Sinus cysts?

[tollertwins]

UPDATE!
Turns out that the shadow was pus collected on the turbinates from a molar root that was starting to fail. Tooth now out, wallet out as well.

Anybody know how fast these things grow? I just found out my horse likely has a largish one. Not blocking nasal passages yet.

It was kind of a coincidence we even found it. Noticed a bit of yellow snot a couple days b4 leaving town out for awhile and had vet out. Mass showed up on x-ray.

Surgeon said at his age (18) it could just be really funky mucous, so attending vet did a flush to see if anything washed out. 2 liters of saline and just a couple blobs of mucous.

We are doing antibiotics to see if they make a difference in the mass or not.

If not, I’m kinda bummed. The surgery sounds brutal, albeit it likely curative if it is a cyst.

However,
a) this horse is REALLY stressed about being in an unfamiliar place - stops eating and drinking, and sweats up bad in the trailer - and if we got into a back and forth to clinic for follow up’s I think it would trash his brain.
B) he has an arthritic stifle, both have had ligament splitting, and he has arthritic hocks. Vet says if he stands around mush both stifles will start slipping again.
C) add to all that, between monthly legend and arthritic every 9 mos or so to keep him comfortable, he costs almost as much as his board again.

Am inclined to put him on something to thin the mucous out for 6 months or so and take another set of x-rays to see how fast the damned thing is growing, but I don’t know if that is a rotten idea or not.

[lorilu]

Friend’s horse had one. It was responsible for causing head tossing and other behaviors. She had it removed and he gets rechecked ever 6 mos IIRC. They did need some follow up removal. Horse is doing very well.

[cayuse]

My mini had sinus surgery not for a cyst but for an infection, I think they called it bone flap surgery, they cut and lifted the bone then cleaned out the sinus which was full of a hardened pus ball and put a drain in. The surgery took about 4 hours IIRC and he was at the hospital for about 4 days so they could flush the sinus. He healed great. Unfortunately now we are fighting another infection from a bad tooth which did not show itself until now, some days ya can’t win. Knowing how uncomfortable my mini was with his sinus issues I’d be inclined to consider the surgery to get rid of the cyst.

[RMJacobs]

My Hackney pony had a suspected sinus tumor. He would get very snotty, we’d put him on antibiotics, it would get better for a while, then it came back pretty quickly. Due to his age (29), I opted to euthanize as I did not want to put a pony that old through surgery. I still miss him terribly, but never doubted that it was the right decision given the circumstances.

I hope with your horse being younger, you can find a solution that keeps him comfortable. I have no idea about thinning the mucus; what does your vet think?

Rebecca

[tollertwins]

Haven’t had that discussion yet. Have an appointment for X-rays in a couple weeks, planning on bringing it up then.

[tollertwins]

These are more encouraging stories than I HAD been seeing!,

PS - anybody that had this done have an estimate on what it cost?

[Tha_Ridge]

My trainer had a large pony just go through this. In the end, it ended up being a cancerous tooth (!) that was causing most of the issues, but prognosis is excellent and pony has returned to work. Not cheap, although we’re in a pricy area.

[tollertwins]

Yowza!

Pricy area here, too…

[Polydor]

One of the ancient (28yrs old) therapeutic geldings had it done last spring. He’s a grey and has some tumours already. We had tried a few rounds of antibiotics. He is a stress case so I was sure he would have a heart attack on the trailer there.

Nope totally fine - his buddy was worse! Had the surgery ,stayed a night and came back by himself. Healed up beautifully.

Expensive at 2500-3000 (west coast) and it wasn’t a tumour or anything. Just a weird lump on his bone that looked like a tumour on xray.

He is now retired to his vets farm.

P.

[tollertwins]

He only stayed a night for bone flap surgery? Or was this more exploratory where they do a small hole?

Glad to hear he didn’t stress out! I always worry about mine colicing “cause he won’t eat or drink…

[tollertwins]

Also, may I ask what part of the west coast? Seeing as how the south part tends to be more $$$ than the north part…

[Polydor]

I would have to double check, I’m on the board of directors so I don’t have hands on. Pretty sure it was only a night maybe 2.

I’m in Vancouver Canada.

P.