Swelling around melanomas

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SilverKismet

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Hi

I am looking for experiences with melanomas. My mare is 24 years old and has had a big cluster under her tail for many, many years. I’ve had her since she was 6 and she’s had them as long as I can remember.
However, this year they have started growing more. The other week I noticed that one had ruptured and was oozing black melanin. Fine, I’ve been treating it. It healed up nicely however I noticed that there was fluid build up behind the healed melanoma. This burst and it started the draining process once more, which is becoming a cycle. The vet has been involved over the phone and has seen photos. She’s been on antibiotics and anti inflammatories for an unrelated issue so we know this isn’t infection.


The vet is now coming out to review her either tomorrow or Thursday.
I’m worried about this cycle of fluid accumulation having nowhere to go, I’ve not had this with melanomas before. Normally if they burst they just heal and that’s it. I’m worried sick about her ☹️ has anyone had any experience of similar?

Despite all this, she is fine in herself, eating and toileting fine and bright as anything.

Photo attached is of it today. You can see the site to the right where it’s healed, but now there’s no where for the fluid that seems to keep building up behind it to escape. It’s just suddenly producing more fluid than usual
 

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SilverKismet said:
Hi

I am looking for experiences with melanomas. My mare is 24 years old and has had a big cluster under her tail for many, many years. I’ve had her since she was 6 and she’s had them as long as I can remember.
However, this year they have started growing more. The other week I noticed that one had ruptured and was oozing black melanin. Fine, I’ve been treating it. It healed up nicely however I noticed that there was fluid build up behind the healed melanoma. This burst and it started the draining process once more, which is becoming a cycle. The vet has been involved over the phone and has seen photos. She’s been on antibiotics and anti inflammatories for an unrelated issue so we know this isn’t infection.


The vet is now coming out to review her either tomorrow or Thursday.
I’m worried about this cycle of fluid accumulation having nowhere to go, I’ve not had this with melanomas before. Normally if they burst they just heal and that’s it. I’m worried sick about her ☹️ has anyone had any experience of similar?

Despite all this, she is fine in herself, eating and toileting fine and bright as anything.

Photo attached is of it today. You can see the site to the right where it’s healed, but now there’s no where for the fluid that seems to keep building up behind it to escape. It’s just suddenly producing more fluid than usual
Click to expand...
This sounds / looks similar progression to a mare I knew, bit younger, which they took to Liverpool to have them all excised. The operation apparently was a ‘success’, but not really:
Her wound never healed properly, altho the melanomas didn’t re grow, but had to be cleaned and dressed at least twice per day, with the mare getting increasingly sore. Unfortunately, didn’t end well, inevitably infections, and she was put down rather than put through any more.
Your mare is lucky to have had you to look after her so well for so long, I hope your vet has a more positive prognosis.
 
Melanomas really are unique to each horse. Some seem to do well despite having them others really struggle. Take your vets advice and listen to your horse too. Both my share horses have them and are doing great atm 🤞
 
SilverKismet said:
Hi

I am looking for experiences with melanomas. My mare is 24 years old and has had a big cluster under her tail for many, many years. I’ve had her since she was 6 and she’s had them as long as I can remember.
However, this year they have started growing more. The other week I noticed that one had ruptured and was oozing black melanin. Fine, I’ve been treating it. It healed up nicely however I noticed that there was fluid build up behind the healed melanoma. This burst and it started the draining process once more, which is becoming a cycle. The vet has been involved over the phone and has seen photos. She’s been on antibiotics and anti inflammatories for an unrelated issue so we know this isn’t infection.


The vet is now coming out to review her either tomorrow or Thursday.
I’m worried about this cycle of fluid accumulation having nowhere to go, I’ve not had this with melanomas before. Normally if they burst they just heal and that’s it. I’m worried sick about her ☹️ has anyone had any experience of similar?

Despite all this, she is fine in herself, eating and toileting fine and bright as anything.

Photo attached is of it today. You can see the site to the right where it’s healed, but now there’s no where for the fluid that seems to keep building up behind it to escape. It’s just suddenly producing more fluid than usual
Click to expand...
You cannot rule out infection based on your horse being on antibiotics. Pardon the pun, but it's different horses (antibiotics) for different courses (bacterial genus). You may also have a multi-drug resistant strain that requires a broad-spectrum second-line antibiotic (which unless your vet is an idiot going against EMA guidelines, won't be the first one they give out). I hope there's a positive prognosis, but it does sound like they've progressed. I do hope I'm wrong in that opinion, but make sure your vet is honest and frank with you.
 
I do know of a horse that was similar to yours. Owner cleaned every day but the mare started resenting it, when summer came vet advised that due to flies adding to the irritation the kindest thing was pts. It was a lot easier to manage in winter. See what your vet says, 24 is a great age, she’s a lucky horse having you as an owner 👌🏻
 
I was told that what you can see on the outside does not represent the inside and the fear at this location is rapid growth blocking the rectum and causing colic etc.
We tried laser twice to remove but it seemed once they were aggravated thats the road towards the end as they just take off
 
A friend had a stallion with oozing melanomas under his tail. She had him pts.
I’m afraid at 24 I would think that cannot be nice for your mare to be dealing with. Surely it must be sore?
 
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