Swollen Head!!??

Shotgun93 · 12-21-2004, 06:50 AM

Yesterday, my friend hauled Shotgun into town so he can get his feet done at the school. She loaded him into the straight load gn trailer and forgot to tie him. Well, when she got him into town to unload him, she got him out and noticed that head was swollen, I mean really really swollen. His nose was almost twice the size that it should be.
She brought him and had the university vet look at him and she was totally baffled. He had no broken bones in head, he was breathing fine, he didn't seem to be in pain. His head was just really big. So they tied him outside of his stall to keep an eye on him, and it started to go down on it's own. He was eating and drinking fine last night and it was almost completely back to normal, except that his lips were still a little swollen. The vet thought that he either had an allergic reaction to something or that since he wasn't tied

that he put his head down and the trailer shifted so he got stuck and freaked out and the adrenaline caused blood to rush into his head.
I am completley stumped, does anyone have any ideas?

Moostang · 12-21-2004, 07:19 AM

Bee sting maybe? Although I don't think there are any bees around this time of year, but maybe some kind of bug bite.

lynnloves739 · 12-21-2004, 07:38 AM

That is the first thing that came to my mind Moostang.

Also could it be possible that he bumped it into something during the ride? Not had enought to break anything, but enough to swell it.

Hope your horse AND your feel better.

Shotgun93 · 12-21-2004, 07:40 AM

That was my first thought, and the vets. That it was a bee, but seeing as it's 12 degrees outside, it's unlikely. But, my friend did put the last little piece of hay from a big round bale in the trailer for him to munch on, maybe it still had a spider in it and it bit him. The hay has been stored inside so, it's pretty warm still, I guess a spider could still live in that.

buggywhipp · 12-21-2004, 07:41 AM

Awww poor baby. I don't know what it could be but I hope he gets to feeling better soon.

Simon Says · 12-21-2004, 07:42 AM

aww .... i thought it might be a bee too, but seems to cold for bees to be out, but who knows, well i hope he feels better, poor guy!!

Asfaloth · 12-21-2004, 07:43 AM

The only time I ever saw anything like this was when one of the horse was bit by a Copperhead snake. It odes sound like an allergic reaction of some type.

Top Dun · 12-21-2004, 07:44 AM

My first though was insect not a bee but probably a spider.

Shotgun93 · 12-21-2004, 08:07 AM

Thanks guys.
He seems to fine now, Farrah just called and said that he was totally back to normal this morning, so I guess we'll just chalk this one up to the unknown mystery of horses!
I am glad that I wasn't there to see it, I think that I probably would have freaked out. I was really worried about him last night and I didn't sleep well, but he seems fine now. I just wish I knew what really happened. Thanks for all the ideas!

Simon Says · 12-21-2004, 08:20 AM

glad to hear that everything is OK

12-21-2004, 06:50 AM	#1
Shotgun93 Senior Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Southwest SD Posts: 14,941 Images: 133	Swollen Head!!?? Yesterday, my friend hauled Shotgun into town so he can get his feet done at the school. She loaded him into the straight load gn trailer and forgot to tie him. Well, when she got him into town to unload him, she got him out and noticed that head was swollen, I mean really really swollen. His nose was almost twice the size that it should be. She brought him and had the university vet look at him and she was totally baffled. He had no broken bones in head, he was breathing fine, he didn't seem to be in pain. His head was just really big. So they tied him outside of his stall to keep an eye on him, and it started to go down on it's own. He was eating and drinking fine last night and it was almost completely back to normal, except that his lips were still a little swollen. The vet thought that he either had an allergic reaction to something or that since he wasn't tied that he put his head down and the trailer shifted so he got stuck and freaked out and the adrenaline caused blood to rush into his head. I am completley stumped, does anyone have any ideas? __________________ In the quiet light of the stable, you hear a muffled snort, the stamp of a hoof, a friendly nicker. Gentle eyes inquire, "How was your day old friend?" and suddenly, all your troubles fade away. -Author Unknown

