Test results back, some good news and not so good news..

[buzzles]

The vet rang with the biopsy results from the lump in my mares mammary gland. Good news, it's definitely not a tumor or cancerous, whew!!

Although from the scan they didn't think it was a tumor, there were some dark bits they weren't too sure of and because she's chestnut they wanted to be careful. They were also able to isolate the bacteria causing the infection and the antibiotics she's already on should target it. I can also take her back into proper work now, so took her into the arena today (I'd just hacked her quietly the last few days as from previous post) and she worked so well, she was delighted to be back and whickered when she saw me coming with her tack!!!

Not so good news, the gland has scar tissue and alot of fibrosous (sp) which is why it's so hard and they think that will never go away. So she will be prone to infections and the mastitis flaring up again,

I'll just have to be vigilant in keeping it really clean and free from flies. Surgery was discussed but at the moment, as it's not causing her any discomfort or pain, they don't want to remove it. It would be quite a big operation and would involve removing the mammary gland and all the scar tissue. She would also be very prone to secondary infection. So hopefully we'll be able to avoid that.

The teats are assymmetrical but the other teat is fine so if she ever has a foal (no plans at the moment but you never know!

) that should produce milk. I'll just have to make sure the quality if the colostrum and milk is sufficent for the foal, and actually if she started to produce milk it light help clear the udder.

So all in all good news, it's nothing too ominous, the antibiotics and hot packing seem to be working and she's to get a 3 week course of intravenous sodium iodide to help reduce the fibrosous.