Conference noted::equitation

    
    		I've had some swelling on my mare but I thought she
    was just getting flabby around that area. I threw on a neck sweat
    and the neck slimmed down in a matter of 2 weeks.
    
    **** however...... if the swelling gets worse in a day or two, i
    would get a vet to look at it, right away or call him and explain
    what it looks like.  I was not concerned when my horse had swelling
    because i still believe the neck was just getting flatty. but
    i also know what distemper is, and your want to make sure this is
    not it. generally young horses get it,and the lump has to be lanced,
    and drained.  the young horses get over it, your older horses have
    a hard time with it.  and once a horse gets this they almost never
    get it again.  I dont want to scare you but just watch it.
    i have never seen distemper outbreaks around here, and my mare has
    never got it, but when i lived in denver, we got some horses from
    a sale and kept them in another barn, well they got it and give
    it to some of our show babies. boy that one was a mess.
    
    		wendy
    					what i would do if it was my
    horse would be.... call your vet and explain the sweeling so you
    dont have to pay for something, that might be like friend said,
    weather changes.   better safe than sorry.
    

    I agree with .-1 that you might want to call the vet and explain
    to him/her what the symptoms are over the phone.  Some vets are
    very good at giving you information without you having to pay for
    it with a possibly needless visit.
    
    However, do call!  There have been many outbreaks of strangles/shipping
    fever in this area due to the mild winter that we had last year.
    Keep an eye out for any changes in the mucous discharge (if clear,
    that's okay, if it gets thick and whitish/yellowish and possibly
    a slight odor, that is NOT okay!), for watery eyes and for changes
    in your horse's eating habits.  There was a horse in one of the
    barns that I am in who had a hard swelling under his jaw (in the
    throatlatch area) and it turned out to be a minor staph infection
    and it responded in 2-3 days to antibiotics, but the owner did have
    a vet out to check it.  Until you get an answer from your vet or
    decide that it is nothing, you may want to handle this horse after
    doing your other horse(s) to avoid spreading anything, should something
    be there.  Another good idea is to wash hands thoroughly and soak
    with rubbing alcohol before handling other horses.
    
    Good luck and I hope it is nothing!
    
    Linda
    

    I'd definitely call a vet, ans soon.  That type of swelling is not
    normal, and especially if more than one horse shows up with it,
    it's probably contagious.  Strangles and staph are the most likely
    culprits.  Antibiotic theraphy is the normal treatment (sometimes
    steroids too but I don't much care for them unless the swelling
    is painful or interfering with normal behavior. 
    
    Neck sweats may bring down some of the swelling but may not help
    the original problem and may hide symptoms.  I'd wait to use them
    until we'd seen the vet.
    
    I've had two cases of swellings like this (one of each).  They were
    scary but both horses recovered and nobody else in the barn got
    infected (these were when I boarded my horses).  The horse who
    contracted strangles retained some swelling under her jaw forever.
    It would change size depending on her state of health and mind.
    Once she was over the initial problem it never seemed to bother
    her.
    
    The staph problem was hard to get rid over.  About the time the
    horse seemed better it or some other problem would flare up.  This
    horse too recovered, but it was expensive.
    
    My horses only come into contact with others at shows now, but I
    keep them a rigorous schedule of vaccines, including the strangles
    and rhino.  Especially if you are in a barn with a lot of horse
    changes, I'd be wary.  Most reputable barns require horses be up
    to date on health matters (shots, wormings, coggin..) prior to
    accepting them in the barn to protect others.
    
    The other thing that seems to happen with viruses is that they will
    lie dormant for several years and then (particularly after a mild
    winter) will show up all over the place.  There are several places
    I know of who every couple of years have the same problems for
    no particular reason.  An equivalent problem with cats is Leukemia.
    
    My horses are my family and I wouldn't risk them to save the cost
    of a vet call.
    
    Hope this is nothing serious..
    
    Maureen
            

    I do have a call in to the vet, and he is supposed to call tonight.
    Even thought the other boarders seemed unconcerned, I definitely
    want to know if it's something to worry about or not.  I will let
    you know how things turn out, Thanks for the comments and concern.
    
    - Julie -

    When I got to the barn last night, the swelling had completely
    disappeared, he was eating normally and didn't appear to be
    in pain anywhere.  I still did not hear from the vet, he was
    out doing barn calls last night, so maybe he didn't get a chance
    to call.  I rode him and did the usual amount of work, and he
    was able to flex his neck properly.  He didn't have any signs
    of watery eyes or runny nose etc.  If I didn't come up the night
    before, I probably wouldn't have known anything was wrong, but
    I still want to hear what the vet has to say about it.