Fever sores and fat lip?

Question

I have a 9yo mare I bought last March and just moved her to a new boarding barn last month and she was in perfect health until just about a week after I moved her when I first noticed a sore on her mouth. I been bathing it with antiseptic soap almost every day and was putting zinc ointment on it for a while but switched to a antibacterial cream because it kept getting more blistered and swelling bigger and bigger. Now her lower lip is swelled about double the normal size. I don't think this is a wasp sting like the barn owner thought it was because the blisters are spreading like fever sores and her lip keeps swelling bigger. Does anybody know what this could be before I have to call a vet to look at it.

Answer 1

Hmmm..it is hard to make a diagnosis without seeing it.  Being that it is multiplying..sounds like it could be a reaction to something.  Did she eat something poisonous, caustic,  a foreign matter--although I don't know if that would spread.  Being that you just moved her could be that it has something to do with something in the new environment.  

Is she eating?  Is it inside her mouth?  How long has it been going on and you treating it?

Better to call the vet...there are so many possibilities.  I wouldn't waste anymore time since it is spreading.."fever blisters" are a viral issue..she might need an antibiotic to help it.  I believe this deserves a professional opinion.

Hope she feels better.

Answer 2

They hay she's eating could be irritating the area...if its poking her. She could also be allergic to something that she's getting her nose in.

Answer 3

Call a vet - IF YOU FEED ALFALFA - I would suspect Blister Beetles in your hay?

EDIT - dont want to alarm you so copy and pasted some symptoms to look for

Abnormal breathing patterns, the horse standing with its mouth in water for long periods of time and general restless behavior. Also mentioned in another article was these symptoms, ulcerations of the mouth, frequent play in water with lips and tongue, pawing, frequent attempts to urinate, stretching, jerking contractions of the diaphragm, diarrhea, discared intestinal tract lining in the stool and reduced levels of calcium and magnesium in the blood. If blister beetles are consumed by a horse, a vet. should be called immediately. Researchers believe that as few as 50 to 100 beetles consumed in a 24 hour period can result in poisoning and possible death of a horse. Another article says that 30 to 50 striped blister beetles would need to be eaten in order to kill a normal sized healthy horse. As few as two to five may cause colic in horses.

Answer 4

It sounds like your mare is allergic to something in the pasture or in her stall.  Thus the blisters on her mouth and lips.  Since this has gone on for a while, I would certainly call the vet for a professional opinion and a shot to help the mare cope.  Your vet may have also seen this sort of thing in your area and have a good idea what is causing it.  Otherwise you will have to go through the process of elimination thing..time consuming but very often gets the job done.

Answer 5

I'm guessing she has a wood splinter or other foreign body in that lower lip...I'd want my vet to take a look at my horse if I had this going on...has to be really uncomfortable for your mare.

Answer 6

Could be fever blisters but it sure sounds more like summer sores. Habronema! Summer sores are not a bacterial infection or a viral infection. It is caused by fly larvae that has infiltrated the skin and the swollen lip will continue grow and fester until it is properly treated. Forget the antibacterial ointment and apply ivermectrin wormer paste 'topically' on the blisters daily for several days until there is a clear sign of improvement. It will kill the larvae and chances are good that by the time your vet gets back next week the blisters will have already begun to dry up and the swelling will be greatly reduced. But you should still call your vet out to examine her carefully when the vet gets back but take photographs of her lip before you apply the ivermectrin so you can show the vet the improvement. The improvement will confirm the condition and the vet will guide you from there. And he will probably recommend a monthly 'oral' treatment with ivermectin until fly season ends to prevent reinfestation. I just answered another question not very long ago on a condition I suspect is also a habronema issue but it was a gelding and different body part. I hope this helps and good luck with your horse.