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Hi Everyone,
I am having trouble finding info on my mare’s hard lump on her left inside hind fetlock – I have been searching for info but cannot locate anything that meets all the criteria.
Originally appeared in January without heat, lameness, tenderness or swelling.
It did not go away or increase in size after exercise.
Recently, my mare has had approx. 8 weeks off (saddle warranty issues).
She is on 24 hour turn out.
I believe the lump has gotten larger than in January but has not increased in size during her return to work.
She has just had 2 days off and I am concerned the lump may have increased slightly in size over the last couple of days.
Again, there has been no swelling, heat, tenderness or lameness.
My mare is not bothered by any handling of it.
Does anyone recognise this lump?
I have a turnaround 400km trip to the vet and want to know how I need to prioritise – thanking you all in advance. -
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Hello Louise,
Is the lump in or closely associated with the skin or is it under the skin? To answer this question see if it moves with the skin or does the skin move over it. Under the skin in the area you indicate in your image is the junction of the medial branch of the sesmoidean ligament where it attaches to the top of the medial sesmoidean bone all of which is covered with the annular ligament (see the topics in https://horseadvice.com/horse-equine/reference-material/equine-illustrations/muscoskeletal-anatomy-and-conformation/lower-limb-anatomy-front-and-rear-limbs/).So the first step is deciding if the lump is in the skin, just under the skin, or associated with the ligament/bone. The lack of lameness suggests this is not traumatic or inflammatory leaving degenerative or neoplastic disease processes most likely. Once localized it is probably going to take imaging or biopsy for diagnosis. If I was given 3 to 1 odds, I would bet on degenerative suspensory ligament disease…what breed and age is this horse?
DrO-
Hello Dr O,
I am so pleased to hear from you.
I had located several topics (with the link you’ve provided) it is a complicated area of the horse!
It feels like bone, like a hard little nugget. I have pushed my finger hard on it and around it and it does not move or give and my mare is comfortable when I do this. The skin is appears to move over it but I am going to re-test today…
She is a 13 year old pure Friesian. -
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The next step is to characterize what tissue(s) are involved and this will require radiographs if it is bone (disease of the sesamoid), ultrasound if it is soft tissue (disease of the suspensory branch or annular ligament), or perhaps a new growth (neoplasia) associated with these tissues or their surroundings. By lifting the leg and cradling it in your lap (like your farrier would do) so the suspensory is unloaded you may be able to better palpate the deeper margins associated with the swelling.
DrO
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