Melanoma on the head

[AandK]

Has anyone had a horse with a melanoma on their head? My 25yo has one just under his ear, it first appeared just over 3yrs ago, a few months after he was retired, and has grown steadily since. At the moment he’s fine, eating happily etc, the only time it affects him is when he has the gag on to do this teeth, although it is now uncomfortable for me to press on it in the last few months.
I worry at some point it will affect his ability to eat, which will mean the end, I guess I just need to keep monitoring. Is this likely to happen as it seems to be growing outward…
Has anyone had experience of similar, if so, how did it affect your horse? Thank you.

Here are a couple of pics I took this morning.

 

[Bernster]

Interesting that you’ve posted just now as mine is currently at the RVC for treatment on ones very similar! For Finn, they do impact his way of going and he’s a little stiff through his neck and poll as a result. If they keep growing I do think they’re likely to affect your boy negatively too.

They can’t really do surgery on them in that area but they have a newly developed treatment (article attached) which they’re using, together with essentially an electro shock therapy to increase the effectiveness of the treatment. It’s early days but they’ve had some good success so far. I’ve also tried the vaccine but it’s been hard to get and it’s not clear if it’s very effective. It may have slowed down the growth however as they’ve gotten worse since he’s been off the vaccine (supply chain issues).

https://www.rvc.ac.uk/equine-vet/ho...ld-hyperthermia-and-intratumoral-chemotherapy

 

[scats]

I had a mare with one in almost the identical place- perhaps slightly higher. Never affected her. She also had a big one in her mouth.

 

[AandK]

Thanks both. Interesting to hear other people experiences!

 

[Lady Jane]

My horse has one a bit lower (both sides) and a small one a bit higher. He is 18 but was retired at 14 (unrelated issues). My vet said it could cause a problem eventually but what we can see is likely to be only the tip of the iceberg and he probably has them internally too. He is happy and comfortable, doesn't mind it being pressed. I can see it has grown more in the last year

 

[Snow Falcon]

Interesting pics. My friend's grey mare also has a lump in similar place. She's feral so would never undergo treatment nor would you get near her!!

 

[BBP]

Mare that was part of my gang had huge ones like a football around her ears, owner thought they didn’t appear to bother her all that much over the years, but then one day I found her trying to drown herself. She was fully submerging her head, all the way over her ears, in the massive water trough and holding it there underwater. The ones under her tail had also burst and were pouring blood so she was standing in a pool of it. I can only assume the melanomas were causing significant pain at that point. She was let go that day. I don’t want to be the bearer of bad news, but from that experience I know that things can change all of a sudden.

 

[Equi]

Monitoring for pain daily is the way things will be. If it opens and starts oozing at all that would be a call for me.

 

[Quigleyandme]

Monitoring for pain daily is the way things will be. If it opens and starts oozing at all that would be a call for me.

Agreed. Careful, daily monitoring for pain and decrease in appetite and weight and onset of dullness. At her age and with a lump that big I wouldn’t advocate any treatment apart from protection against flies. Can she wear a mask? Benign neglect my vet calls it when animals have inoperable issues but aren’t in distress.

 

[AandK]

I’m not planning to do anything other than monitor, I’m up twice a day so can keep a close eye on him when eating etc. He has no issue eating at the moment and his weight is v good, no signs of him being uncomfy. I’ve had him 20yrs so know him well enough, he is a stoic chap so I’m wary of him not showing pain until it hurts a lot! I guess that’s the age old dilemma, but all I can do is take it day by day.

 

[AandK]

Here’s the old boy this morning, pic from his good side this time looking well covered to go into winter.

 

[Polos Mum]

Mine grew one the size of a tennis ball under his jaw line (a bit where the strangles lump would be) when he was about 22 y/o.

The vet said to just keep an eye on it and that (sadly) the others that were likely to be there internally would cause him more of a problem than the one on his head.

He as at home so I kept a very close eye and we lost him about 2 years later when he started to dramatically loose condition without any external change.

He looks great - just keep and eye and love him lots.

 

[Birker2020]

My horse has one a bit lower (both sides) and a small one a bit higher. He is 18 but was retired at 14 (unrelated issues). My vet said it could cause a problem eventually but what we can see is likely to be only the tip of the iceberg and he probably has them internally too. He is happy and comfortable, doesn't mind it being pressed. I can see it has grown more in the last year View attachment 100116

I've sent you a PM

 

[Bernster]

I’ve just posted an update on Finn’s head melanoma treatment if anyone is considering that.