Massive hematoma requiring op

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JadeWisc

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I am hoping for any advice or experiences regarding the treatment and what to expect with a massive hematoma on my aunts 3 month old APHA filly.
She was taken to the Equine hospotal this morning and is expected to have an op tomorrow to see what is going on and possibly lance it. I know vets usually like to leave them to heal with compression etc but this has taken a rapid turn for the worse.

Here is the scene....

Last week filly has large lump on side about the size of a plum assumed to be a reaction to a bug bite. Does not get better so Vet "A" prescribes antihistamine. It gets much much worse so Vet "B" comes a few days ago to see lump ( which is now far bigger) and diagnoses it as a hematoma. She inserts needle in to draw out fluid and fluid shows no sign of infection so she was left to keep an eye on it and taken OFF the antihistamine.
This morning lump is massive ( I was told the size of a small watermelon) and doubled overnight so it was advised she be brought down for evaluation and possible op.

She was told there is a risk of her bleeding out when they open it? :confused:
anyone heard of this happening?


Still waiting to hear final advice from the vets at the hospital but wanted to collect any info I can to pass on to my aunt.
I appreciate any experience in the matter and thanks in advance.

P.S white blood cells are a bit high and she is running a slight temp. Xray shows no mass and only liquid but a tumor cannot be 100% ruled out until they get in and is also still supposedly a possibility although most things point to hematoma
 
I wouldn't rule out an insect bite.

I had a TB mare who developed two lumps the size of a skull hat. The top/centre started to ooze serum that left a burn trail where it ran.
These were egg sized on day one & enlarged overnight.
Day three, after starting on antihistamines, her legs all filled and her cannons expanded by three inches.

It took a week for them to go down fully and another week of burn dressings to heal the top. A month later there was no sign or scar but it was touch & go for a few days.
 
Thank you guys for the kind words and advice.
It has been decided there is no other option for her but to drain/lance with as large as it is and the vets said it is the largest hematoma they have ever seen on a horse that age/size :(

She is with mom at the equine hospital now and the procedure will be done in the morning so I will let you know how it goes and what they find. I am thinking it is going to be a positive outcome but my aunt of course is focused in the worst.
 
Aunt just arrived there and op to start soon. She said it was even bigger this morning and hanging half down to her leg :(

Will be back to post later on her outcome
Thanks again
 
Hi there. I have a positive update for you all :)

She is all finished and doing well. She is resting in her stall at the equine hospital with her mom as we speak all wrapped up and eating well.

They drained 21 pounds of fluid from the hematoma!! They have packed it and left it partly open to drain. They did not remove the loose skin as she is so young they said she would grow into it and she is expected to heal very well :)
The next 24 hours can still present a problem but she is in the best place and will be there until about tuesday for observation :)

Thanks for thinking of her.
 
not sure about the op and stuff, but we had a horse at college who had a massive one from a kick on his backend it was about the size of a plate so pretty big, the vet gave us some gel which didnt do much so he put in drain in ita hole at the top and bottom and then threaded some tube with holes in it through the lump its self it would then obvioulsy drain its self a little and we had to syringe hibi scrub through it to prevent it getting infected and to clean it out, we also had to do some gentle massage to help the fluid move and come out,

he was on quite a bit of anti biotics and it took a very long time to heal
 
That reminds me that I forgot to mention this one had become infected as of this morning so I assume that explains the temp and blood cell count. I am sure she is also getting anti Bs for that.

They can supposedly give themselves hematomas when kicking at flies. I wonder if this is what happened with her. It makes sense with where it was located thar her hind leg could have done it. I guess nobody will ever know but let's hope it never happens again.
 
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