OMG horse dribbling like crazy

F

Field04

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 September 2011
Messages
309
Visit site
On Monday I went to get my horse out of his box and he just had loads of dribble coming out of his mouth, like I had cracked an egg in it. I asked the YO what she thought, as he isn't usually a dribbler, and she didn't seem bothered. I have called out the dentist anyway to check his teeth but just worried it could be signs of something else.

Anyone think it could be a symptom of something more serious. There is no grass in his paddock, so not eating any weeds or anything like that. However, its just seems odd. When I try to put in his bit the egg white like drool just pours out to make a small puddle on the floor.
 
He seems fine in himself, eating as normal, no other problems as such. Just wondered if it was a common symptom for something other than teeth that others knew about and I didn't!
 
My mare does this out of one side of her mouth sometimes - it is usually when she is fairly hungry and first starts tucking into her haynet. She also gets grass glands and has hamster cheeks for a week or so every now and again. Teeth fine, vet happy, she says it's just one of those things.

However, if your horse does this to excess and persistently I would def get the vet out.
 
1st thing to do is take the horses temperature. Its always the first thing we do if a horse is off colour.
 
Ditto Kaylum.

Next thing to check is whether he is eating and drinking normally and passing faeces.

If any of the above are not right then get the vet. I have seen this symptom in something more sinister but if the above are normal then you shouldn't worry.

Good luck and keep us updated.
 
Ring your vet rather than asking yard owner etc. That much drool is abnormal and could be a sign of something serious.
 
Drooling excessively could be due to swollen glands, partial obstruction... or poisoning, or like I said before just from having a nice soft mouth, you know your horse better than us, if you think unusual then phone vet X
 
Moomin1 said:
My mare does this out of one side of her mouth sometimes - it is usually when she is fairly hungry and first starts tucking into her haynet. She also gets grass glands and has hamster cheeks for a week or so every now and again. Teeth fine, vet happy, she says it's just one of those things.

However, if your horse does this to excess and persistently I would def get the vet out.
Click to expand...

I have had him a couple of years and he has never done it before, thats why I find it strange.
 
Allover said:
Horses can "dribble" like this during a choke episode, was there any grass, hay, feed ect in it?[/QUOTE

No there was no food in it or anything in it. Although it was quite dark the first time I saw him doing this, but thought he must have been nuzzling dirt in his paddock to mix with the drool.
Click to expand...
 
Devonshire dumpling said:
Drooling excessively could be due to swollen glands, partial obstruction... or poisoning, or like I said before just from having a nice soft mouth, you know your horse better than us, if you think unusual then phone vet X
Click to expand...

No its not the froth like when hes working well. I am worried now, so will be taking temp and calling the vet in the morning. Thanks
 
Field04 said:
Allover said:
Horses can "dribble" like this during a choke episode, was there any grass, hay, feed ect in it?[/QUOTE

No there was no food in it or anything in it. Although it was quite dark the first time I saw him doing this, but thought he must have been nuzzling dirt in his paddock to mix with the drool.
Click to expand...

Have you seen him drooling? If you have had his stance/demeanor changed? Was the drool coming out of his nose and mouth?
Click to expand...
 
If this is new, then for what ever reason your horse is reluctant to swallow.
Personally i'd have the vet out Today to check him over, it could be anything from a blocked salivary gland, very painful to a choke thats part resolving with drooling being the only extermal symptom, doing nothing wouldnt be an option to me
 
marydoll said:
If this is new, then for what ever reason your horse is reluctant to swallow.
Personally i'd have the vet out Today to check him over, it could be anything from a blocked salivary gland, very painful to a choke thats part resolving with drooling being the only extermal symptom, doing nothing wouldnt be an option to me
Click to expand...

Thanks for this, I had never thought of it like you've just worded it 'reluctant to swallow'. How awful! Had already called the vet and have someone coming tomorow.

Thanks to everyone for their advice.
 
Op are you going back to check your horse tonight ? im quite surprised that the vet has left this till tommorrow, last time i seen a bad choke was when someone gave a chunk of carrot to a pony that'd just had there teeth done. Pony was pouring secretions and really lethargic, needed buscopan and pain relief and the object was palpable in the oesophagus, it took ages to move even with vet help
 
marydoll said:
Op are you going back to check your horse tonight ? im quite surprised that the vet has left this till tommorrow, last time i seen a bad choke was when someone gave a chunk of carrot to a pony that'd just had there teeth done. Pony was pouring secretions and really lethargic, needed buscopan and pain relief and the object was palpable in the oesophagus, it took ages to move even with vet help
Click to expand...

I gave the symptoms exactly, and said what I was worried about. They just said they would come first thing. I am now going out of my *******ing mind with worry. I cannot get there now, as have two very small children fast asleep and noone to look after them. I think I am going to give my YO a call and ask them to check on him and then just call the vet out on an emergency.
 
Could be choke, could be an infected gland, a sharp tooth, a bang which has swelled, could even be an abscess or a fractured jaw. It could be anything really. But it also could be nothing at all and your horse is just dribbly.

Very hard to tell without looking for and knowing of other symptoms. Id leave it to the experts to diagnose.

Is he eating ok? Or just standing there drooling?

If hes eating and seems normal in himself, then that may be the reason why the vet thinks its safe to leave it until morning. When my mare choked on some long grass, she drooled out of her nose and mouth, was rolling her eyes, she was wobbly and had her head hanging on the floor, the vet came out within 20 mins. A yearling who started drooling at the stud i used to work at, was fine in every way except the drooling and they came out the next afternoon. Turns out he had a piece of twine stuck in his mouth.
 
Might sound strange but are there any new chemicals / smells near the stable. Years ago one of my horses showed this symptom, lots of dribble but otherwise OK and it turned out to be a fly repellent paper that someone had hung up next to their stable further down the block. My horse must have been sensitive to the chemicals used, maybe tasting the chemicals which made her drool excessively. Has anyone put anything similar near your horse, eg something like paint fumes nearby?

Once we removed the fly repellent sheet my horse's mouth went back to normal pretty much straight away.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top