hi, my mare often has swollen jaws, i showed to many vets and they told me that it could be grass glands or air in the guttural pouches…actually they don t know the real reason of the swelling. Anyway, tonight i went and gave her something to eat in a bucket on the ground and she would not put her head in the ground. When i raised the bucket she would eat everything. Do you think this could related to the swollen jaw? if it is still like that in a couple of days i will call the vet but i just wanted to know if someone has some experience . thank you
Not sure where you live - which would probably help a lot.
My understanding of parotiditis is that it is not painful. But I have never experienced it. I believe it is thought to be an allergic reaction?
“Air in the guttural pouches”…?? I think that is typically a guttural pouch infection and needs treatment? Did your vet confirm one or the other? Have they actually examined your mare?
Personally I’d want to rule out strangles, guttural pouch disease, and any other reason for a “swollen jaw” like tooth abscess. If your horse is just dealing with environmental allergies I’d probably take it off pasture until they resolve.
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Are you talking about “grass mumps?” My gelding gets them when the hay is “sweeter” it’s normally seen in the spring but my vet said some horses are more prone to it than others. Doesn’t bother him in the least, but it is always best to get a vet to do blood work etc to rule out anything contagious etc. Scared the crap out of me when I first saw him come in with this, now it’s “normal” lol. They do not bother my horse in the least, there’s no stiffness, no difficulty eating and he can be ridden as normal!
Have your vets actually examined and pulled blood? Grass mumps should not cause them to not want to put their head down to eat!
yes he did everything pulled blood and nothing, i put her in the field because she lost a lot of weight due to grade 4 ulcers, she s been very ill and had two episodes of colics in one week. I m letting her rest for a month but everyday i go to see her she s got a new problem. the vets do not know what is the problems, ispent all the money for her and i feel hopeless. now, after 10 days of gastrogard she s eating again but she had a lot of injections. i thought it could be the injections that bothered her but the last one was 5 days ago and she is stiff. I hope it s not a neurological issue though
How do the vets “do everything” and not know whether there is a guttural pouch infection or not?
“A lot of injections” - of what?
Maybe this horse needs a new vet, and/or time in the clinic? Sounds like she needs treatment asap and isn’t getting it.
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that is how i found her this morning, she can put her head down but it is really swollen
“Grass glands” are typically an allergic reaction.
What is she eating - how much, and where?
If it’s grass allergy, I’d get her off the grass and see if they change. If yes, you can be more assured that it is allergies, but if not, I’d keep looking for answer.
I assume your vet has ruled out strangles?
yes he said no strangles, he put her on aspirine for 2 weeks because thinks that circulation problem but her legs even if in the stall for hours will never get swollen but the thing is that she is on gastrogard because a lot of ulcers, really odd
Seeing that I think a visit to a different vet is in order
Huh?
He put her on aspirin for grass glands/grass mumps?
Is this an equine vet?
I think I’d be looking for a new everything at this point. I’d move horse to a dry lot with good hay, 24/7 and watch the glands. Not sure what else you are feeding but I’d reevaluate that as well. I wouldn’t give aspirin to a horse on ulcer meds without a really good reason. Especially one that has had 2 recent bouts with colic.
And then a new vet for a full exam and recommendation.
what do you mean, you think its strange giving gastrogard and aspirine?
well he sais that it can be a problem with circulation, but i thought that aspirine with ulcers was not the best thing and the swelling is only on the head and the legs are not swollen at all
OP, from what you’ve posted, this is a complicated case. Unless we and you aren’t understanding the Vet’s dx and treatment, or we simply don’t understand what you are trying to convey, I vote for a higher level of care. I would recommend a trip to a good clinic if possible.
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i just try to have an advice here maybe experience, i payes 4000 dollars for her care and i don t know what to do anymore, i ll try another place but unfortunately i have to wait before spending again so much money, i ve been through this nightmare for two months and no results that is why in the meantime if somebody had same experience it would help me.
i spent a lot of time in the clinic hey did a lot of exams and told me that it was strange…but i don t really have an answer, she had injections of oxytetracycline because she had an retropharyngeal abcess, but then scoped clear after the treatment and after gastroscopy they found ulcers and i am giving gastrogard and they told me to give him some time off in the field. but the swelling comes in the field and also when she is in the stable
Horses aren’t cheap. No one will argue that they are. But getting proper vet care makes all the difference.
Retropharyngeal abscess - isn’t that strangles? https://www.msdvetmanual.com/respiratory-system/respiratory-diseases-of-horses/strangles-in-horses
Is oxytet the standard treatment for strangles? I have never had a horse with strangles, so I don’t know.
Where do you live - maybe someone can recommend another vet in your area.
the result of the lab said that the bacteria was not streptococcus qui but streptococcus sp, so not the one from strangles, i had 10 days of oxytetracycline
I would change the title of this thread to ask more about this. “Sp” is typically used when the specific species can’t be identified or isn’t specified. Given your mare’s continued issues and poor health right now I would not rule out strangles from what you’ve written.
thank you i just booked to a new clinic, because i cannot live like that, its 400 km from my home, in paris but i have to try
Well, that seems like a good idea. Looking at your user profile I see this has already been posted about in the past and the issues are same as then. This horse is sick.
