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  Discussion on Throatlatch Region Unilateral Swelling
Author Message
Member:
Chris888

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 29, 2003 - 12:56 pm:

Patient
6 Year Old Arab x Quarter horse
24x7 pasture turnout on 2.5 acres with another horse
Pasture is getting a bit eaten down
1/2 bale grass hay daily, plus a small bit of complete feed morning and evening

Symptom
A lump, the size of a LARGE egg, on the right hand side of the throatlatch region,
left side looks like it could be swollen a bit but hard to tell
The lump appeared overnight
The lump is hard, does not pit, not painful to the touch and no heat
There is missing hair underneatch the thoart but not in the exact same location of the swelling.
There is a small (size of dime) spot of missing hair directly on the swelling area. Looks like it could have been from a bug bite but the swelling looks more lymph node related than skin related.
No fever
Eating/Pooping well
Behavior normal
Gums good
Breathing perfect
No nasal discharge
Everything appears normal except the lump
Patient History
A bit more skin sensitive than my other horse.
Has had tick bites swell
Tends to eat first and think later
Treatment History
Discovered lump and called Vet same day
Vet confirmed above info, couldn't say for sure if the swelling was in the lymph node or not but believes that they location.
Injected him with an anti-inflammatory and started him on a 5 day course of an anti-biotic called Bactram, plus bute
Day 2
Lump increased in size, so it's now the size of 3 large eggs all next to each other.
All other signs still normal.
Day 3
Lump has decreased some, now back to the size of 1 large egg
All other signs still normal.
Vet calls to say the blood work has returned normal.
Day 4
Lump has decreased a little but still the size of a medium size egg
All other signs still normal.
Day 5
Lump now approximately the size of a small egg or golf ball
All other signs still normal.
The vet re-checks and since it's still swollen feels that we should continue with 5 more days of anti-biotic.
My question...
Is medicating him the right course? My doctor feels that it may be a localized bacterial infection, (localized being the reason it didn't show up on the blood work). He also says that since the swelling is still significant that this points to a bacteria infection and we must stay the course with the anti-biotic.
I am trying to decide if I should get a second opinion or if this sounds reasonable...
If I read table 1 correctly the lump has the characteristics of a tumor, cause "enlarged lymph node". But I'm not clear on the treatment and what caused the lymph node to enlarge. (The word tumor scares the begeezees out of me too.) Further reading on the "swellings in the throatlatch area" suggest it could be the salivary gland or the futtural pouch since it's only on one side but that requires further diagnostic work up. What should I do for further diagnostic work up?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Oct 30, 2003 - 6:06 am:

Hello Chris,
Since it seems to be responding remarkably to current therapy I think continued treatment makes sense. The lymph nodes are responsible for filtering infection out of the blood, so perhaps a infectious organism was removed and before it could be killed created a local infection.

If it gets to where it is not improving, an ultrasound and needle biopsy might further clarify what you are dealing with.
DrO
Member:
Chris888

Posted on Thursday, Oct 30, 2003 - 2:21 pm:

Thanks for the input DrO, it helps.

Would you mind elaborating on the entry in Table 1 on tumors? The characteristics of this swelling fits best to the Type Tumor, but when I think of a tumor I don't think of a temporary infection. Do you think I have a misconception of the word tumor or do you think I've evaluated the lump on my horse next incorrectly?

Thanks again,
Chris
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Nov 3, 2003 - 10:53 am:

A tumor can be a swelling on any cause Chris and may or may not represent a serious disease. Usually the word is used to describe an undiagnosed lump or swelling.
DrO
Member:
Chris888

Posted on Friday, Nov 14, 2003 - 4:21 pm:

Dr. O, thanks for the update, I appreciate the info.

For any and all who review this post in the coming years while researching your own horse's mysterious lumps and bumps I'll update you on the final resolution...

Treatment included:
Day one
Albon Antibiotic IV
Bactrim DBL Strgth Tablets (5 days)
Bute IV (plus 5 day paste)
Antihistamine IM/IV

Day Three
Banamine IV
Antihistamine IM/IV

Day Five
Banamine IV
Antihistamine IM/IV
Bactrim DBL Strgth (5 days)
Probiocin Granules

He was off from work for 11 days, although he never did show signs of a fever, pain or any discomfort. The lump eventually went down, although it took closer to three weeks and you can still kinda see signs of it today so I'm guessing it'll probably be closer to 5-6 weeks for the swelling to completely disappear.

I'll admit, I'm still a little miffed about his treatment. I guess I just don't believe it truly warranted the number of drugs they kept pumping into him. Besides, I was a little annoyed when after questioning his use of anti-biotics he DrOpped hints that it could be strangles. I of course got on this board and researched strangles and realized there was no WAY it was strangles. Thank goodness for this board! This is now my second "mysterious" illness (the first being a fever), and it's thanks to this board and the many articles that I'm reassured that this is a normal process and I'm not alone... Good luck finding your cure if you are reading this in search for a reason behind your horses mysterious lump...
New Member:
Janetgro

Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - 4:53 pm:

Patient: 10 yr. old Quarter Horse Mare
15 1/2 hands - (your full figure mare)
large sand paddock w/covered stall (Hawaii)
Pasture 1-2 hrs. 5 days a week
1/2 bucket cubes + 1 flake hay twice a day
carrots, apples and homemade horse treats
(Very easy keeper, will eat 24 hrs. a day if possible,
tends to put on weight)
90 min. arena workouts 5 - 6 days a week to keep us
both in shape


Several lumps the size of lemons on the left side of the throatlatch region. Right side a bit swollen as well. The lumps appeared overnight. They are hard, do not pit, no heat involved but seem to be a bit painful when I touch them. There is an area about the size of a dime with missing hair in the same area. Could be an insect bit or bee sting, but the swelling looks more lymph node related than skin related. No fever, eating and eliminating as normal.

Called Vet - he gave her 80 Units of Dexmylon? a steroid ( can't read his writing and couldn't understand him after asking twice) Twenty four hours later, there was no improvement - as a matter of fact, the lumps are larger and harder but all other signs are still normal. Needless to say I'm reluctant to continue with steroid treatment.

What diagnostic work shoud I consider? Knowledge base extremely limited in this part of the world! I am a senior, novice horse woman who needs more help than is locally available. All responses to this posting are welcome and appreciated.

Mahalo,
Jan Grosseto
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - 7:29 pm:

Excellent history Janet, now if I can just teach you to post in your own discussion. But we make great allowances to new posters and welcome to Horseadvice. You have 2 possibilities, enlarged lymph nodes or enlarged parotid salavary glands. The former is no big deal in the abscense of other clinical signs (have you checked the odor of the breath?). All kinds of things happen in the mouth and pharynx to enlarge them and this is almost always transient (they go away without treatment). Of course any addition of other clinical signs and all such bets are off.

The fact it is occuring on the right and left greatly dimishes a possible inflammed salivary gland or blocked salivary duct. Ultrasound by someone very familar with the anatomy or willing to have a good anatomy text open might greatly clarify the nature of the swelling.
DrO
DrO
New Member:
Janetgro

Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - 8:45 pm:

Sorry for the interruption. Never posted anything anywhere in my life. I will read the posting guidelines and hopefully do better in the future.

Mahalo for your reply.
Jan Grosseto
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 8:37 am:

Let us know the outcome Janet and did you check that breath?
DrO
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