[Sissy]

Thanks for all the input!

The swelling happens in all of our pastures..

If it were allergies, would he still have the bumps after all the swelling has gone down and has not been in the pasterns?

I just went out and got pics of the bumps but my computer doesn't want to load them for some reason. So when ever I can get them on my computer, I will post those as well.

[JBandRio]

I bet it's the parotid gland that is swelling due to an allergy. It could be grass pollen, it could be clover, it could be a weed that is blooming right now, some allergen.

[buck1173]

Hi sissy, my morgan had the same thing the day you posted this... it was really creepy to read your post!... exact same as your photos... and it went down in a few hours too.

since my vet was coming out (spring shots, yesterday) and he was in no discomfort and his vitals/temp was fine, I'd figured I'd wait to see what she said.

When she showed up, I told her about it, and she laughed and turned to her assistant and said "isn't it funny how we get the same exact questions at every barn this time of year?" I was relieved just at that....

What she told me is that the swelling is a fluid back up for a horse having his head down in a grazing stance for prolonged periods of time, were the swelling under the jowls, it would be an air backup from chewing/swallowing.

She told me that its a combination of conformation (predisposed due to conformation to having fluid settle there) and for the horse radically changing its way of going during the day (ie horse kept on rather dry lot, then spring grass shooting up, so horse goes from moseying all day to having its head pinned to the ground for extended periods gobbling all the new shoots).

When the horse goes back to a more normal routine (moseying or being ridden, or playing, etc) the fluid then drains away. It builds up because because with this new grass, the horses have their heads down nibbling for 10-14 hours straight.... kinda the same theory as a immobile horse getting a stocked up leg, that drains/goes down with exercise.

Though I can't guarantee that what you're experiencing is the same as what I experienced, my vet told me, in my case, it was nothing to worry about, perfectly normal and will happen every year most likely.

I'd started putting out extra hay for my guys anyhow as I don't like them pulling at the shoots in our sandy soil... since putting extra hay out, I haven't seen it recur in my Morgan (I suppose because he takes a bite of hay, then lifts his head to chew, then puts his head down for another bite, then lifts his head to chew, rather than walking around like a 4 legged lawnmower).... and, in my lifetime, he's the only horse I've ever seen have this problem... so the predisposed due to conformation makes sense to me.

hope this helps, curious to hear what your vet said....

[Sissy]

Thanks buck1173! I sure hope it is what your vet is saying what it is for my guy, than allergies.
I wonder how conformation has an affect to do something like that. And what kind of conformation it happens with...Hmmm

The vet cant come out till Monday, so we will see what he says then.

Hehe you know what els is funny/weird, well to me at least. lol My guy eats his hay the same way as your Morgan.

[Sissy]

The vet just left. He said his slavery glads are just bigger than other horses. and he was fine, but if it gets swollen again while hes in the pasture to call so he can come look at it right away. But I swear his glands were not like how they are now before everything happened, so I'm not totally trusting his word on this....