golf ball size growth on shoulder*update- added pics*

Sandy2010 · 08-20-2008, 03:25 PM

Hi,

I was out of town for a few days and when I returned my daughter's 19yr old Morgan-Arab mare had a golf ball size growth on her right shoulder. I ususally don't get a chance to spend time with her until after dark, but I always run my hands over her body checking for anything wierd, since I don't have the luxury of daylight. I did not notice this last week, but there it was Monday night. It is under the skin, so it does not have any strange color or texture that I can observe. It just feels like there is a golf ball under her skin. She does not acknowledge anything when you press on it. She has received no recent shot to cause trauma in the area. Of course I immediately thought Cancer. Anyone have any thoughts or experience on this?

BarnBum · 08-20-2008, 03:29 PM

Was she kicked ? Punctured it ? Is the area hot ? Picture ?

nightvision · 08-20-2008, 04:15 PM

That actually sounds really similar to something with my horse, that I just came on here to ask about

She had a really big, like the size of my hand 2x, swelling on her neck that looked like a bug bite - it was a little warm to the touch but it was going down so I left it alone (college student saving money for when I REALLY need the vet

) Now two weeks later, it went down continually in size but now it is a harder, smaller (about golf-ball sized) bump under the skin. She doesn't react to me poking it or even pinching it and it is no longer warm to the touch.
I've heard of similar things in humans where the dead tissue from the original bite calcifies and it takes the body longer to clear it all out - there's no harm, it's just a mass of old white blood cells. Never seen anything like this in a horse - maybe we both have the same thing???? Since you were gone you didn't see the original bigger bite...?
*shrug*

tuffsmom · 08-20-2008, 04:31 PM

I would have the vet come out to look just to make sure that it is nothing. It sounds like it formed rather quickly.

sli92 · 08-20-2008, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuffsmom

I would have the vet come out to look just to make sure that it is nothing. It sounds like it formed rather quickly.

pretty much what tuffsmom said.
That is a little concerning. I have seen horses that have severe reactions to bug bites(especially bee stings) that look and feel alot like what you are describing, but its may be worth the vet trip, just in case it is something bad.

Good luck, and hugs from alberta!

Sandy2010 · 08-20-2008, 11:06 PM

The site is warm to the touch. It was not a kick as she is in a paddock by herself. It does not appear to be a puncture wound because there is no abrasion, just a raised area under the skin. It literally looks like there is a golf ball underneath her skin. I will try to get a picture tomorrow when I have daylight. I will also be making a call to my vet.

I will keep you all posted. Thanks!

Sandy2010 · 08-21-2008, 11:52 PM

mlh619 · 08-22-2008, 01:31 AM

I am gonna guess bug bite because it is warm, appeared suddenly and isn't very painful. We get bugs here in the spring that bite like horse flies and my horse with have areas that look just like that with 5 or 6 bites. You can literally pick up the entire lump under the skin. That being said you do have an older horse and they sometimes just grow weird things because they can. It is was a cyst or tumor or something (they don't usually appear hot) it would be good to have the vet out anyway to make sure it isn't going to spread!

pasopony · 08-22-2008, 08:18 AM

My first thought would be bee/wasp sting as well. Paint it with a mixture of half furacin half DMSO and see if the swelling comes down overnight. If it does, then I wouldn't worry about it. Even if it were cancer, waiting a few days to see if it disipates wouldn't make a difference.

Slim Pikkens · 08-22-2008, 03:43 PM

It looks like a wasp or bee sting. Cancer doesn't show that quickly. My horses have been packing a few of these around all summer, They seem to disappear within a week. Some take a little longer depending on the horse's immune system.

Sandy2010 · 08-23-2008, 12:00 AM

The vet was out today. She tried to take fluid out of the largest bump but only got a couple of drops, so that rules out pigeon fever. The bumps under her mane grew noticeably larger over night. Her temp was normal for the vet, although when I took it the night before it was 102. The samples and blood work were sent to the lab and results should be available Monday. It's going to be a LONG weekend. The vet is leaning towards Cancer, thinking that the cancer has already metastasized internally and is now pushing out. She did not seem to think the bumps were insect related.

