Mare has lump! What do do?!

[mustangtrailrider]

My new mare has a lump under her flank tissue. Vet has looked at it as says it is questionable and needs to be removed. She recommended waiting until the weather cools down ro reduce the risk of infection. She said to call her if it was changing or bothering her in any way.

I first noticed the lump shortly after I got her. The previous owners knew nothing of it. I know them well; I believe them. I have known the mare two years. I don't know if the lump is new or old.I just know this lump is changing. The tissue around lump is getting thicker. It appears to be more vascular now than before. It had a small branch coming off of it that is now enlarging. The original lump is getting larger. Think big wad of bubble gum-dehydrated under a desk. That is what this feels like. It was not tender....now it seems to be. It isn't growing at an alarming rate, but enough to notice.

My question to you:Would you wait until fall or risk infection and remove it now?I will call the vet on Monday, but I wanted other opinions on the subject. I am inclined to remove it now. Opinions please. I like this mare and the lump feels iffy.

It if comes off now, I will know if it is benign or not. If I wait and it is cancerous, I will feel like a heel if I didn't remove it now....What do I do?

It has not been biopsied. It is a very hard lump. I do not believe it would be easy to do. I think it best to come out all in one lump....

[LLDM]

Can't you get it biopsied? If you know the nature of it, then you can decide the best course of treatment.

SCFarm

[cloudyandcallie]

Can't you get it biopsied? If you know the nature of it, then you can decide the best course of treatment.

SCFarm

Yes. My yellow lab had her "lumps" biopsied in January, before she had a growth removed from her eyelid. Vet aspirates growth and sends cells to lab. Lab tells you whether or not it is benign. (My other rescue dog had a big lump that grew fast, but like Punch's lumps, Quincey's was also benign, so I hope you have the same luck.)

Wait, aren't you a nurse? You know all this.

[mustangtrailrider]

Yes, I do know this. I would rather do it all in one lump some. Due to the hardness of the lump and location, a biopsy would be difficult. It is as hard as a rock. If we are going to get invasive, I would rather have it all out. This thing will bleed.

And yes, I am a nurse!

Do I do this now or later?! UGH! Choices.

[pj]

Yes, I do know this. I would rather do it all in one lump some. Due to the hardness of the lump and location, a biopsy would be difficult. It is as hard as a rock. If we are going to get invasive, I would rather have it all out. This thing will bleed.

And yes, I am a nurse!

Do I do this now or later?! UGH! Choices.

Not a nurse but I agree with you. When I had a lump in my breast I wouldn't let them biop it. Told 'em no...don't want to annoy that thing, just get rid of it.
I was lucky and hope your mare is, too.

Please keep us updated.

[mustangtrailrider]

PJ,

Thanks for the hopes and wishes. She is a sweet girl, but this thing even made the vet go HMPH! The vet didn't offer to biopsy. We are both on the same page with this lump.

It has come to a point now...do it now or later. I will call the vet on Monday to discuss with her.

[Equibrit]

With modern antibiotics and practices you have a better chance of success if you remove it now. Do you have a teaching vet hospital close by ?

[mustangtrailrider]

No I don't. My vet has a nice clinic that can do the job.

My gut is telling me to go ahead and have it removed. It doesn't feel right. I will call and schedule it on Monday.

Thanks for the questions. It is making up my mind. Get it out now vs later.

[Pancakes]

There is something called an excisional biopsy where the vet removes the entire thing and it gets submitted for histopathology and will tell you what kind of growth it is.

I see no problem in having it removed now...if you can provide good wound care it should heal fairly quickly, especially if there is a lot of vascularity associated with it.

[deltawave]

I'd want it gone.