Lumps between naval and private parts

[mmel001]

Hello

OK it never rains but it pours huh?

So, Indie and I have been doing alright. His leg is slowly healing (if not still quite raised, but not hot) from his accident a couple of months back.

I was putting on his rug the other morning and ran my hand under his belly and came across a lump. At first it felt like an old bite, but I got one of the other ladies on the yard to come and have a feel. I haven't really been to that area much, as Indie's always been very protective of it, I guess due to problems when he was gelded.

Anyway, the lady on the yard said oh don't worry, keep an eye on it. That night I checked again and this time I found another lump (which I admit is hard to find) this one was softer almost felt like a nipple. Wasn't his navel as this is between his navel and his sheath area. Once again I got someone to feel and they said don't worry too much, keep an eye on it. (I'm thinking I am slightly paranoid about his health anyhow).

So last night, I checked again, and there's a recess between his navel and his sheath area, and in there I found what felt like half a golf ballish sized lump, quite hot, but I don't know whether that's because of where it is or the fact that he was hot anyway, as he'd been turned out with some new horses the past few days and has been settling in, which has involved an awful lot of galloping around.

I got another lady on the yard to come and have a feel in case I am being stupid and it's a part of him that should be there, and I just haven't felt it before because I've never been able to get near that area. He was getting a bit upset about it, but it didn't seem to hurt him, I think maybe more an intrusion to his private area's and could be tickling. He didn't have his ears back, but his rear leg did come up and he swished his tail, all whilst eating his hay, occaisionally looking at us. Like I say it felt hot, a bit squidgy, kind of like a testical, but smooth. You could only feel the botton part of it, too much fiddling prompts the leg and tail swishing.

She checked her gelding, he has a pronounced outy navel, so we knew it wasn't that, definitely between the navel and his sheath. She said keep an eye on it, google it (I did and am even more worried!) and see what it does.

Googling told me that grey horses are more prone to melanomas and that it could be a sarcoid. Or it could be too much protein in his diet (he only has grass hay and LucieNuts - could be those I guess), or could mean that his sheath needs cleaning (I've tried that, I'm thinking vet + sedation!). Or perhaps a hernia if he's been chased around a lot.

Or, it could be part of him. He's eating fine, he seems to be walking fine, he can certainly run ok. He's going to the toilet OK. His bed has been wetter over the past few days, but then he has been in a different field which has more grass.

I've got the vet coming on Monday, but I wondered whether anyone has ever experienced something like this before? I'd struggle to get a picture of it, as it's in a slight recess just before his jangly bits and you have to explore quite a bit to feel it.

He's only a baby (albeit a huge one!), at just over 2 and a half. I really hope it's nothing serious for his sake.

Mel

[kathrynp]

This area is a common site for sacoids which sounds like the first smaller lump you found. I could just be a bite though so fingers crossed it dissapears in a couple of days. The bigger soft lump sounds like a hernia, at his age it has probably been there since birth if that is the case. Both sarcoids and hernias are treatable so try not to worry to much. Melanomas are most common in grey horses and would be very unusual in such a young horse. The only other thing I can think of, because you said the bigger lump is hot, is that it may be an abscess. If you can it would be worth checking his temperature which may be raised if its the latter but you have the vet coming out soon who will be able to put you on the right track.

[medicinepony]

I think the fact the lump you found was hot it plus location, age of horses etc it sounds like a small hernia, somedays you might not feel it, perhaps more noticable after exertion

I don't think sarcoids feel hot unless infected

[mmel001]

Hello

The vet wasn't worried about the bigger lump but is more worried about the smaller one as it's rock hard and says it could be a sarcoid, but that we will keep an eye on it. She's coming back out next month to vaccinate so will check again then.

Cheeers

Mel

[nightowl4]

Just for your info...My boy had about 2 small lumps in that area when he was about 4. Vet said they were probably sarcoids, not big enough to worry about but to keep an eye on them. I used Camrosa ointment on them every day and they went away (don't know if if was coincidence or the ointment). He's now 9 and, touch wood, they haven't come back.

[mmel001]

Hi Nightowl4, what's Camrosa? The vet when she came to check said she suspected sarcoids for the smaller rock hard lump. She's coming back next week. I found another one on his shoulder. I'm keeping an eye on them both. From what I've read sarcoids aren't great and can be quite expensive to treat. I hope it's not that, or at least if it is that they will go away!

Just after I bought him he developed a strange lump on the top side of his front left leg (same side as where the lump on his shoulder is now). Vet at the time said keep an eye on it, it could be a wart or a sarcoid. That one went away of it's own accord and (touch wood!) hasn't come back.

I found another thread on here some time ago about sarcoids which pointed me to another site with lots of information about them. I guess there's no point worrying until the vet tells me I should do so. It's hard not to worry though!

[julz]

not a hernia maybe?

[mmel001]

There's two lumps, one is quite fleshy, the vet didn't say what she thought that one was, only the smaller hard nodule like lump, which she said she was concerned about and could be a sarcoid. I'll ask when she comes again on Tuesday though!

[nestle]

Hi.. The vet told me that if its a hernia, then it will pop back in thru the hole it made on the way out.
If it doesnt then its unlikely to be that.
Dont know about anything else it could be.. if the vets looked and doesnt seem worried then you have to take his word for it i guess. Just keep it monitored.
c x

[julz]

Hernia's can come and go..... but only if the hole is still there.... they pop in and out of the hole... in the long term, the hole needs to be surgically sealed (unless it's a umbilical hernia which should heal itself)

[june]

If it is a sarcoid and isn't in a place where it rubs then its probably best to leave it alone. They do sometimes go away of their own accord as the horse's immune system deals with them eventually. The wrong treatment can make them worse so if they aren't bothering the horse or causing any problems then I'd ignore them.