The horse also has swelling in her right front knee. When I got home from work Thursday, my mother in law told me she had just watched the horse drag her leg across her paddock. She had seen the horse earlier in the day and the horse had been fine. I wrapped it with an ice pack last night and gave her Bute. This morning the swelling was down and she was walking around. The vet was trying to determine if the bumps and the swollen leg were related or just separate instances that happened to appear at the same time. I am supposed to continue hydro-therapy at least 20 minutes daily as well as continue with Bute until the test results come back and we can access what the problem is. The horse seemed to swagger today when I watched her walking, but she has been vaccinated for all mosquito born illnesses, including Western, Eastern,and Venuzualen Encephalitis, as well as West Nile Virus. Her gums are pink, her appetite is normal, and her temp is normal. The only other thing I can tell you is she seems to have a bit of RainRot going on her back.

Thanks for all your replies and I will keep you posted.

mlh619 · 08-23-2008, 01:58 AM

Well hopefully it isn't too serious!! Good luck to you and keep us posted!

horselady · 08-23-2008, 06:51 PM

I would also check for lyme,
No answer as to the sudden growths, but perhaps imbedded ticks?

DappleGrayMyWay · 08-24-2008, 07:31 AM

Sandy, I don't have any ideas about what it might be, but I wanted to just send you my thoughts and positive support. I've recently been dealing with a very serious diagnosis with my mare and it's tough facing the what-if's and eventual realities.

I hope it turns out for the best no matter what the best is in this case.

luck--

DGMW

Sandy2010 · 08-27-2008, 02:47 PM

Well, the pathology report is in. It tells me what it is NOT, but neither the pathologist or the vet has any idea of what it IS. It's not Pigeon fever, and it's not leukemia. Her white blood cell count is not elevated. It is not anything infections that could transfer to my other horses. As far as the insect bites/stings, the vet is extremely doubtful. They all grew in size overnight Thursday after appearing Monday. From then on, the size of all three have remained the same. They are not going down, but they are not getting bigger either. Her fever is down, and the leg swelling is gone along with the heat that was coming off the leg.

The vet has advised me to watch and wait. She believes these 3 incidents, the bumps, the fever, and the leg swelling may be separate issues. She wants me to take her temp every couple days, and call if the swelling in the leg comes back or the bumps change or get bigger. Also to watch for appetite changes and general dullness. It could be cancer, but the only way to know this is to biopsy the lumps. At this point, the horse is 19, her immune system is already compromised due to Cushing's Disease which I have been treating with Pergolyde. If it is Cancer, the vet says there is really nothing that can be done. Chemo would not be affective if the cancer is already spread throughout her internal organs, which would have to be the case if it is what is producing the bumps.

So we wait and watch. Thanks for all your support and kinds words.
I will let you know if the situation changes

Rob2010 · 09-09-2008, 12:55 PM

After two weeks, the bumps have continued to grow and there are new ones. The mare has no appetite, is lethargic and shakes noticeably. We have been giving her bute for pain. The vet will be out tomorrow.

We have made the decision to put her down rather than to allow her to live in pain if the vet thinks that is best.

PeggySue · 09-09-2008, 01:26 PM

I am so sorry to hear she is not getting better please let us know what the vets says {{{{{{{{{{{{{ Hugs }}}}}}}}}}

**Orchid** · 09-09-2008, 01:39 PM

I am sorry to hear that.

dodib · 09-09-2008, 01:52 PM

I am so sorry to hear that...........

**seerfarm** · 09-09-2008, 07:09 PM

Sending my thoughts and prayers for your baby and for you.

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08-20-2008, 03:25 PM
Sandy2010 Newborn Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Northern California Posts: 15	golf ball size growth on shoulderupdate- added pics Hi, I was out of town for a few days and when I returned my daughter's 19yr old Morgan-Arab mare had a golf ball size growth on her right shoulder. I ususally don't get a chance to spend time with her until after dark, but I always run my hands over her body checking for anything wierd, since I don't have the luxury of daylight. I did not notice this last week, but there it was Monday night. It is under the skin, so it does not have any strange color or texture that I can observe. It just feels like there is a golf ball under her skin. She does not acknowledge anything when you press on it. She has received no recent shot to cause trauma in the area. Of course I immediately thought Cancer. Anyone have any thoughts or experience on this? Last edited by Sandy2010 : 08-21-2008 at 11:53 PM.

