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This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » References » Equine Illustrations » Anatomy of the Viscera and Organs of the Horse » The Digestive Tract »
  Discussion on Hard lump on right side
Author Message
Member:
nadia

Posted on Thursday, Oct 4, 2007 - 10:21 pm:

Hi, Dr O,

I noticed last night that my horse had 2 lumps on his right side. The first one I noticed seemed like a large bug bite. Fairly soft, round. As I then noticed another lump - this one feels VERY hard - I would almost say it is bone - but the area that it is in I would have guessed it is a rib. But it feels wider - like a small plate. When I look at the above illustration, I'd say it was in the area of the bright green - maybe a tad higher? I felt his left side to see if is bilateral, but I'd say not. There is section that feels sort of like it, but the right side is definitely more pronounced. He didn't seem to mind me pressing on it. He is eating normally (finishes most of his Dynasty and tries to avoid the Corta-Flx pellets and aspirin.) I touch and rub my horses all the time and have never felt anything like this. I don't think he is losing weight at all, but could he be starting and I am feeling some bony areas? I will try to take a picture of the area tomorrow or Saturday.

Thanks!

FYI - I felt for the same area in my other horse and I would say it is not there, but I seemed to feel a slight hardness in the area, not as obvious. He's also sort of bloated looking to me. I'll take a picture of him, too.
Member:
nadia

Posted on Saturday, Oct 6, 2007 - 8:12 pm:

I outlined the area with some aloe vera cream. The area still feels really hard - almost like bone. He still doesn't seem to care when I press on it.
Member:
nadia

Posted on Saturday, Oct 6, 2007 - 8:24 pm:

2 pictures - 1st-full body; 2nd-side view of lump

Red 1

Red 2
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Oct 7, 2007 - 11:55 am:

Hello Nadia,
Though the picture does a good job of defining the bump I am uncertain what it is because of your evaluation that it is bony feeling: could you be feeling the normal rib under the swollen skin? I would have said most likely are trauma or reaction to a fly bite but if this is bony, I would have it evaluated by your veterinarian. For further help on what to look at when you evaluate a swelling see, Diseases of Horses » Skin Diseases, Wounds, and Swellings » Swellings / Localized Infection / Abscesses.
DrO
Member:
nadia

Posted on Sunday, Oct 7, 2007 - 12:32 pm:

Thanks for the response. Could a rib be that wide? I did find out that the vet will be out to do fall shots this week. I'll make sure he/she takes a look. I was half-worried it could be some kind of intestinal blockage that was pushing out. In that case, I would have thought he'd be in pain or thrashing by now since it's been 4-5 days. He doesn't mind me pushing on it, although, he seems to go into sort of daze when I do it - almost like it feels good.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Oct 7, 2007 - 7:27 pm:

While I cannot diagnose it by the picture I can tell you a rib is not that wide and this is not some internal organ poking out.
DrO
Member:
nadia

Posted on Sunday, Nov 11, 2007 - 9:02 am:

Update: The day before the vet came out, the lump was gone, so I didn't have them look at him.
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