Please answer-I think my horse has melanoma?

I have a grey gelding whom I have raised..he is now 4 yo and to be 5 this year. I knew grey horses where more pron to skin cancer but I thought it was only if they were in the sun a lot and my horse stays in a stall. well today I asked my trainer who has a degree in equines science and he told me thats what it was. its a very hard lump on his neck by his hair line about 1/2 and inch around and its only been there about a week or so.Im very scared!! is there anything I can do? Im taking him to the vet. have any of you had to go through this? what did you have to do if so? Will this kill my baby? :(

Please answer-I think my horse has melanoma?

Sounds like typical gray horse melanoma - most of the time these tumors are benign (non cancerous). Most gray horses develop them in some form (I believe 80% before they are 15). And it is rare that a horse actually dies from anything releated to them.

Gray horses get them due to a genetic mutation of some sort that I don't fully understand (I'm not a science person!). It has nothing to do with being in the sun and is not cancerous.

You worry when they are in an area (such as the throatlatch area, rectum, etc.) that may interfere with natural functions such as swallowing, pooping etc.

They can be removed surgically which is pretty rare. My horse is on a drug called Cimetidine and I've seen no changes in the tumors since he started the drug (3 years ago). That may be an option your vet will discuss with you. My horse's were more worrisome because he had two small spots on his throatlatch - if they got too big, they could interfere with his ability to breath and swallow food.

Do a google search if you want more info - just search "gray horse melanoma" and tons will pop up!

Try not to worry too much - chances are it will never bother your gelding!

Please answer-I think my horse has melanoma?

well we have a horse who has melanoma all over his lips dock sheath and on parts of his neck

there isn't a horse-chemo type of thing but he has had it for 6 years or longer and isn't bothered by it

Please answer-I think my horse has melanoma?

At my barn there was a horse who had at least 20 melanomas and he lived until he was 27, so your baby will be okay. Make sure to keep an eye on it and have your vet check it routinely, just to keep it under control.

Please answer-I think my horse has melanoma?

The only one who could answer this question is an animal doctor. Your trainer may have knowledge of horses, but this is something for someone in the medical community to resolve.

You have to call a veterinarian, and they would have to do a biopsy to see if the mass you speak of contains cancer cells.

DO NOT let it wait, but don't panic. Have it looked at by a specialist as soon as possible.

Please answer-I think my horse has melanoma?

Cancer doesn't effect horses like it does people. If it it melanoma he will most likely be fine.

But you need to also rule out abscess, sarcoma (not sure of the spelling) and other options. I would have a vet take a look if you are very worried, but no I dont think this will kill your baby.

Please answer-I think my horse has melanoma?

Greys are more prone to getting melanomas. But, they usually aren't cancerous, just annoying. We had a horse for a while that developed them while we had him. It was really quick, like you said, they were pretty big in about a week. But the vet came and looked at them, and the horse wasn't bothered by them. All it did was make his halter fit weird(they were right behind his ears basically), and they made him look a little lumpy.

I'm pretty sure your horse is gonna be fine. They're usually just funny looking, not harmful.

Please answer-I think my horse has melanoma?

Don't be frightened. To abate your fears, give your vet a call.

Many methods out there now to deal with melanoma. Some are better then others. Hence, the need to contact your vet. Should not "kill" your baby...but, don't let this slide on by.

Since your horse is a gray, another melanoma may appear somewhere else, at another time...not to panic; just a "thing" with some grays.

Please answer-I think my horse has melanoma?

Don't worry...melanomas are very common in gray horses, but are very rarely malignant. They are just unsightly or at worst, may interfere with tack.

This is not the same as a human having skin cancer. You could get a biopsy done just to make sure it is benign. Oh, and sun doesn't have much to do with melanomas in gray horses. Many grey horses get these tumours under their tail (and other places where the sun don't shine!).

Please answer-I think my horse has melanoma?

It's ok, don't panic! Every grey horse WILL have melanoma at some point in their life. Melanoma in horses is not exactly like melanoma in humans. There are six different types of equne melanoma, and if I remember correctly only 2 (which are rare) are actually deadly.

Depending on their type, location, size, etc your vet will determine how to treat it. It could be as simple as a daily supplement, or a shot to the area. Or the vet could chose to remove it. But it is very rarely life threatening.

I have a grey hanovarian who has melanoma on the underside of his tail (just proves sun has nothing to do with it). Our vet is treating it with a supplement which has shrunk the size.

But don't worry, there is very little chance this will kill your horse! It's just something every grey horse goes through... whether the owner knows it or not!

Please answer-I think my horse has melanoma?

I worked for a Dermotologist for 8 years. Melanomas in humans is TERRIBLY SERRIOUS.

I've been a horse owner for 30 years. I own grey horses. Melanoma in horses is not nearly so serrious. The horses can live for many, many years. Often full lifespans. It would be unusual for a four year old to have melanoma.

I've also read that the grey horses often have the melanoma first show up on the skin under their tail....a place the gets almost no sunshine!

Chat with your Vetrinarian. See what s/he says after the biopsy.

I'm sure you will have many years with your horse. You may very well find it is something as simple as some sort of nasty fly larva, or a minor wound with a bit of irritation.

Eventually the melanoma kills the horse, but it takes YEARS. Your horse could just as easily die of collic well before melanoma does serrious damage to him.I'm just stating that, because I don't want you to focus on the melanoma if that's what it turns out to be. We all die from something. Just because your horse has melanoma does not mean he will have a noticably shorter life, or that is what will actually cause his death. I hope that makes sence!

Best of luck to you and your baby!

~Garnet

Homesteading/Farming over 20 years

Horse owner over 30 years