Life with melanoma

L

loopylouise12

Member
Joined
23 May 2015
Messages
11
Visit site
So my horse who has previously shown very successfully and also evented has developed a melanoma in the throat lash area roughly the size of a ping pong ball. The vet has been and taken a biopsy and confirmed it is a melanoma and the only course of action suggested was to keep an eye on it. I am a little confused by this, it doesnt suggest there is any treatment or way to get rid of it. Do I just ride as normal? How are horses with melanomas viewed in the show ring, competition circuit? She is 10yo, however very low mileage and super talented. I just feel a little devastated as its like life is over before its began??
 
loopylouise12 said:
So my horse who has previously shown very successfully and also evented has developed a melanoma in the throat lash area roughly the size of a ping pong ball. The vet has been and taken a biopsy and confirmed it is a melanoma and the only course of action suggested was to keep an eye on it. I am a little confused by this, it doesnt suggest there is any treatment or way to get rid of it. Do I just ride as normal? How are horses with melanomas viewed in the show ring, competition circuit? She is 10yo, however very low mileage and super talented. I just feel a little devastated as its like life is over before its began??
Click to expand...

Really sorry to hear that - my mare had two in that area and had them removed although there is significant residual scarring. It's interesting to hear different vets' approaches as my vet is very pro-active in recommending removal
 
We found a massive melanoma on my shetland last summer, the vet looked at amputating his tail but the team of vets decided it was too high up to be successful, tiny new ones you can feel under his skin in the area. My little guys is aggressive :( we also looked at the DNA vaccines at Leahurst but went against them as the stats we didnt feel were promising enough when we went really into it. As advised by my vets, i looked at complementary options and i can say, we have them under control and my pony is full of life! OK, no 'proof' it is what hes having but its the only thing that has changed, i did stop him having the alternative option for a while over winter and the melanomas started to grown again so he started back on what we have been doing. it's costing me quite a bit of money but seems to be worth it.
Happy to discuss more via pm,
 
My 14 month old gelding has one on his inner buttock . The vet gave me the same advice except he said once it's grown a neck on it he will remove it ! I am gutted he is so young wanted to take him to a few inhand shows towards the end of the season .
 
I'm still trying to contact you luckilotti - I have sent two messages but apparently they haven't reached you as I've reached my PM quota- I've only sent one PM prior to this so it must be a very small quota! I've contacted admin to resolve and will keep trying to reach you. Very frustrating!
 
My old boy has a couple of small ones on the underside of his dock. Vet looked and said just to leave them, don't seem to be an aggressive strain and to be expected with his irish/native breeding, colouring (grey) and age (27 now). He's had them for quite a few years now and haven't been too much of a problem. Some can be more aggressive and those on the face/throat can be more obstructive and damaging.
 
luckilotti said:
i think as a newer member you have a tiny quota? Anyway, i have just emailed you direct with what i have been doing with my pony etc :)
Click to expand...

Could you pm me the info too?

My grey ID have had them for years and has a huge one over the parotid area. Had tried many things in the past with vet input but nothing helped but always open to ideas. A biopsy caused his to react very aggressively and due to the fact of location and that they couldn't remove the whole thing, he has had to live with it
 
I have a retired school pony on loan as a companion. She's meant to be late teens, and she's retired due to a large melanoma on her salivary gland. It doesn't really bother her, but apparently, inspectors thought it might prove a risk. Anyway, vets suggested keeping an eye on it, and otherwise ignoring. Would be glad to head other accounts, as know little about them, and Ballerina Mare, being grey, is probably at risk.

The companion pony also has one under her dock, but that might be more recent: noticed it for the first time this spring. Also doesn't seem to be bothering her. Will ask vet about that one, too, next time she's out for the Spooky Pony.
 
My old hunter had a few under his dock - he was a grey ISH that was 20 when I got him. They didn't seem to cause him any bother and he was PTS for a totally different reason.
 
We have a 20-yo connie on the yard who is awash with them. Her entire vulva and anus is one huge mass. She has them on her dock, including a couple which are nearly golfball size. The other notable one she has is just over the supraorbital fossa. But she also has many more small ones under the skin all over her body.

Having said that, she is a chipper as can be, and is still competing SJ at about 80cm with her junior rider, and is teaching the riders mum how to ride.

Occasionally she will rub one of her tail tumours and make it sore, in which case it is treated very basically and ensured the flies are kept away from it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top