08-20-2008, 03:29 PM
BarnBum Greenbroke Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sunshine State Posts: 3,541	Was she kicked ? Punctured it ? Is the area hot ? Picture ? __________________ Murphys Horse Law - A horse's misbehavior will be in direct proportion to the number of people who are watching !!

08-20-2008, 04:15 PM
nightvision Halter broke Join Date: May 2008 Location: Location varies Posts: 61	That actually sounds really similar to something with my horse, that I just came on here to ask about She had a really big, like the size of my hand 2x, swelling on her neck that looked like a bug bite - it was a little warm to the touch but it was going down so I left it alone (college student saving money for when I REALLY need the vet ) Now two weeks later, it went down continually in size but now it is a harder, smaller (about golf-ball sized) bump under the skin. She doesn't react to me poking it or even pinching it and it is no longer warm to the touch. I've heard of similar things in humans where the dead tissue from the original bite calcifies and it takes the body longer to clear it all out - there's no harm, it's just a mass of old white blood cells. Never seen anything like this in a horse - maybe we both have the same thing???? Since you were gone you didn't see the original bigger bite...? shrug

08-20-2008, 04:31 PM
tuffsmom Seasoned Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Nebraska Posts: 4,012	I would have the vet come out to look just to make sure that it is nothing. It sounds like it formed rather quickly. __________________

08-20-2008, 11:06 PM
Sandy2010 Newborn Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Northern California Posts: 15	The site is warm to the touch. It was not a kick as she is in a paddock by herself. It does not appear to be a puncture wound because there is no abrasion, just a raised area under the skin. It literally looks like there is a golf ball underneath her skin. I will try to get a picture tomorrow when I have daylight. I will also be making a call to my vet. I will keep you all posted. Thanks!

08-21-2008, 11:52 PM
Sandy2010 Newborn Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Northern California Posts: 15

08-22-2008, 01:31 AM
mlh619 Weanling Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sask, Canada Posts: 489	I am gonna guess bug bite because it is warm, appeared suddenly and isn't very painful. We get bugs here in the spring that bite like horse flies and my horse with have areas that look just like that with 5 or 6 bites. You can literally pick up the entire lump under the skin. That being said you do have an older horse and they sometimes just grow weird things because they can. It is was a cyst or tumor or something (they don't usually appear hot) it would be good to have the vet out anyway to make sure it isn't going to spread!

08-22-2008, 08:18 AM
pasopony Yearling Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 811	My first thought would be bee/wasp sting as well. Paint it with a mixture of half furacin half DMSO and see if the swelling comes down overnight. If it does, then I wouldn't worry about it. Even if it were cancer, waiting a few days to see if it disipates wouldn't make a difference. __________________ Horses are not my whole life, but horses make my life whole.

08-22-2008, 03:43 PM
Slim Pikkens Started Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,936	It looks like a wasp or bee sting. Cancer doesn't show that quickly. My horses have been packing a few of these around all summer, They seem to disappear within a week. Some take a little longer depending on the horse's immune system.

08-23-2008, 12:00 AM
Sandy2010 Newborn Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Northern California Posts: 15	The vet was out today. She tried to take fluid out of the largest bump but only got a couple of drops, so that rules out pigeon fever. The bumps under her mane grew noticeably larger over night. Her temp was normal for the vet, although when I took it the night before it was 102. The samples and blood work were sent to the lab and results should be available Monday. It's going to be a LONG weekend. The vet is leaning towards Cancer, thinking that the cancer has already metastasized internally and is now pushing out. She did not seem to think the bumps were insect related. The horse also has swelling in her right front knee. When I got home from work Thursday, my mother in law told me she had just watched the horse drag her leg across her paddock. She had seen the horse earlier in the day and the horse had been fine. I wrapped it with an ice pack last night and gave her Bute. This morning the swelling was down and she was walking around. The vet was trying to determine if the bumps and the swollen leg were related or just separate instances that happened to appear at the same time. I am supposed to continue hydro-therapy at least 20 minutes daily as well as continue with Bute until the test results come back and we can access what the problem is. The horse seemed to swagger today when I watched her walking, but she has been vaccinated for all mosquito born illnesses, including Western, Eastern,and Venuzualen Encephalitis, as well as West Nile Virus. Her gums are pink, her appetite is normal, and her temp is normal. The only other thing I can tell you is she seems to have a bit of RainRot going on her back. Thanks for all your replies and I will keep you posted.

