Foal with swollen gland - need advice

[Jay-N-Jete]

I need some advice - first time with this situation (lucky, I know!)

My 3mth colt has a swollen gland in between his jowls. It is hard to the touch. No eye or nostril discharge, no cough. Breathing is normal rate.

Upon coming in for the night, his temperature is 200 on one thermometer and 200.6 on a second (both digital)

He is dark chocolate brown/black and it has been VERY humid, as well as hot the last week. He has also been rained on each day (seems to like the rain.)

He is eating, pooping, peeing, as well as, tearing about like a normal foal. Normal amount of play, normal amount of napping.

Will go out to check baby and his temp in another hour, after he’s had an hour in the barn and the sun has gone down.

Advice? Hand holding? Anecdotal stories?
Thanks!

[Polydor]

I don’t tend to worry to much about glands being swollen. I would be keeping an eye on them and making sure he’s still happy and eating and overall acting normal.

Did want to point out… hoping those temps are 100 instead of 200! lol

P.

ps. i’m guessing those temps are normal but i don’t deal with F temps at all.

[onqhanoverians]

I have seen glands in young horses swell and unswell with no temp or discharge. It is good you are watching temp…I certainly hope 200 degrees was a typo. BUT I have seen what seems like lymph nodes swell and it has been strangles or dry land distemper and even a horrible reaction to the internasal strangles vaccine. Keep a close eye and monitor temp several times per day. I would have me vet on alert.

[Iron_Horse_Farm]

[QUOTE=onqhanoverians;4999031]
I have seen glands in young horses swell and unswell with no temp or discharge. It is good you are watching temp…I certainly hope 200 degrees was a typo. BUT I have seen what seems like lymph nodes swell and it has been strangles or dry land distemper and even a horrible reaction to the internasal strangles vaccine. Keep a close eye and monitor temp several times per day. I would have me vet on alert.[/QUOTE]

I’m hoping that a 3 month old foal hasn’t had any vaccines.
That is a normal foal temp also. (the 100 degree one )

If it is a lymph node, they can swell when the body has encountered something, but may never get sick and will eventually go back down.

Keep watching, it sounds like you are being very diligent.

[Jay-N-Jete]

Sorry - brain injury - numbers are really hard!!

upon coming in last night - 102.6

an hour later (10pm) - 102.3

This morning (6am) - 101.2

9:30am - 101.6
When taking this temp, he blew his nose and had thin, clear snot in one nostril.

Background:
Colt is not vaccinated, mare is fully vaccinated (1mth prior to foaling) IgG >800

Closed herd, but I do go out to 2 separate barns - am careful about changing clothes, boots, though.

Did go to inspection on 7/12
Delaware Valley College - seemed scrupulously clean…but stayed overnight in a “strange” stall.
Was not overly stressed, but did have 2hrs in trailer each was. Seemed to really take every bit in stride, including loading and trailering.

sigh…hoping I’m worrying for nothing! better safe than sorry!

[ise]

Foals often do have swollen glands so unless there’s other symptoms I wouldn’t be too concerned. The weather in this area has been very hot and it does affect all horses and ponies. Since you were off property - I would probably pick up a tube of Foal Aide by Buckeye and give a dose daily until it runs out to boost him a bit.

[sfstable]

My three year old has had “low-grade” issues with “allergies” in the summer months. She will have swollen lymph glands in that same region on and off – her glands normally are larger than my other horses. She has never had a “sick” day in her life and my vet feels that she is allergic to something at this time of the year.

[sportnhorse]

Perfectly ‘normal’, no need to worry:) Unless his temperature becomes elevated - then you need to seek vet advice. What is happening is his body is enountering all the new ‘bugs’ in the environment and his immune system is working at building up immunity to them. This would most probably be due to you taking him out of the environment he was born in and exposing him to a new one with a whole new set of bugs.

A swollen gland lower down the jaw towards the mouth is the saliva gland and this also swells up from time to time until they reach 2yrs or so. Also perfectly normal.

We’ve had both the former in almost all our imported horses. Not surprising, as they spent 4 days in transit from NA to SA with strange horses from all over the world thus exposing them to all sorts of different ‘things’

[ise]

We just had a 5 mo filly come in with swollen glands. No other symptoms. Spoke with the Vet and he said it isn’t unusual for youngsters to get this in the fall. He said to keep an eye on her and if she starts to act uncomfortable or off feed take the temperature. She has no other symptoms.
the temps on your foal are within a normal range.