Horse with hard swollen muzzle?

Question

This is from someone who emailed me...I don't have an answer, so was hoping someone else out there could help her...and enlighten me also...

I have a 25 year old gelding with a swollen and hard muzzle.

About two years ago, he was tubed for colic and developed a sore in his left nostril. This may or may not be part of the swollen muzzle problem. Saturday, I noticed that his upper lip, on the left side was swollen and hard. Sunday, we started him on 30 cc of penicillin G 2X/day. He is not any better. He still has a great appetite and is drinking. The muzzle tissue between his nostril and into his lower lip has also started hardening. Could this be some sort of cancer or tumor? I don't see any mass forming.

**I'm thinking some kind of abscess pocket because of the swelling and hardness. But she doesn't mention sensitivity.

Any ideas out there??

Answer 1

he could have gotten stung by a bee... but just in case i would have her call the vet.

Answer 2

Tumors usually don't just appear that fast - it is possible but unlikely.

I would be interested to know if he is dropping food/water.  I would also be interested to see if he has any facial reaction to stimulus (i.e. a poke with a needle, or a pinch)  

That information would go a ways to narrow out a bite from anything, or contact with something poisonous that would cause that much swelling.

I would also consider the possibility of a tooth abscess - but that should typically show pain. At 25, dental health could be the problem.

It could be an infection caused by a foreign object - even food caught in the sinus cavity.

It could also be a ruptured blood vessel causing the area to fill with blood.

Long story short - they should probably talk to the vet.  A swelling in the nose/mouth can become very dangerous.  More than Penicillin can deal with.  

Best of Luck!

Answer 3

BB,

She asked me the SAME thing a few days ago! Although didn't say this had just started last week.   I have an old 19 yr old Azteca who started flipping his head about '03, thought it might be the bit, or my hands or anything else for about 6 mos.  Then noticed that both sides of his mouth, upper and lower lips were swollen and hard.  Because he's gray and already has nodules under his tail, I figured it out that it must be melanomias and had it confirmed by Dr. DeVoss, DVM, San Luis Obispo, CA in '04 when he came out to give the boys their shots that yup, it's melanomias and with it being on the sides of his mouth that there really wasn't anyway to operate on them.  So, he'll live out his years until he can't eat anylonger, BUT in the 5 years since they appeared, they haven't gotten any larger.

I've since moved him into a mechanical hackamore and take him on limited rides so I don't stress him out.

Answer 4

I think your right it might be an abscess. Remember one shot of penicillin wont work. I have never seen it work over night you have to use it for a whole bottle(at least a week). It sounds like infection, from being tubed, its not un common for infection to show up this late from a procedure like that. I'll check with my folks(they know more about horses combined than any vet that I have ever know, and I have known many vets). I'll email you on this if I get another answer. Luck

But I thinks its another infection from the colic.

Edit-Bunny I shave my head on a 1 with the (horse) clippers, so I have some hair just not enough to comb. And I don't like lollipops. HAHA

Answer 5

Did anything happen between two years ago and now to make her think it is related?

EDIT....I need more information...it could be any number of things, and whether or not it is numb, painful, etc would help narrow it down...also any problems from the sore that formed two years ago.  I'll check back later.