What could cause this???

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berry

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My mare has got swollen bits inbetween her muzzle and her cheek bone along where her back teeth are
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. She got this last summer too at first I thought she needed her teeth doing as it loks like its caused by her back teeth (a swollen line where the top teeth lie and then one at the bottom). Got dentist out and he said her teeth are fine, it just looks more prominent tonight, was thinking could it be something simular to when they get hamster cheeks from grazing all day??. Just moved her into the other half of her field where the grass is a bit longer and she has been pigging all day.
It does'nt seem to bother her she is still eating fine and I put my hand in her mouth to have a feel of the inside of her cheek and all feels fine not swollen or sore in there.
Any ideas what it could be???
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Oh by the way its on both sides x.
 
I was thinking some type of gland but was'nt sure if they had glands on the side of their face
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, I know they have got them behind the cheek.
Its nothing rubbing as there are no rub marks and the bottom line is far to low for her bridal or headcoller to rub x.
 
taken from horse and hound website
Grass glands

This is the classic example that will worry many people more than it does their horse. Everyone will have seen it at some time, yet it is poorly understood.

Frequently, a horse or pony will be brought in from the field after grazing for some hours with large, firm and usually painless swellings behind the jawbone at the back of the throat, beneath where the throat lash would go. Occasionally, the swelling will be accompanied by some fluid swelling under the skin.

Affected horses can look rather like hamsters and may be reluctant to work with their head down on the bit. Such lumps are commonly mistaken for a manifestation of the disease strangles, when in fact they are simply swellings of the parotid salivary glands.

Such swollen glands can vary in size from day to day. They are often linked with particular areas of grazing and are suspected to be a form of allergic reaction.

The glands enlarge after the horse has been out at grass and most return to normal size within 36hr of coming in with no treatment. It helps if such horses, when affected, are fed from a height once they are brought in, to allow any accumulation of fluid to drain down.

There is no need to do anything except have a careful feel of the area to confirm it is just swollen parotid glands. If the horse looks ill or the swelling persists, talk to your vet
 
Doesnt sound like you mean where the grass glands would show..... could it just be that she has grass wadged up between her molars and her cheeks...... perhaps she is saving some for later???
 
If they go down after she's been in for a while I agree it's grass glands or certainly something in the grass. My girl looked like a giant hamster when I brought her in tonight but she'll be back to normal by the morning.
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Their not behind the cheekbone they are where the cheek pieces would go so between her mouth and the beginning of the cheek bone. It does look like it is her teeth but dentist said nothing was wrong with her teeth. There was nothing in her mouth when I put my hand in to feel the inside of her cheeks and they are'nt sore and she is eatin fine!!
It looks like she has a giant pair of lips on both sides of her face
 
Yer checked the field, she had it last year too at my old yard so dont think its a reaction from something!!! x.
 
My mare just presented with her right cheek swollen like you describe, However it was accompanied with a temp of 104. I have her on anti-biotics and bute. Her temp within 4 hours came back down to normal, but her face is still swollen. I've taken picture but I don't know how to attach, or if even possible to attach to this message. Where do you stand now with your horse? I'm hoping to get the vet out to the farm today!
Thanks for any info.

Wendy H.
New Hampshire
 
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