Swelling under lip - what should i do? (Pics)

GinaGem

GinaGem

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I haven't seen anything like this before, it feels fluid filled but he's not bothered by it. Also seems a bit lumpy on his face and under his chin. He's quite reactive to new food normally but his glands aren't up. He's acting/eating normally:

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Has something stung him perhaps? Looks v swollen, is there any sign of a cut or scratch there at all? Any heat in it?
 
Could be something simple, like a bite, allergy or sting, but could it be strangles? Have there been any new horses on the yard that have been under-the-weather? Has your horse been to a competition and been near unknown horses?

It's probably not strangles, but it's worth bearing in mind.
 
glosgirl said:
Has something stung him perhaps? Looks v swollen, is there any sign of a cut or scratch there at all? Any heat in it?
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I can't see or feel anything on it or in it at all. My worry is that it could be from inside the mouth rather than outside - like a thorn under the tongue or something? There's no heat at all.
 
Eriskayowner said:
Could be something simple, like a bite, allergy or sting, but could it be strangles? Have there been any new horses on the yard that have been under-the-weather? Has your horse been to a competition and been near unknown horses?

It's probably not strangles, but it's worth bearing in mind.
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I have no experience of strangles but i hope not! Should i call the vet to be ont he safe side?

We competed the weekend before last, went to a very local showing show. We've hacked out since then but haven't come into contact with other horses. No new horses have been on the yard, there's only 3 including him. The other two went to a sponsored ride on Sunday but seem fine - i checked them for the same thing.
 
I would get the vet out if you have competed recently - strangles can get quite nasty. If it's not strangles, then at least the vet can tell you what it is, and give antibiotics, bute or whatever, but if it is strangles then you can hopefully start treatment before it spreads to the others.

Fingers crossed for good news!
 
Eriskayowner said:
Just looked up the incubation period for strangles on google, and it's come back saying between 3 and 14 days, so the timeframe is right.
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Dam - thanks. I'll give the vets a call. Would swelling normally show before the horse acts/looks unwell? Should i take his temperature?
 
I can see a slight swelling under the mouth- maybe a fly bite/reaction to flies?- (If in doubt I'd speak to the Vet even if it's for a bit of advice- and to rule out an abscess/tooth root infection)

Sometimes they can just get slightly swollen glands if they've eaten something different in the field-looks ok though? - if it was strangles, believe me you'd know about it- I think your horse would have no appetite, be lethargic and have a really snotty nose and then an abscess would burst out a few days or so later, and also have an extremely high temperature.

You could always take the temperature if you were at all worried- it's a real clue as to how your horse is?..

Hopefully it's not anything and if in doubt speak to your Vet as they will know the best!

Good luck.
 
Personally I wouldnt be worried about strangles, he doesnt appear to ahve any of the symptoms, just a simple lip swelling which is probably a reaction to something trivial :)
My girl came in from the field last wk covered in a horrific rash, i worried all night and caught her the next day rolling in stingy nettles :D silly mare!

http://www.localriding.com/symptoms-of-horse-strangles.html

Gives you all the symtoms and info, none of which your boy seem to have, he`s quite happy munching his hay in the photos :D

Try some arnica gel and see if that helps, its good for swellings xxx
 
Taking the temperature is always a good sign of any infection, but do you know what your horse's normal temperature is? Some horses do naturally run a bit hot or cold, so might not give you a clear idea. If it's very raised then I'd be worried.

Loss of appetite usually happens, but not always. We had an outbreak at our old yard (none of our horses had it as the YOs were brilliant) but two of the horses infected (although not as badly) carried on as normal in terms of appetite etc.

Like I said, it probably isn't, but it could be.
 
If therecare no other signs I wouldn't think it was strangled - I think much more likel to be a sting of some kind. My pony got something similar several years back. I think he'd been stung by a wasp.

Is it hot to touch? If so I would imagine that indicated localised inflammation (ie sting).

Sure, keep an eye on it but my betting is it'll go down of it's own accord.
 
K27 said:
I can see a slight swelling under the mouth- maybe a fly bite/reaction to flies?- (If in doubt I'd speak to the Vet even if it's for a bit of advice- and to rule out an abscess/tooth root infection)

Sometimes they can just get slightly swollen glands if they've eaten something different in the field-looks ok though? - if it was strangles, believe me you'd know about it- I think your horse would have no appetite, be lethargic and have a really snotty nose and then an abscess would burst out a few days or so later, and also have an extremely high temperature.

You could always take the temperature if you were at all worried- it's a real clue as to how your horse is?..

Hopefully it's not anything and if in doubt speak to your Vet as they will know the best!

Good luck.
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Thanks. His glands are normal. I always check them as he's very reatcive to new food/fields. He has had hayledge this morning which he hasn't has for about a week so i guess it could be a reaction to that but he has had it before without problems (blue bag horse hage). His glands normally come up but not his mouth.

Just checked him again and he's still fine. The right hand side seems a bit bigger than the left and he has a small scratch on the lip but not that near the actual swelling. Had a feel around in his mouth as best i could and couldn't find anything.

Will go and do his temperature in a bit.
 
ladyt25 said:
If therecare no other signs I wouldn't think it was strangled - I think much more likel to be a sting of some kind. My pony got something similar several years back. I think he'd been stung by a wasp.

Is it hot to touch? If so I would imagine that indicated localised inflammation (ie sting).

Sure, keep an eye on it but my betting is it'll go down of it's own accord.
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No there's no heat at all. There is a bee's nest not far from his stable and we think there might be a wasps nest somewhere but can't find it, there seem to be a lot around the yard at the mo so could be a sting.

I think he's tryign to get out of being ridden! I've got a new sharer for him and she was supposed to hack last Friday and we had thunder and lighning and she's supposed to be hacking today and he's got this!!
 
Ah well I would go for a sting then - certainly if it's a bit of a lop-sided lump. Sounds just like what my pony got to be honest and it had disappeared the next day.
 
Thanks everyone. Just checked his temperature and its bang on 38 degrees. I may be imagining it but i think it's gone down a little so I’m going to keep an eye on it for the next few hours and then reassess it. He's still eating happily and has drunk, weed and pooed in front of me.
 
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