Skewbald with a melanoma in the guttural pouch

[Leanne1980]

Morning all

My horse has a guttural pouch strangles scope on Thursday for moving yards. Unfortunately, which he is clear from strangles it did find a singular black raised melanoma next to his carotid artery. This was not there 18 months ago. He is a skewbald, so not a full grey, probably 50% grey and no external melanoma's. The vet said he was surprised to see it in a coloured with no external ones and I kinda have to just ignore it is there. I was advised it cannot be removed and there is no point doing a biopsy as it will be cancerous because of where it is (as will have spread from externally?). My boy is grumpy the majority of the time am I am now wondering if this could be the source of the issue. Does anyone have any experience with melanomas in this area?

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

I’m sorry to hear this, whilst I don’t have exact experience my mare “grows” something on her lower jaw every now and then, hard lump (cancerous tumour perhaps) which then disappears. Vet told me not to investigate with operations etc as the head has so many important arteries and nerves in it that it’s almost inevitable that something else will be compromised. Your boy may very well be uncomfortable, I guess a week or so of Bute might show if pain is making him grumpy. Your vet must have some ideas??

 

[honetpot]

My cremello is covered in them and probably has them internally but as long as he is not suffering it's benign neglect. He had one taken off his sheath, so the vets are aware. It was hanging from the skin so it was easy to snip off cleanly.
Looking back he has probably had them since he was about two, they were flat so hidden in his coat, and he now ten.
I think only you can judge if they are affecting him as you know him best.

 

[Fransurrey]

A friend's horse was diagnosed with a gutteral pouch melanoma two years ago, after becoming symptomatic (struggling to breathe in trot and faster). She's actually still doing absolutely fine, apparently, as long as she isn't worked hard, so you may have a few years, yet. It's the breathing that will become affected in time, so keep an eye on that, but I wouldn't write him off, yet.