Danindigo
Well-Known Member
My 15yo eventer has develpoed some lumps under his saddle area. Im sure they seem to be multiplying! He does not seem inconvenianced by them when you press on the but wondered what they could be?
Lumps under saddle
- Thread starter Danindigo
- Start date
Cliqmo
Well-Known Member
What size and shape are they, do they feel fluidy? are they hot?
Danindigo
Well-Known Member
probably about pea-sized & fairly firm & mainly on one side of his back. I havnt notices any excessive heat in them
Cliqmo
Well-Known Member
I have found this online:
[ QUOTE ]
Horses, like people and other animals, have a variety of skin problems. The common one I would like to address in this issue goes by a couple of fancy names in veterinary literature, nodular necrobiosis or eosinophilic granuloma.
These lesions are typically seen on the "trunk" area of the horse, which includes the neck, back or sides. They are firm, non-painful and do not change in size. They involve the deep layers of the skin, and upon examination feel like someone implanted a jelly bean or large peanut.
The distribution is not usually symmetrical on each side of the horse. This distribution pattern and their chronic nature differentiate this lesion from hives or an acute allergic reaction. Occasionally, one of these lesions may lose the overlying hair and ulcerate.
The lesions get their name from their appearance on microscopic examination. They are made up basically of scar tissue (granuloma) that is infiltrated with a specific type of white blood cell (Eosinophil). The presence of this particular cell suggests the cause of the problem. This cell is commonly associated with response to a foreign protein such as a parasite or insect bite. Since no parasite has ever been demonstrated in one of these lesions, its assumed they are a type of immune response to insect bites.
People sometimes feel these lesions are the result of irritation from the saddle or cinch, but the fact that some lesions are outside those areas and the histopathology (microscopic evaluation) suggest a different etiology.
Treatment of this condition can be problematical. First of all, there is no simple treatment that is universally successful. Secondly, the presence of the lesions does not usually impact the horses function. Injection into or around each lesion with a corticosteroid (cortisone) type drug can be helpful.
However, some of these lesions are so dense (can even become mineralized) that surgical excision is the only option to get rid of them. How to handle a case of this problem should be decided, with your veterinarians consultation, based on necessity of treatment and which modality is best suited. [quote/]
[ QUOTE ]
Horses, like people and other animals, have a variety of skin problems. The common one I would like to address in this issue goes by a couple of fancy names in veterinary literature, nodular necrobiosis or eosinophilic granuloma.
These lesions are typically seen on the "trunk" area of the horse, which includes the neck, back or sides. They are firm, non-painful and do not change in size. They involve the deep layers of the skin, and upon examination feel like someone implanted a jelly bean or large peanut.
The distribution is not usually symmetrical on each side of the horse. This distribution pattern and their chronic nature differentiate this lesion from hives or an acute allergic reaction. Occasionally, one of these lesions may lose the overlying hair and ulcerate.
The lesions get their name from their appearance on microscopic examination. They are made up basically of scar tissue (granuloma) that is infiltrated with a specific type of white blood cell (Eosinophil). The presence of this particular cell suggests the cause of the problem. This cell is commonly associated with response to a foreign protein such as a parasite or insect bite. Since no parasite has ever been demonstrated in one of these lesions, its assumed they are a type of immune response to insect bites.
People sometimes feel these lesions are the result of irritation from the saddle or cinch, but the fact that some lesions are outside those areas and the histopathology (microscopic evaluation) suggest a different etiology.
Treatment of this condition can be problematical. First of all, there is no simple treatment that is universally successful. Secondly, the presence of the lesions does not usually impact the horses function. Injection into or around each lesion with a corticosteroid (cortisone) type drug can be helpful.
However, some of these lesions are so dense (can even become mineralized) that surgical excision is the only option to get rid of them. How to handle a case of this problem should be decided, with your veterinarians consultation, based on necessity of treatment and which modality is best suited. [quote/]
tangotime
Well-Known Member
[The common one I would like to address in this issue goes by a couple of fancy names in veterinary literature, nodular necrobiosis or eosinophilic granuloma.
I have to agree, it quiet possible thats what it is. However the only way to diagnose the condition for certain would be a skin biopsy done by your vet as other conditions can look similar.
Eosinophilic granulomas don't always require treatment, so if the condition is static perhaps you could wait and watch?
I have to agree, it quiet possible thats what it is. However the only way to diagnose the condition for certain would be a skin biopsy done by your vet as other conditions can look similar.
Eosinophilic granulomas don't always require treatment, so if the condition is static perhaps you could wait and watch?
imr
Well-Known Member
could just be collagen bumps - they can disappear again too or the vet might remove them
Angua2
Well-Known Member
My Girl has these and the RVC vet said they were eosinophilic granuloma. I was told unless they became problematic to leave them alone. If they did need treatment it would be a fairly simple procedure to remove them
teddyt
Well-Known Member
Get the vet. Could be bacteria in hair follicles causing inflammation. But they could be many things.
jenh166
Well-Known Member
eosinophilic granuloma sounds most likely to me.
kellyeaton
Well-Known Member
what feed is your horse on? could they be protin bumps?
sally2
Well-Known Member
My horse had something like you describe. They were hard and no amount of pushing prodding or squeezing got a reaction from the horse. After a few weeks i got the vet cause they were about this size of 50pence piece. He took a biopsy and it came back as collagen necrosis, sounds worse than it is. Just leave them alone and they will probably go away mine took about a year. They do not affect the horse but just keep an eye on them to make sure the saddle does not rub the skin of them and make them bleed.
Jericho
Well-Known Member
Mine got these after I used a pad under his saddle and he got particularly hot one ride. I was really worried, prodded and rubbed and cleaned with hibiscrub. He wasnt worried and I would say that 2 month later they have nearly gone. Maybe just one of those things - my vet said over the phone its just likely to be sweat related and not to meddle unless it is obviously causing pain. I have also been told that it is also coat change related and certainly with winter coat coming out I have noticed the lumps are decreasing and that they are more scurfy than other areas. Of course if you are worried get your vets opinion
Weezy
Well-Known Member
Quite probably are sweat bumps
Bubblegum
Well-Known Member
My very thin skinned horse used to get these. My saddler advised the use of very thin prolite pad...not to affect the fit of the saddle, which was fine, but just to make sure of even pressure. 12 months later, and through all the seasons (they used to get worse in winter)...and he doesn't have any at all now.
merlinsquest
Well-Known Member
Merlin used to get these under the saddle until I started to wash his back off after every ride. I also found that I could not use the sheepskin halfpad that I paid an arm and a leg for
I think it made his back too hot