09-09-2008, 01:39 PM
Orchid Super Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 9,805	I am sorry to hear that. __________________ Be thankful.

09-09-2008, 01:52 PM
dodib Started Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Ravenna, MI Posts: 2,568	I am so sorry to hear that........... __________________ Dorthy www.freewebs.com/brownranch/

08-23-2008, 01:58 AM
mlh619 Weanling Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sask, Canada Posts: 489	Well hopefully it isn't too serious!! Good luck to you and keep us posted!

08-23-2008, 06:51 PM
horselady Greenbroke Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: albany new york Posts: 3,240	I would also check for lyme, No answer as to the sudden growths, but perhaps imbedded ticks? __________________ www.rainbow-horse-retirement.com We love and take care of your companion for the remainder of his lifetime

08-24-2008, 07:31 AM
DappleGrayMyWay Yearling Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: NC (Asheville) Posts: 856	Sandy, I don't have any ideas about what it might be, but I wanted to just send you my thoughts and positive support. I've recently been dealing with a very serious diagnosis with my mare and it's tough facing the what-if's and eventual realities. I hope it turns out for the best no matter what the best is in this case. luck-- DGMW __________________ My sanity is with my horse, and if you see them, please send them back to the barn. Tule Pepper

08-27-2008, 02:47 PM
Sandy2010 Newborn Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Northern California Posts: 15	Well, the pathology report is in. It tells me what it is NOT, but neither the pathologist or the vet has any idea of what it IS. It's not Pigeon fever, and it's not leukemia. Her white blood cell count is not elevated. It is not anything infections that could transfer to my other horses. As far as the insect bites/stings, the vet is extremely doubtful. They all grew in size overnight Thursday after appearing Monday. From then on, the size of all three have remained the same. They are not going down, but they are not getting bigger either. Her fever is down, and the leg swelling is gone along with the heat that was coming off the leg. The vet has advised me to watch and wait. She believes these 3 incidents, the bumps, the fever, and the leg swelling may be separate issues. She wants me to take her temp every couple days, and call if the swelling in the leg comes back or the bumps change or get bigger. Also to watch for appetite changes and general dullness. It could be cancer, but the only way to know this is to biopsy the lumps. At this point, the horse is 19, her immune system is already compromised due to Cushing's Disease which I have been treating with Pergolyde. If it is Cancer, the vet says there is really nothing that can be done. Chemo would not be affective if the cancer is already spread throughout her internal organs, which would have to be the case if it is what is producing the bumps. So we wait and watch. Thanks for all your support and kinds words. I will let you know if the situation changes

09-09-2008, 12:55 PM
Rob2010 Halter broke Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Northern California Posts: 175	After two weeks, the bumps have continued to grow and there are new ones. The mare has no appetite, is lethargic and shakes noticeably. We have been giving her bute for pain. The vet will be out tomorrow. We have made the decision to put her down rather than to allow her to live in pain if the vet thinks that is best. __________________ Don't be the rider who gallops all night and never sees the horse that is beneath him ~ Jelaluddin Rumi Pictures? Yeah, I gots LOTS of pictures.... http://imageevent.com/kopycat/horses

09-09-2008, 01:26 PM
PeggySue Yearling Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Dennison, Illinois Posts: 525	I am so sorry to hear she is not getting better please let us know what the vets says {{{{{{{{{{{{{ Hugs }}}}}}}}}}

09-09-2008, 07:09 PM
seerfarm Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Portal, Ga Posts: 7,730	Sending my thoughts and prayers for your baby and for you. __________________ "To know the road ahead, ask those coming back".