Very Common
You also might be observing
Observation
What you see. The starting point for addressing any equine health related issue is your observation.
YOU ARE OBSERVING
Swelling of Lip, Muzzle or Nose
Summary
Swelling of this area is fairly common, as it is frequently traumatized. It is one of the most common locations for pit viper (rattlesnake and similar) snake bite. Infectious diseases like Vesicular Stomatitis also affect the area. Contact irritation or allergy can be seen here to various feeds. Feed material that becomes embedded in the lips can cause abscess formation, and swelling of the lip or muzzle. A gray horse may have melanoma in the corner of the mouth and on the lips. This appears as a hard, non-painful thickening of the lips.
This is a sensitive area that can be difficult to examine, particularly when it is severely inflamed. Luckily, once the primary disease process is identified and treated, the area usually heals rapidly thanks to an excellent blood supply.
This is a sensitive area that can be difficult to examine, particularly when it is severely inflamed. Luckily, once the primary disease process is identified and treated, the area usually heals rapidly thanks to an excellent blood supply.
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Code Red
Call Your Vet Immediately, Even Outside Business Hours- If this problem seems severe and has come on suddenly.
- If the results of the Whole Horse Exam (WHE) in the resting horse indicate fever (Temp >101F/38.3C) or heart rate greater than 48 BPM.
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Code Yellow
Contact Your Vet at Your Convenience for an Appointment- If the problem is very mild and does not seem to be causing much harm to the horse.
- If the results of the Whole Horse Exam (WHE) suggest the horse is otherwise normal.
your role
What To Do
Assess your horse's general health using the Whole Horse Exam (WHE), paying particular attention to rectal temperature, heart rate and general attitude and appetite. Look for other areas of swelling. Put on gloves and assess the area, gently feeling for foreign material and areas of accentuated pain. Gently lift the lip and inspect its inside surface for wounds or foreign material.Contact your vet with your findings and concerns.
Skills you may need
Procedures that you may need to perform on your horse.
your vet's role
Your vet assesses this area using careful examination, trying to determine a cause for the swelling. They determine body-wide health through physical examination. In rare cases, I have used ultrasound to visualize a thorn or porcupine quill embedded deep in the tissues of the muzzle.
Questions Your Vet Might Ask:
- Do you notice anything that might be irritating this area?
- Do you notice anything else abnormal?
- Is there a wound in the area?
- Do you see signs of swelling anywhere else?
- What is the horse's age, sex, breed and history?
- Do you notice other masses or swellings?
- Is the swelling soft and fluidy-feeling or firm?
- Does the area seem painful when pressure is applied to it?
- What are the results of the Whole Horse Exam (WHE)?
Diagnostics Your Vet May Perform
Figuring out the cause of the problem. These are tests or procedures used by your vet to determine what’s wrong.
Diagnoses Your Vet May Consider
The cause of the problem. These are conditions or ailments that are the cause of the observations you make.
Very Common
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Puncture Wound of Head, Jaw & Upper Neck
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Poisonous Snake Bite, Rattlesnake or Pit Viper
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Vesicular Stomatitis, VS
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Melanoma
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Equine Sarcoid, Generally
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Wound or Laceration to Mouth, Lips & Muzzle
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Burn, Chemical, Toxin, Caustic Substances Ingested & Irritating Mouth, Lips, Tongue
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Allergy or Hypersensitivity, Generally
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Foreign Body in a Location, Generally
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Porcupine Quills, Quilled
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Traumatic Injury Bruise or Contusion
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Abscess in Any Location, Generally
Less Common
Rare
Treatments Your Vet May Recommend
A way to resolve the condition or diagnosis. Resolving the underlying cause or treating the signs of disease (symptomatic treatment)
