Would you lance a hematoma on a 6 week old foal?

[Castlegate]

We have been dealing with a hematoma on Pilsner's neck for 3 weeks tomorrow. Vet has been out several times to confirm that is in fact what it is etc. I know they take forever to go away and vet wants to avoid lancing if at all possible. He did decide to drain a bit of fluid last week when Pilsner got diarreah just to be sure it wasnt infected etc. It is getting smaller but its still pretty large...maybe the size of a lemon. I am supposed to call and update vet tomorrow....and I know he is going to ask me if I want to lance it....

How dangerous would it be to lance? Would you do it or just wait it out? Its not causing him any problems...it just looks bad....

[camohn]

I avoid making any new areas that could be an infection risk unless really necessary.

[Oakstable]

I wouldn't do it. It'll just fill back up and it could become infected.

What caused it? a kick?

[VanishingPondFarm]

I would let it be as long as it is not getting bigger, it will gradually resorb. My mare, now 15 yo, was kicked by another foal at 12 week in the chest and had a grapefruit size hematoma. It resolved on its own and was never a problem. I took her temp daily, measured it daily and kept a log for the vet (the nurse in me). It looked awful but resolved on its own. The vet did look at it after it first happened. He never suggested we drain it. Good luck I am sure it will be okay.:)

[Castlegate]

We dont really know how he did it...my guess is that his momma may have grabbed him with some over-zealous discipline...but that is just a guess only because it happened on the day that he was really in need of a disciplining from mom! He could have easily run into the fence or something too...

I figured when the vet said he didnt want to lance it that it was because of increased risk of infection but then I wondered how big those chances were...I can live with it...I am just hoping it goes away before inspection...

[clint]

Many years ago I had a filly with a big hematoma on her chest. It looked very much like pigeon fever, so my vet lanced it. It was a hematoma, drained serum, and left a scar that never went away. I wouldn't lance it; it will go away eventually.

[goodmorning]

I would not lance it - when my 7yr old gelding had one the vet would absolutely not lance it, particularly because the flies & bugs are out, far too great of a chance for infection. So long as the fluid did not look suspicious, I would not touch it. I did put him on SMZ's eventually & warm compressed it, both of those things did make a difference.

[Castlegate]

Anyone know how much longer we might be looking at? Right now we are still painting it with DMSO one time a day...it does seem to be helping...its just slow....

[Tiki]

At 3 weeks, it is way too late to lance it. You will only cause big problems. I would not even have lanced it in the beginning. If you find one right away, apply ice, 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off for as long as you can stand it, and repeat off and on throughout the day.

[Castlegate]

Tiki - why is it too late to lance?

[camohn]

Anyone know how much longer we might be looking at? Right now we are still painting it with DMSO one time a day...it does seem to be helping...its just slow....

could be weeks! It will go away in it's own sweet time

[Tiki]

At some point the hematoma (blood filling a space) becomes clotted, so if you're thinking you can drain the rest of the blood, it will no longer be fluid - it clots. At this point you have to let the body deal with it with only outside assistance to reduce the swelling and help the body carry away the detritus of the hematoma.

[rio2]

I'm not sure where you are, but therapeutic ultrasound can help rapidly reduce hematomas, especially when coupled with cold hosing - we usually do it in the acute phase, but it really works well - you just have to find someone in your area who does it.

[wildswan]

I found 20min hot followed by 20 min cold compressing 4x/day to work wonders with a hemotoma about the size of a softball on the hip of my 6week old filly. Our vet also strongly suggested we not lance unless absolutely necessary.

[ise@ssl]

We use liquid Arnica for hematomas on the horses (and us!). You can find it at most large tack stores or order from a catalog. Just put some on a sponge and rub it on daily.

[Castlegate]

Well...turns out I was wrong anyway...vet said its not an option! :D He said unless it became infected or something goes wrong with it he has no intentions of opening it up...so I am actually a bit relieved. he is going to come and look at it again over the weekend to make sure he thinks we are progressing but for now poor boy will have to deal with only having photos taken on one side! :lol: