plants irritating horse's mouth?

[staffylover]

My cob mare has been turned out for a few nights in a field which is usually boggy and has marshland plants such as reeds/rushes as well as grass. It is mostly bone dry at present, hence being turned out there. This morning she had phases of licking her lips a lot and yawning, and sort of crossing her jaw, as if there was something stuck between her teeth. She was drooling green slime occasionally, not much though. The inside of her mouth appeared redder than normal, but wasn't especially sore. She also seemed rather depressed, not her usual self, though happy to eat her breakfast and graze in hand a bit. Also she appeared to choke occasionally, not badly, but nothing coming down her nostrils. Just not her usual happy self. I'm wondering if there are marshland plants which can irritate a horse's mouth. I know about buttercups and their effect. She's moved to another non-marshy field now, and we'll see if there's any improvement. If not, another vet callout.....hey ho.
Has anyone else experienced anything similar?

 

[JumpTheMoon1]

It is your responsibilty to check the field and know whats in it that could harm a horse.Is there a pond in the field ?
Its very hot the horse could have drunk from it - a pond full of green slime !! Hope no harm comes to her.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

It is your responsibilty to check the field and know whats in it that could harm a horse.Is there a pond in the field ?
Its very hot the horse could have drunk from it - a pond full of green slime !! Hope no harm comes to her.

I cant see the OP has mentioned any pond full of green slime, so why add that in? What an unpleasant comment.

OP, do thoroughly check all teeth, need to ensure there isnt anything stuck between any teeth causing a mouth ulcer, pain etc.
If you cant see, then best get vet out to do a thorough check.
We had similar yrs ago, a piece of willow was actually wedged across the upper jaw from side to side, must have been v painful till vet removed under sedation.
Hope you find the cause and can resolve it.

 

[ycbm]

It is your responsibilty to check the field and know whats in it that could harm a horse.Is there a pond in the field ?
Its very hot the horse could have drunk from it - a pond full of green slime !! Hope no harm comes to her.

Jees you're a pleasant new joiner aren't you? Two threads you've already attacked posters on in your first 3 posts.

Dunroamin usually waits a few posts before showing her colours, are you her sister?
.

 

[staffylover]

Thank you who posted kind posts and helpful suggestions. No, no pond of green slime, I have checked the field carefully and can't see anything unusual on the plant front. She's been in this field before with no ill effects, as have her two companions. I'm trying very hard not to think there's Water Dropwort that I didn't notice. Though I think I would have had a dead horse on my hands if that was the case. It's the most poisonous plant in the country apparently, and looks and smells like delicious cow parsleey. EEK.

 

[webble]

Could there be hogweed in the field?

 

[staffylover]

I’m happy to tell you that she’s back to her normal happy self today after having moved fields yesterday. She won’t be going in the marshy field again! Thanks for your advice.

 

[Widgeon]

She's been in this field before with no ill effects, as have her two companions. .

There's am old pony on our yard who a few months back developed huge pus filled swellings all over her face. Her eyes were weeping pus and her muzzle was sore, as if she'd had her whole head in a clump of something horribly poisonous or caustic. It was pretty horrific - vet came out asap and confirmed it definitely looked like a reaction to something she'd put her head in. It was treated over the course of a week or so and doesn't seem to have recurred since then.
Anyway the point is she'd been in that field for months without an issue, and there have been horses in that field for decades with no similar issues. YO couldn't find anything at all in the field that would explain it. It's still a puzzle. So don't beat yourself up about it - despite all our best efforts sometimes these things just happen. I'm glad your mare is feeling better!

 

[Highmileagecob]

Very possibly she has picked up a bee when grazing. Mine got a sting on the end of his tongue from rootling about in the clover patch, and would not allow me to remove it - it had to fall out. That caused some face pulling and yawning too.

 

[eggs]

One of mine was drooling slime when I went to catch him in some time ago and it turns out he had cut his tongue.