Goiters - Need advice

[blondejumper]

Looking for information on goiters. Anyone have a horse with a large goiter? What are the treatment options other than a specialized feeding program? Were you able to decrease the size with correct feeding? Have obviously searched online but would like personal experiences.

Has anyone ever had one surgically removed? It’s pretty large so wondering if that is even an option for the horses comfort?

Could the horse still be suitable for light trail riding if left as is? Mostly walking with small amounts of trot mixed in.

This is a horse needing an upgrade in home situation so I’m not able to run diagnostics beforehand. Will obviously get a vet involved immediately if I decide to take the horse, I just trying to get information on what to expect if I decide to move forward.

[goodhors]

No experience with goiter in horses. My mother, expert Nutritionist, Home Ec teacher for over 30 years, said using Iodized salt would prevent them in people. Michigan, Great Lakes area, used to be known as the Goiter Belt because of no iodine in local foods with soil lacking it. Her Grandfather was a practicing Dr, so he saw a lot of goiter in his clients, many poor people, in the early 1900s. He made sure his family, grandchildren got iodized salt in their diets for preventing goiters.

I do not believe you can make it “go away” with feeding Iodized salt now. Surgical removal of enlarged goiter might cause other body problems. But lots of things have changed, so new information could your best help. I would also ask about costs involved with a surgery, layup time, what can go wrong. You could be getting financially hurt with expenses, end up with unusable horse after spending a lot. There has to be a limit on spending so you know what you are really facing beforehand. That “well we can try this…” in a crisis, choose now situation, has killed the budget for too many surprised horse owners.

Hope someone else has information. Never heard of horse goiters.

[Highflyer]

I had an old pony with a very large one. He had zero issues and lived into his forties. We did lower level dressage, polocrosse, pony club games etc.

[csaper58]

Could it be a guttural pouch infection? Or Grass Glands? Why do you think it’s Goiter?

You need to have a vet diagnose him to get an accurate prognosis.

[neversaynever]

I had a mare that had a benign nodule or adenoma on her thyroid. She had it for years. It caused no problems and did not get huge, but was noticeable. It is my understanding that diet-related goiters in horses are really rare and can be due to too much or too little iodine in the diet. I would talk to a vet.

[Second_Star_To_The_R]

Generally speaking benign goiter doesn’t cause problems. I’ve never seen one shrink or go away once it’s there even if the glands performance is improved, supplemented etc. Not knowing how much work up has been done on the horse, it’s hard to know if it’s iodine deficiency, or an adenoma or what’s really causing it. Thyroids can be difficult to work up on a horse. I knew of one horse that was treated as though it was an iodine deficiency and it wasn’t. The goiter enlarged to the point the horse developed choking and respiratory problems (this horse had A LOT going on) but every other one I have ever seen has caused no problems. I guess it depends on the size and whether or not it’s actually goiter or tumor and why the goiter is there.

Iodine toxicity can cause goiter as well. The afore mentioned horse was iodine toxic likely from kelp being used in a homemade feed for a calcium source. With true goiter the thyroid lobes themselves are enlarged and the only studies I’ve seen on surgical removal of a thyroid would make me think it’s a really really bad idea.

Also keep in mind if thyroxine uptake or production are decreased as in benign goiter, other health issues will follow if not properly supplemented.