction to a fly bite. She is rather sensitive.
 
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