swollen throat

Eagle · Feb 13, 2011

I went down to the stables this morning and found my favorite mare with a swollen throat. She is eating fine and doesn't have a temperature. I very stupidly clipped her head about a week ago as someone was coming to see her, so I am wondering if she has been cold. She has a very thick coat and goes in for the night as soon as the sun goes down so is it possible that she is cold?

I have called the vet and he is coming out first thing tomorrow morning.

In the meantime I have removed the foals from the stables.

for tonight I have put a scarf on her.

bluerogue · Feb 13, 2011

It's possible that her gutteral pouches are full. You can call your vet, but they might say not to worry about it. I've used an herbal supplement to reduce that when one of my horses comes up with it. I can't remember what it's called at the moment, but I got it from Heather at Mulligan's Run, if memory serves.

I'd keep an eye on her anyway. It's possible that by clipping her head and some of her neck it just makes it easier for you to see now. If she starts acting off, call your vet.

Matt73 · Feb 13, 2011

Having her head clipped would not be making her cold and certainly wouldn't cause that swelling. So don't beat yourself up. If she still has her thick coat on her body, I'm sure that that's keeping her plenty warm

supaspot · Feb 13, 2011

I dont want to worry you but it could be the start of strangles , if it is that its very infectious

disneyhorse · Feb 13, 2011

There are lymph nodes and gutteral pouches there, but because contagious diseases like Strangles also settle there, I wouldn't ever take a chance. In most cases I call the vet out and have blood drawn and quarantine the horse until results come back in. Better safe than sorry. SMZ or something can help heal it up if it's some sort of infection.

I did have a Quarter Pony mare a long while back get what we thought was strangles, but ended up being a strep infection that settled there. It ended up abscessing just like strangles and was pretty gross but more on the benign side compared to Strangles...

I don't think being "cold" caused anything though.

Good luck,

Andrea