Lease tell me this is an allergy and not melanomas!

[islandspirit]

Apologies if this ends up a long thread, and also if my pictures don't upload as using an iPad and trying the phot thing for the first time.

I have had my new boy since November of last year and if something can go wrong, it has, from the beginning! We have had, a virus, an ill fitting saddle, horrendous grass mumps, not using a hind leg properly though not lame, bad teeth, and a sarcoids to name a few. I've had the vet out, the physio, another vet, an osteopath and my saddler, none of who agree with one another and am getting conflicting advice from all corners!

I finally managed to get back on to ride after waiting for 4 weeks for the saddler who says the saddle fits fine needed a shim) though vet says different?? Managed 2 days riding and then noticed that he has a blister on his lip. Not to worry I thought, obviously eaten something he shouldn't but then noticed that the top lip towards the back but not where the bit sits was swollen.

If you feel the lip with your fingers outside and thumb inside the mouth it feels like a bunch of hard peas. YO said get vet straight away which made me worry so called and had a chat. He said either allergy or melanomas! How do I know which? Would melanomas come up so quickly? They weren't there on Monday but were on Thursday.

Also, if an allergy, what from? How to treat? To make matters worse another lump has now appeared on the lower lip, it's almost as though the whisker follicle is enlarged but again is hard and pea sized and under the skin.

There is no heat to the lumps and they are not crusty, do you think it's ok to ride, ie use the bit?

Thanks for bearing with me, and getting to the end. I don't have any chocolate, wine or anything comforting to offer, I've scoffed the lot through comfort eating/drinking I'm afraid but any advice would be greatfully received by one very worried owner.

[/IMG]

[/IMG]

 

[Littlelegs]

Can't see pics but ime melanomas don't suddenly appear in days, they can have sudden growth spurts though.

 

[missdarcy]

Can't see the photo's so cant help tell you if its a allergy or melanoma, i would say if you can use the bit without it causing any discomfort and he is happy with you riding him then it should be fine as long as it isn't going to rub and make it worse or sore. What colour is your boy? Just asking as Grey's are more susceptible to melanomas, I had a grey ex-racer and he had melanoma's come up under his tail one week he was fine then the next week he had them there. Sorry I couldn't be more help to you.

 

[*hic*]

tbh photos too small to tell. However if they were melanomas I'd expect them to be black so I'd shy away from that diagnosis and consider warts. Have you got any larger pictures?

 

[islandspirit]

Sorry, can't work the picture thing out at all, will try again I thought they couldn't come up that quickly as well but my vet said could be that they were there but not noticed and had sudden growth spurt.

 

[*hic*]

UPload the pictures again to the same filename on photobucket but this time resize then to 480 x 640. Then if you press Ctrl + F5 on my post you'll see them full size. Alternatively don't use the picture button to put them in your post, just paste in the

 

[islandspirit]

Hopefully larger image

Yay, did it thanks for the tip

The lumps are inside the top lip where it curves before the corner of the mouth and the slightly larger hair follicle below the bottom lip is now also enlarged.

 

[Bryndu]

Hi,
I am NOT a vet...but they look like ulcers?
I think a trip out from Mr Vet to allay your fears.
Good luck
Bryndu

 

[Marydoll]

They look a bit like ulcers, have you had your field sprayed or has anyone been spraying around you ? get vet to check, it could also be a viral herpes again get vet checked

 

[islandspirit]

Hi,
I am NOT a vet...but they look like ulcers?
I think a trip out from Mr Vet to allay your fears.
Good luck
Bryndu

I initially though the same, but my YO thinks the swellings and ulcer are unrelated. First thing I did was go for a wonder around the field looking for buttercups which i have heard can cause ulcers but to be honest the weather has been so bad that nothing is growing and I couldn't find anything that I thought could be the culprit.

 

[islandspirit]

They look a bit like ulcers, have you had your field sprayed or has anyone been spraying around you ? get vet to check, it could also be a viral herpes again get vet checked

Field has been harrowed but nothing else as yet but we are on a working farm so will check if anything near has been sprayed. I have been using bonjela as can't think of anything else to use. The vet didn't suggest herpes, just allergy or melanomas and to leave for a month to see either way unless they get much worse.

 

[Bryndu]

Hi again,
Personally...I would go for the ulcer thing..and I would actually say that everything happening to your poor beast IS related....probably combined with a low immune system...due to all that has happened.
It is probably easy to fix.....but I would have the vet actually look at it rather than an end of the phone job.....just to be sure...
Good luck
Bryndu

 

[threeponies]

Is it pink, the photo makes it hard to tell? My mare has melanomas, none of them are pink all are black or black/grey, she's had them for years

 

[islandspirit]

Hi again,
Personally...I would go for the ulcer thing..and I would actually say that everything happening to your poor beast IS related....probably combined with a low immune system...due to all that has happened.
It is probably easy to fix.....but I would have the vet actually look at it rather than an end of the phone job.....just to be sure...
Good luck
Bryndu

I think you are right, I will call again tomorrow for an appointment, why do horses always need to see a vet over the bank holiday he's such a lovely, huge, dope of a horse, it's more like owning an overgrown puppy really. I have tried echinacea to sbuild up the immune system which obviously doesn't seem to have worked! Any ideas on what to use as a good pick me up? To look at he is doing very well, a little too well now that he has had so much time off and really needs to get back into work. His feet are in good condition, difficult to tell shine wise with the coat as he is grey and a mud monster he's not withdrawn or off his food, but perhaps is holding onto his winter coat rather well. He's nine and was bought direct from his breeder who was retiring so hasn't really lived anywhere else, the stress of moving could have been the start of it all I suppose.

 

[islandspirit]

Is it pink, the photo makes it hard to tell? My mare has melanomas, none of them are pink all are black or black/grey, she's had them for years

He has a pink ulcer at the front top lip and then further behind where the lip arches and is black you can see that the lip is slightly too flared, if you feel this area between your fingers and thumb you can feel about 5 pea sized lumps inside.

 

[*hic*]

He has a pink ulcer at the front top lip and then further behind where the lip arches and is black you can see that the lip is slightly too flared, if you feel this area between your fingers and thumb you can feel about 5 pea sized lumps inside.

Ah I had misunderstood, I thought the pink area was what you were worried about. I'd get the vet to have a look.

 

[Marydoll]

I do think it unlikely to be melanomas, all coming up overnight which makes the allergy thing more likely, did he suggest giving an anti histamine ?
I personally wouldnt leave it for a month, and think youre right to get the vet out, an equine vet if youve got one in the practice

 

[TicTac]

I would say they are ulcers caused by an allergic reaction to something he has probably eaten.
A horse of mine developed ' sores' just like that in his mouth. I had the vet out and that's what they said. In my horses case it was thistles that caused his ulcers!!

Your vet should be able to give him some sort of anti histamin jab which should alleviate the problem.