Update-my horse's tail is gone now.

[PaintedHunter]

I need commiseration, hugs, advice, whatever. It makes me so sad. This happened last year: http://ridingwithscissors.com/2013/11/22/the-dudes-nubbin/

It was removed, and deemed a fibrosarcoma. It started to return just before I moved to Texas in August. It was injected with the hopes that it was just inflamed scar tissue. Since then, it has grown at an alarming rate, and there really is no other option than to amputate. And even if it hadn’t gotten quite this big, the aggressive return when super wide margins were taken last time makes it appear it’s a bit more sinister this time.

So, Ollie’s tail will be amputated. I am so sad about it, but at least there’s a great chance he will be healthy on the other side of this ordeal.

[PaintedHunter]

Also, if anyone has had experience with Dr. Honnas at Texas Equine, please let me know.

[Jealoushe]

Sorry for the loss…he will cute with a nub though.

[PaintedHunter]

OMG, his giant ass will be so unbalanced without a tail! HIS BUTT IS HUGE.

[ZiptotheStar]

I’m sorry I haven’t personally used Dr. Honnas, but he is my “if things go back to being bad” choice and several people from my barn have used him and LOVE him. Your boy will be in good hands!

[trubandloki]

I am sorry.

I am betting he will be extra adorable with a big round butt and a tail nub. Total cuteness overload even.

[Heinz_57]

I can’t tell from the picture where the nubbin was located, are they amputating the entire tailbone or will there be a partial stub left that some hair still might grow out of?

A friend of mine had a horse break his tail about halfway down the dock. Once it fell off (yes, gross, but this was under vet’s advisement), there was enough hair left growing out of the dock to eventually grow into a “real” tail and nobody ever noticed the difference.

[WildandWickedWarmblo]

Best to live without most of his tail than to have the melanomas spread elsewhere. And, if there is enough hair left (and tail area) you can weave horse hair into it for a long tail. Or buy him a fake tail and use that hair to weave into the remaining hair. Most friends will volunteer some of their horses’ tail hair for you to use.

Once at a show at our barn, a nice pinto selle francais mare came to the show and overnighted there. She had only a partial tail due to some accident that severed part of her tail. She looked great and she did well with her partial tail. (And she was going to Florida to be sold. Hope she got a good home down there.)

[Jealoushe]

[QUOTE=PaintedHunter;7783313]
OMG, his giant ass will be so unbalanced without a tail! HIS BUTT IS HUGE.[/QUOTE]

Big butts are in right now

[bornfreenowexpensive]

[QUOTE=PaintedHunter;7783313]
OMG, his giant ass will be so unbalanced without a tail! HIS BUTT IS HUGE.[/QUOTE]

Bummer but better to lose his tail than to lose him. Hopefully you can get him a good fake tail and some good fly sheets!!!

[HPFarmette]

He’s adorable. Hugs from the north coast…

[PaintedHunter]

[QUOTE=bornfreenowexpensive;7783480]
Bummer but better to lose his tail than to lose him. Hopefully you can get him a good fake tail and some good fly sheets!!![/QUOTE]

Definitely!! I AM so glad there’s something they can do for his cancer. It’s a good thing I love him, as there’s no selling him after this. No one would want to buy an oddly put together draft cross with no tail ;). Even though HE IS ADORABLE to me.

[CrowneDragon]

I’m sorry to here that he’ll lose his tail, but ecstatic that he has a good prognosis after its removal. Awesome to have amputation as an option when it is necessary!

He must want to get in touch with his drafty side
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd59/nocturnevhr/Bobs_zpsbe8e26c1.jpg
(You need those bows. I think it’s a requirement :yes:)

[PaintedHunter]

Oh you better believe for our first show post-op that I’m going to put a giant obnoxious bow on whatever is left of his dock.

[PaintedHunter]

I also might get a giant pink fake tail for sometimes-funsies to make him a My Little Pony.

[ACMEeventing]

You could get a "Bump-It’ and really volumize the nubby.

"I’m too sexy for this nub, too sexy for this nub . . . "

[Greyhorse]

Dr. Honnas is wonderful! Everyone I know who has used him has only had good things to say as well.

[PaintedHunter]

Well, it’s scheduled. He gets dropped off on Thursday next week. Just spoke to Dr. Honnas again, and he thinks that part of the dock will remain- so eventually, he will grow out some tail from the remaining hairs and have a thin little tail. WIth Ollie Pants being drafty, I have full confidence that his body will go into OMG GROW HAIR mode.

But until then? OBNOXIOUS BOW TIME.

[lurker]

It’s “All about the Bass”!! That should be your new theme song!

[SnicklefritzG]

[QUOTE=lurker;7785083]
It’s “All about the Bass”!! That should be your new theme song![/QUOTE]

oh crap. You beat me to it. lol.