Diddy arrived with us at the end of August (our second Fjord pony), and about 3 weeks ago we noticed that the lymph nodes under her jaw were slightly swollen. Not visually swollen, just by feel, compared to the other horses. They about the size of a good marble, and she doesn't mind if we touch them. They aren't near the base of her neck, more halfway down her jaw between her two jaw bones going down towards the underside of her bottom lip - if that makes sense. I can't really feel the other horses at all in comparison. She is fine in herself, eating and galloping in the field and hacking out happily. The other 3 ponies are fine and nobody seems unwell.
Our vet is due out in a couple of weeks to do Merry's vaccinations, so we will ask his opinion then. We she arrived with us, she was quite itchy and scratchy and she rubbed some of the hair off her face in places. The vet looked at it and took some skin scrapings away for a further look but didn't find anything, so told us just to give it a wash with Hibiscrub, and the hair is now growing back. We are not sure if her glands were like this when she arrived or if they have flared up since she came here.
Having had a look online, a lot of people have said that it could be grass glands - never heard of this before, or that some horses are just put together this way and it is in some cases just fluid.
Anyone have any ideas, as it is a worry to Mum as it is her horse. :(
I'm sorry I have no idea about this but I will be interested in the results of the skin scraping and to see what the vet thinks. Lymph nodes can enlarge in response to infection or stress and at a low level (in humans anyway) may resolve themselves; however, they can be indicative of something else going on but there would normally be other symptoms too.
I'm wondering if it's her saliva glands?
Hi MerryBerry,
Could the itching and scratching be a sign of some allergie, that shows itself also through the swollen lymphnodes? In your case I would just call the vet, he has seen her, so ask him if he thinks this could be all part of the same reaction. This might mean she doesn't react well to the type of grass she's eating since her arrival at your place.
I knew a gelding that was allergic to the copper/sweet iron bit, you never know before you try to leave things out. Lymphnodes are the police of the body.
Let us know what comes out!
Miriam
Yes a vet check seems the way to go. Did you noticed if she had them when you first got her? Could be cysts of scar tissue that have formed over grass seeds such as barley grass which she has eaten in the past and were stuck there. It will be interesting to know what the vet finds.
By the way - welcome to the Uni. If you are a new member.
Hi MerryBerry and welcome!
I love Fjords!
Are you sure it is the lymphnodes and not the saliva glands? They are situated right behind them on the throat and can get swollen at the beginning of the grass season or when the grass is short and they work harder at eating.
The glands work harder then and may even get clogged at the passage ways. Usually it solves itself after a week or so. (That might be what they mean with "grass glands".) Good idea to have the vet check it out, but I don't think you need to worry too much. Just keep an eye on them.
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If the lymphnodes are swollen it is almost always a sign of an infection or allergy.
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The scratching could very well be after an "attack" from midges/gnats, or having been in contact with something else she reacted to but doesn't exist at your place.