Lump on hindquater now very lame. Any ideas???

[milliepup]

My horse has developed a swelling which is about the size of my palm in diameter but quite protruding and almost goes to a point rather than just smooth. If you imagined looking at her from behind it is about 3 inches down from the top of her tail on the left. When I noticed it I thought it looked like she had been bitten by a horsefly or something but now think it may be more muscle related. She is fine in walk but a bit short but when watching her trot across the field earlier she really didn't seem to want to stretch her leg underneath her and was very choppy.
Just wondered if anyone else had any ideas of what it could be? There are no obvious signs of a kick or scratch or anything.

 

[airedale]

abscess from a thorn ?

if it's starting to point then keep an eye on it as when it bursts it will need flushing and vet. attention

 

[mickey]

My first thought is fluid-filled abscess. The pressure within abcesses can be extremely painful. This pain will only be relieved once the abscess has burst.

 

[airedale]

To 'prove' if it's an abscess - if it is already 'pointing' then you could 'hot foment' the abscess

get a bucket of hot water and a flannel and wring flannel out in hot water and just hold over the point of the abscess

this will help the abscess to pop and also draw out any poison - plus once abscess bursts it will be much less painful - but will need a vets visit for safety to a: ensure that whatever caused it has been flushed out and b: to provide precautionary anti-biotics.

no point in calling vet now if abscess hasn't burst as anti-b. now can prevent the pointing and delay healing

hot fomenting should be done preferably 3 times a day and for about 15 minutes with hot water.

 

[milliepup]

Just looked at it again tonight and it's no better so will try the hot water treatment and see what happens. She doesn't seem worried by it so fingers crossed.
Thanks for the advice.

 

[Shilasdair]

Could it be a haematoma?
S

 

[Petrie]

Reminds me of a heamotoma too! Mine had one on his breast, like a man boob. he was kicked on his shoulder, but the heamotoma came out there.

It took a while to go down (cold hosing and massaging was recommended).

They can also travel around, apparently, although mine stayed where it was.

Is it possible she could have been kicked?

 

[milliepup]

Well the lump is still there but she is slightly better but to be safe the vet is going to have a look tomorrow. It's such an odd one as there are no marks and it's quite firm to the touch but she's not keen on you touching it. I will let you know what he says.