Blood blister/cyst/any other ideas

[holeymoley]

My horse has had a small, probably the size of a 5p, round lump on the top of his forearm for a few months now. It is firm enough to touch without bursting but it’s also soft in the sense that there must be liquid in it. He is pink skinned so it’s quite easy to see, looks almost white/light grey in colour. He had a similar thing lower down on the opposite leg a few years ago and he managed to catch it while cantering along the beach. It delightfully leaked out some yellow pasty stuff and that was the end of it. This current one though, I can’t fathom. He does get clipped out in Winter so I’m unsure if it’s possibly an ingrown hair. I’m doubtful of it being a sarcoid or anything worse than that, it doesn’t look angry, and it’s stayed the same size and decent shape since Winter. Anyone any ideas? How do I get rid of the thing? Leave well alone? Horse is fine with it being touched, not so impressed with any squeezing though.

 

[SpeedyPony]

I'd be inclined to just keep an eye on it and look out for any changes- if the vet is coming out for anything routine in the near future they might stick a needle in it for you to see what it is? If it grows/gets heat in it I'd worry, but my lad had a tiny abscess on his side that had walled itself off nicely- I kept an eye, not being sure what it was until one day as i was feeling it to see if it had changed at all it burst in my fingers! Very satisfying to see it pop

 

[Red-1]

If it is the same as the last one, which resolved on being caught, I'd call the vet out on a zone day to slice it, if they agreed with that plan of action. I wouldn't like a rumbling infection, it can make you feel generally off, even if not very sore. I would imagine a little slice with a scalpel, flushed with salt water and all resolved.

 

[Widgeon]

I would imagine a little slice with a scalpel, flushed with salt water and all resolved.

I'd do the same. Would prefer not to have something brewing quietly away, even if it seems quite innocuous. I would've thought the vet could sort it for essentially the price of a callout.