Melanomas and Cimitidine

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Gonetofrance

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Can anyone help?

I've just found out one of the horses I rode in the UK has developed melanomas.
They seem to be quite aggressive, and are in his mouth and under his tail. The vet was not unduly concerned to begin with, but he will be coming out this week to have another look.

He's a grey 10yo Lusitano gelding.

His owner has been researching and came across a site on the internet which detailed a history of Cimitidine being used successfully. I have gone into it in quite a bit of detail, but it's a long time since I was at school, and I've hit a bit of a brick wall as to why it should work, because it's primary use is to prevent gastric acid production in the stomach.
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It appears that it is working on a double negative, ie preventing a histamine blocking cytokine, which seems to have an ability to diffuse through the endocrine system, and also appear to boost the immune system. The pituitary is where melanocytes are made. I'm wondering if this is the connection, or if I'm off with the wild geese..........
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Can anyone shed any light on this, or has heard of anyone successfully using it on their horse?
 
Don't know any of the science stuff I'm afraid but I did use it for a while on my old pony. In his case the size of the tumours did start to reduce a bit & they stopped rupturing. Unfortunately they were just too widespread & ultimately internal ones did rupture & kill him but he got another good six months - a wonderful last summer that he thoroughly enjoyed - & I still believe that extra time was due to the Cimitidine.
 
My horse was one of the first in the UK ever to be tried on Cimetidine for melanomas. He was on it for yonks and the vet came out every couple of weeks to measure them but it didn't make any difference at all. I think there is some evidence of it workin occasionally but it is by no means guaranteeed and very expensive!
 
My friend has a 23yr old 3/4 TB grey mare, who has been on cimetidine for almost the last two years, and she is positively thriving!In fact she is back doing dressage, and winning!
She was extremely poorly before this, and the vet put her on cimetidine more or less as a last chance. My friend did think she was going to lose her, and the vet was at the opinion that if it didn't work, she had two weeks at the most - though he didn't mention this to my friend at the time!
She looks amazing now. The melanomas are under her tail, and have not got any bigger, though obviously they are carefully watched.
We are both amazed at how well she is, in both looks and within herself.
Hope this helps.
 
A question merrymeashre?

Did your friend's horses' melanomas reduce in size or did the drug just stop them growing further?

Thanks
 
Hi madhossy!
They haven't appeared to have reduced much in size , but they certainly have not got any bigger, and there have been no new ones appearing.
She is on one tablet a day now, having been on three at first.
The vet is absolutely delighted with her progress, and as I said she looks a million dollars and is full of life.
 
Hello

I'm new to this site so please forgive me if I've got this wrong but I've just posted a reply to another thread on melanomas and then looking further through past threads I saw this one which I hope someone will now look at and help me out with!

Long story short, I have a grey mare who is nearly 25 years old, although has still been in very active work. My mare has had melanomas on her anus, vulva and dock for many years now with no particular problems (other than lots of tail cleaning at various times where they have broken down and released much black mess!!). However, a few weeks back she developed a large swelling on her mammary gland and on doing an ultra-sound of these we found that the swelling was caused by tumors in the gland that are interfering with lymph drainage and also a blood vessel. A week ago I therefore took the scary decision to have the tumors surgically removed so she's had a mastectamy and also had a particularly large one right by her vulva removed (as this was interfering with her urinating).

My mare has a few others around her anus still, although these are small. I do not know what else she might have elsewhere and to be honest I struggle to think about it without crying my eyes out. The surgery did, however, go well and she is recovering nicely. It has been hard on her, though, and at her age I would need to think carefully about putting her through surgery again, should the melanomas come back (which I am aware they could well do).

I've heard that cimetidine may be able to help her, though, and I am interested in anyone's experiences of this drug. Also, so far my vet has told me that she she'd need about 28 tablets a day or something mad (how on earth do I get those down her!!??) so I'm curious that merrymeasure mentions she gets two tablets a day. Merrymeasure- do could you tell me any more about the pescription your horse has been on/ where you get your cimetidine from?

Thanks for any help anyone can give me.

Kelpie
 
Hi Happy Horse

Thanks, that's reasuring - do you think they worked? Also, I've heard that initially you need to give the tablets every 8 hours - did you do this or can it still work on twice a day (I work full time so getting someone to come to my yard to give her the tablet may be tough).

Thanks again

Kelpie
 
I asked my vet about Cimitidine when I first found Sirena's melanomas, he felt that it should only be used if they start growing quickly, he did say they would not shrink the growths but would inhibit them from growing further. He also muttered about side effects and that he felt that it should not be used long term.

A friend of mine lost her 16yo Andalusian mare who had been treated with Cimitidine, unfortunately she was absolutely riddled and they continued to grow despite the treatment.

Sirena's father died from the effects of massive internal melanomas, however he was nearly 30 so I suppose I should not worry too much..............................yet
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hi,
i have a ten year old grey mare who has had melanomas since i bought her last year and im not sure how long she has had them before then. she has one on her neck and several on her tail and in her bottom - the ones on her neck and on her bottom have seemed to burst emmiting a black liquid and one of them has gone red where it burst. i was wondering if anyone could help by knowing what is going on and if its serious and should i call the vet? ive been treating it with a little diluted hibiscrub is this right? i would be very grateful for any suggestions as ive heard that melanomas can turn nasty

thanks,
 
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