Any experience with oral tumors?
Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2012 12:37 pm
About a month ago I noticed that one of my horses, a retired 21yo TB mare, had started developing a swollen lump on the left side of her jaw, in the soft area between the mouth and the cheek. I had the vet out, and he told me (without much elaboration) that it was most likely a malignant tumor, for which she would need to go to a hospital to have a biopsy to confirm and have it removed (which, he said could cost a few thousand dollars, and is not in the cards...), but that it would probably return anyway. I inspected the growth the other day, and it appears to be about 2-3 inches long along the gumline, about an inch wide and an inch or so in height. It is very hard and dark red/purple in color.
She doesn't appear to be in any pain from it (I can touch it, press on it, etc without much of a reaction), but I believe it is affecting her ability to eat properly as she has lost weight and I can't seem to make an improvement on regaining it.
I've tried doing some research online, and saw a research study on osteosarcomas, which are supposedly rare in horses.
I want to do what's best for the horse, but also don't want to pour a lot of money into it if I'm just going to end up putting her down in the end anyway.
Has anyone else had or seen anything similar? What was the outcome?
She doesn't appear to be in any pain from it (I can touch it, press on it, etc without much of a reaction), but I believe it is affecting her ability to eat properly as she has lost weight and I can't seem to make an improvement on regaining it.
I've tried doing some research online, and saw a research study on osteosarcomas, which are supposedly rare in horses.
I want to do what's best for the horse, but also don't want to pour a lot of money into it if I'm just going to end up putting her down in the end anyway.
Has anyone else had or seen anything similar? What was the outcome?