Does anyone have experience with cancer in horses? I just got one donated to my Horse Sanctuary. The vet says don’t remove it (it is a lump under his jaw, probably in his salivary gland) don’t even biopsy it because this type of cancer tends to bond to red blood cells very easily and procedures like that would likely metastasize it. He says “he could have five weeks, he could have five years”. The horse does not seem to be in any pain. He says if the horse ever colicks, do not try to save it, just go ahead and put it down, because it probably means other lumps have formed (obstructive ones) along the alimentary canal, internally. Anyone have any further advice?
I have a horse which was treated for cancer. It stated a s small lump on his chest and started to grow. At first I thought maybe he got kicked or had a small bug bite reaction. There was no heat, and it did not cause the horse any pain. It was solid but not really attached, sorta like a fatty tumor you see in dogs. I had the vet out and biopsied it. It came back as a large cell tumor. I was told it was rare in equines but success was good if I wanted to have it removed. He had it removed and small chemo beads put in and he is doing fantastic.
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I’m curious how the vet would know what kind of tumor it was without a biopsy, unless this type of cancer is seen frequently.
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The older horse I was part-boarding was euthanized this year due to a likely similiar cancer that you are describing. The time between diagnosis & euthanasia was not long as Bru began to loose weight drastically despite efforts to keep the weight on. His body was telling us it was time to cross over the rainbow bridge.
Please do not wait until the horse colics to choose euthanasia. Bru’s last day was filled with love and comfort by human & equine friends.
Here is the thread his owner started here on COTH about the topic: https://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/forum/discussion-forums/horse-care/10052416-swelling-not-teeth-related
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But the horse might live another 5 years with no problems. This is always a difficult call for me, and I do see your point. Will tell you the story of my first horse, who was euthanized at 34.
At the age of 30 she had a fall out in the field and couldn’t get up on her own. We got her up with help and banamine, she went on a course of bute and dexamethasone. Put her on individual and restricted turnout for a week. Everyone thought it was her last days vet had the word euthanasia on his lips. Wrong. She bounced back and had another 4 good years.
That last winter she had another fall, initially seemed to be recovering but then her arthritis flared up badly. I was giving her a chance, but one morning I went into the barn and she was down and couldn’t get up. She had been sore the night before but perky and with good appetite, but I was still really sorry that I hadn’t done it sooner and she spent her last few hours in pain. I feel terrible about that, which is why I see your point. I didn’t want her to suffer and she did, but on the other hand if I’d done it too early she would have missed out on lots of time in her life that she enjoyed. There’s no easy answer in these cases.
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Ive had one get cancer, he was a 9yo and went downhill very quickly.
I recall the vet saying that cancer in horses was very rare, but of the ones that got it, the one my horse had was the most common.
It grew a tumor up in his head somewhere and caused nosebleeding and blindness.
He went downhill so quickly it wasnt until the day of Euth I even had a diagnosis, I knew my horse was dying but we had no idea of what.
Was horrible.
@Rooty Each horse is an individual, I agree. I am sure that the OP will trust her instincts and know when it is time for the horse in her care.
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Unfortunately I have experience with a horse having cancer.
My dear gelding Herman was 28 years old when he was diagnosed with cancer in one of his kidneys in 1999. He had a lot of blood in his urine so we took him to the clinic for an endoscope and an ultra sound. The scope showed that his left kidney was pumping blood into his bladder. And the ultrasound of his left kidney showed it to be irregular in shape and nothing at all like the right kidney. Our vet commented that his left kidney looked like it was shaped like a map of Texas. Sadly we had to say goodbye that day.
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It’s tough but it comes down to letting them go in peace and relative comfort or waiting until they are terrified when they cannot get up and/or in terrible pain. Of course they can’t talk but I know what I have chosen for mine and it’s not constant pain and an ancient fear of not being able to rise and flee.
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Thank you for all your responses. I absolutely will not let him live in pain. I trust I will be able to recognize a horse in pain. Having worked on the racetracks many years in my (young and stupid) youth, I trust I will be able to recognize pain immediately enough. Again, thank you all.
Going through it now with my 17 year old SWB gelding. It is squamous cell cancer on his penis. This is the second time we are treating and are being more aggressive this time around. He is handling everything well
Our then 28 year old went thru the same, took two operations and cysplatin beads.
Nothing came back after the second one and he was fat and sassy until at 30 he came in running and bucking and, vet’s words, “blew his knee beyond repair”.
Don’t dispair, that cancer may not come back, you never know.
We need to remember, we rarely have a horse with cancer, vets tend to see many more.
Their opinion counts.
