lump under throat?

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micmoo

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Please help!.
My horse has a small hard lump (size of an egg)under throat area..I touched the lump and she moved away so I
am.thinking maybe it is painful to touch?.
She is well in herself eating alot, bright eyed and not showing any signs of ill health.
The vet is coming next week so I will have it checked out then but in tge mean time I am worrying!.
 
Just as a precaution I would let anyone know who has been in contact with your horse, keeps their horses on the same yard or has shared contact areas and I would keep your horse isolated...then ask the vet to come out sooner. Hopefully nothing nasty or troublesome but only a vet in person can tell you that. Even a vet on here wouldn't be able to diagnose.

Be careful with your hygiene and considerate of others just in case and take it forward whatever way the vet advises.

Hope it's nothing much xx
 
She does not have a temperature, nasal discharge or a cough and if strangles would the symptoms have been visible before the lump formed?.
 
Not necessarily. It was at a few yards in our area earlier this year and what the vets said was that the process of symptoms can change. Like I said, just precautionary stuff. Probably not strangles but better to be safe than sorry, hence why I think get the vet out sooner so you know what you're dealing with.

Prepare for the worst and hope for the best is a good saying.
 
Just had another feel of the lump. The position of the lump is not in the throat but in the mouth area between the jaw bones?. I will def call the vet tomorrow.
 
just playing devils advocate - is it the thyroid? A lot of people discover the thyroid around clipping time!
 
This may sound silly but the stable door is extremely high. could the lump be due to her resting/leaning jaw bones on door?.
 
Ooh I didn't think of thyroid!! My horse has had a lump at the very top of his throat/ just before cheek that I noticed after buying him - fairly hard and mobileish? Is this the thyroid or something else? It's never bothered him and he's never been sick or sorry so I haven't done anything about it, just notice it occasionally when grooming
 
Nannon said:
Ooh I didn't think of thyroid!! My horse has had a lump at the very top of his throat/ just before cheek that I noticed after buying him - fairly hard and mobileish? Is this the thyroid or something else? It's never bothered him and he's never been sick or sorry so I haven't done anything about it, just notice it occasionally when grooming
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This sounds more like thyroid. Thyroid glands are kind of at the base of the parotid gland, so if you run your hand up along the gullet towards the neck, as you get to the throat, the thyroid glands are in that curved throat area on the neck side of the curve rather than the cheekbone side. The Submaxillary gland is under the throat in the middle, between the cheekbones but at the back, right up under the throat.

Strangles is usually seen in the lymph nodes under and between the jaw bones but it is possible that the lymphatic system can carry a small infection that causes these nodes to become inflamed, making it look like strangles when it is not. Strangles does usually carry the other symptoms but I must try and find the article from I think the New England veterinary journal describing new patterns of symptom behaviour.

In my mind though, no matter how much knowledge on the subject a person has...it is always better to be safe than sorry as early detection is key not only for your horse, but everyone else's that are in contact. There's still stigma surrounding strangles which I personally think is unfair. I think the stigma should be attached to the people who think it's better to stay quiet and hide it and put others at risk. Anyone can be affected by strangles, it is not a sign of poor management IMO.

If all obs are fine, I wouldn't be worrying, but I would just be being cautious until strangles is ruled out. x
 
I spoke to a vet and she said it sounds like nothing to worry about as horse is in good health and not bothering her at all. no signs of ill health etc. Thanks everyone
 
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