12-21-2004, 07:19 AM	#2
Moostang Senior Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Northern Calif Posts: 11,221 Images: 760 Blog Entries: 55	Bee sting maybe? Although I don't think there are any bees around this time of year, but maybe some kind of bug bite. __________________ A train station is where the train stops. A bus station is where the bus stops. On my desk, I have a work station... http://moostangproductions.com http://www.hoovesnirons.com

12-21-2004, 07:40 AM	#4
Shotgun93 Senior Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Southwest SD Posts: 14,941 Images: 133	That was my first thought, and the vets. That it was a bee, but seeing as it's 12 degrees outside, it's unlikely. But, my friend did put the last little piece of hay from a big round bale in the trailer for him to munch on, maybe it still had a spider in it and it bit him. The hay has been stored inside so, it's pretty warm still, I guess a spider could still live in that. __________________ In the quiet light of the stable, you hear a muffled snort, the stamp of a hoof, a friendly nicker. Gentle eyes inquire, "How was your day old friend?" and suddenly, all your troubles fade away. -Author Unknown

12-21-2004, 07:41 AM	#5
buggywhipp Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,190 Images: 137	Awww poor baby. I don't know what it could be but I hope he gets to feeling better soon. __________________ ~Angie~ Limoges 2006 Rheinland Pfalz-Saar colt by Le Mode Rio 2008 Welsh/Hackney pony SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING: Horses Are Addictive, Expensive, And May Impair The Ability To Use Common Sense.

12-21-2004, 07:42 AM	#6
Simon Says Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Covington, La Posts: 4,296 Images: 194	aww .... i thought it might be a bee too, but seems to cold for bees to be out, but who knows, well i hope he feels better, poor guy!! __________________ "If your dog doesn't like someone, you probably shouldn't either" Chrissy & Stormy

12-21-2004, 07:38 AM	#3
lynnloves739 Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: NY Posts: 776 Images: 12	That is the first thing that came to my mind Moostang. Also could it be possible that he bumped it into something during the ride? Not had enought to break anything, but enough to swell it. Hope your horse AND your feel better.

12-21-2004, 07:43 AM	#7
Asfaloth Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Pennsylvania, south of Pittsburgh Posts: 1,025 Images: 36	The only time I ever saw anything like this was when one of the horse was bit by a Copperhead snake. It odes sound like an allergic reaction of some type. __________________ Happiness is Owning and Riding Somthing Extraordinary

12-21-2004, 07:44 AM	#8
Top Dun Senior Member+ Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: New Mexico Posts: 5,714 Images: 183 Blog Entries: 1	My first though was insect not a bee but probably a spider. __________________ Cattle Producers DO NOT want NAIS: When asked if they thought NAIS should be a mandatory system requiring all U.S. cattle producers to participate, 21.22% of respondents said yes, 50.32% said no, and 28.46% were undecided.

12-21-2004, 08:07 AM	#9
Shotgun93 Senior Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Southwest SD Posts: 14,941 Images: 133	Thanks guys. He seems to fine now, Farrah just called and said that he was totally back to normal this morning, so I guess we'll just chalk this one up to the unknown mystery of horses! I am glad that I wasn't there to see it, I think that I probably would have freaked out. I was really worried about him last night and I didn't sleep well, but he seems fine now. I just wish I knew what really happened. Thanks for all the ideas! __________________ In the quiet light of the stable, you hear a muffled snort, the stamp of a hoof, a friendly nicker. Gentle eyes inquire, "How was your day old friend?" and suddenly, all your troubles fade away. -Author Unknown

12-21-2004, 08:20 AM	#10
Simon Says Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Covington, La Posts: 4,296 Images: 194	glad to hear that everything is OK __________________ "If your dog doesn't like someone, you probably shouldn't either" Chrissy & Stormy

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