Strange lumps

[MsSteno]

My mare has a lump about the size of an acorn in both her flanks (in the web like skin) and chest (between the legs in the folds on both sides) and a small swelling infront of her udders. No temp and eats and acts fine.
Anyone ever see lumps like this in those areas ?
Vet is coming out Thursday morning but waiting is hard to do:(

[chele]

I have no idea! I hope you find out!

[gabz]

Is she a grey horse?

[MsSteno]

Is she a grey horse?
No....she is a Kiger....typical dun.

[MsSteno]

No....she is a Kiger....typical dun.
I have googled to my hearts content and found nothing. I did however read a lot about skin cancer in grey's. I am not sure if they are lymph nodes or just cysts, but I am completely baffled. I guess I just have to wait till Thursday. I will post the results once the vet examines her. Thanks for asking.

[chele]

My first thought was maybe something like a sebacious cyst, but it's a bit odd that she has them in so many places. I tried searching too, and couldn't find anything either!

[MsSteno]

Thank you chele.....it is very odd and especially since they are equally spread as
in both flanks, exact same area. Hope it is just a bug bite or something easily diagnosed. I hate those exams that end with no answers.

[Rienzi]

Hmm! Do those areas contact the ground/hooves/stall walls when she lays down?
If she folds her front feet under her she might hit the spots on her chest.

[chele]

I know just what you mean! Keeping my fingers crossed you find out, and that it's no big deal!

[MsSteno]

So today they are larger and warm....still no temp and she seems fine. Has to be some sort of infection and maybe they are lymph glands.
Waiting impatiently for tomorrow.....I will post as soon as I know.

[chele]

I'm curious to know what it is too! I wouldn't think she'd have lymph glands in the web like skin. And you'd think she wouldn't feel well if she had an infection causing swelling of her lymph glands. Has she ever had strangles before? That would cause lymph swelling, but they usually get a snotty nose. If there is any chance it is strangles it's a real good thing you are taking her to the vet!

[LoveMyArabians]

What about Pigeon Fever... don't know anything about it except what I have read...

Cindy

[MsSteno]

Chele....she has not had strangles and I thought of that too. No swelling what so ever in her neck, throat or under her jaw....and no runny nose or temp.....? Could be tho.

LoveMyArabians....thought about Pigeon Fever but I would have thought that the extremely cold weather we had killed that off....? I could be wrong...wouldn't be the first time :)

She was unusually needy tonight but good spirits and appetite. Apt is at 11am tomorrow and I will definitely post the outcome.

Thanks for all your support and maybe she does have one of those and the symptoms just aren't typical.

[LoveMyArabians]

Any word yet as to what the lumps are?
Hope all is well.

Cindy

[Go Fish]

Sounds like an edema of some sort. I had this happen to a mare when she had a mild case of Mastitis (Sp?). She didn't have a temperature, either.

Is she overweight?

[MsSteno]

Hey all....I just got home and wanted to share the vet's findings. They took blood and tissue samples but he is pretty sure it is either Pigeon Fever or Onchocerca/ Neck Threadworm. Neither are showing typical symptoms but he said that both can mutate
and show up differently. Interestingly enough.....I went out to get my other horse just to do another once over and bingo....she has lumps in all the same areas that were not there last night plus 3 large warm ones on her neck. He gave them both a big dose of Ivermectin and will get back to me in a few days with the lab results. He said both were easily managed and not to worry too much....no antibiotics....just an ointment for the leasions.
I did inquire more about Pigeon Fever since this area just got its first dose last fall. He said that we have always had a mild form and that it tends to run in cycles. I was mistaken as the cold temps and winter do not necessarily kill it so any barns that had any cases last Summer or Fall need to still take caution.
So....thank you one and all for all your support and advise and as soon as I get the final results I will post them. take care and be safe

[chele]

I don't think we have Pigeon Fever here, at least, I've not heard of it.

Neck Threadworms! Wow! Hopefully that is what it actually is, probably a lot easier to treat than Pigeon Fever!

[gabz]

Have you recently treated the horses with Ivermectin or Equimax?

Have you read the 50+ pages on Onchocerca?

Jingles that it is easily resolved and nothing further comes of it.

[MsSteno]

Have you recently treated the horses with Ivermectin or Equimax?

Have you read the 50+ pages on Onchocerca?

Jingles that it is easily resolved and nothing further comes of it.
The vet gave both of them a double dose of Ivermectin just in case so if it is Neck Threadworms then hopefully it will kill them with one round. When he calls me with the blood test results I will ask about doing an additional dose in two weeks.
I did browse the 50+ pages regarding Onchocerca but became completely lost in the arguments :(. I tend to lean this side of cautious and let my vet (whom is very knowledgable) advise me rather then take a chance and regret it later. Both my horses are on a scheduled worming program that has done them very well and as I am sure all of you have experienced...sometimes bugs just happen :(.
I should hear back next week and will let you all know what he says. Thanks for all the support....its comforting to know there are a lot of really nice people out there.

[gabz]

Good for you. If it's NTW, you'll see more patches of icky as they die off.

[chele]

I'll be looking for the update! Glad to hear you have them on a regular worming program, but kinda worried that it didn't prevent this! Something else for me to stress over about the care of my horses!

[MsSteno]

Sorry so late with the final update. They both have NTW and have responded really well to the Ivermectin. I will also be following up with another double dose in two weeks.
Thanks for all the support.

[gabz]

Oh gosh. well... it's not wonderful news except that it rules out anything worse.

Thanks for updating.

[chele]

Glad it's been caught and is being fixed! Did you vet say how come your wormers failed?