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  Discussion on Squamous cell sarcoma and blood loss
Author Message
New Member:
kimmie

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 15, 2015 - 11:12 am:

My horse started bleeding from the nose and mouth about three weeks ago. My regular vet came to my ranch and did an oral exam, at which point she was able to wiggle a couple of teeth that came out easily. She put him on a Chinese herb called Yunnan Baiyou to stop the bleeding, as he was anemic. He was also given an injection of anti-biotic (Excede). She took x-rays, but could not tell if the spot she saw on the x-ray was infection from the teeth, or a mass that caused the teeth to fall out. I was instructed to take him to another vet that has the facility to do a scope and biopsy. I took him, had the biopsy done, and the results came back squamous cell sarcoma. The second vet has told me that there isn't anything that can really be done, and gives my horse six months to a year to live, if we let him suffer through to his death. As this is my first and favorite horse, I'm doing everything I can to make him comfortable, but have a hard time accepting this is all that can be done. My horse is still on the Chinese herb, but keeps bleeding again every few days anyway. He is also on Bute paste, at 10 cc a day, but I've read Bute can cause bleeding, and am concerned perhaps he should be one something that doesn't cause more bleeding. He is also on Uniprim powder, that I mix in with his mash (Equine Senior and Alfalfa pellets watered down). The days he isn't bleeding, he eats really well. The days he is bleeding, he hardly eats, and even fell down in the barn last week. He got back up, quit bleeding, and has been roaming the pasture with his buddies. Today he started bleeding again, and there are blood clots in my driveway and all around the pasture. I'm not even sure this Chinese herb is working, and have a call into both of my vets for three days in a row now. My biggest problem is hearing back from these vets, as I live in rural Colorado and there aren't many vets around, so mine are very busy. Any advice that I can get would be much appreciated. I don't want my horse to suffer, and he seems not to be other than when he's bleeding. Any ideas on how to stop the bleeding? Other medications he should perhaps be on? Any treatment ideas on how to remedy this? I love this horse very much, and would do anything on my teacher salary to save him.
Member:
moxshi

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 15, 2015 - 11:35 am:

Hi, Kimmie, and welcome.

I am so sorry to hear of your horse's cancer. It sounds like it might be more advanced than what the vet could see. I have a horse that had to have Squamous Cell surgery last year, and they had to take almost half of his penis off as well as removing cancer ulcers from his sheath and prepuce. One thing the docs did is implant cisplatin beads around the sites of the surgical removal to kill any cells that might have been missed. Squamous cell can spread.
If your vet says that surgery to remove the cancer can't be done, then you may have to accept that, but if you can get to Littleton or CSU for an evaluation, they might be able to give you some other options.

Give them a call and see if you can send photos and lab results from your vet's eval . . . and I hope they can offer you some hope.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Jul 17, 2015 - 9:46 am:

Welcome Kim,
My condolences on your horse. I am not able to judge from your post whether there is more that could be done to cure the cancer. Much depends on the size, exact location and how extensively surrounding tissue are involved. A small focal lesion may be removed surgically. There are not any medications that are likely to stem the bleeding that can be used safely however there are some physical things that might help. Most importantly is the heads position. Blood pressure and therefore bleeding increase markedly when a horse puts his head down. So feed him and provide water in a manner that allows him to keep his head up. During bleeding episodes keep him calm and tie him with his head so he cannot put his head too far down. If the bleeding is severe he may need to lower the head to allow it to drain out the front but don't allow it to go to low.
DrO
New Member:
kimmie

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 21, 2015 - 2:41 pm:

Thanks for the information. I did contact CSU, and heard about some possible treatments. The cheapest would be to try Peroxicam (sp?), as it is an anti-inflammatory medication like Bute or Banamine, but has been found to reduce sarcoma sizes in some horses studied. Next would be to take Finneoghan to CSU for injectable chemotherapy or chemotherapy beads. I live four hours from there, so putting my poor fella in a trailer he hates and driving that far is something I'd really have to take into consideration. I have the vet at CSU talking to one of my local vets about these things, so we'll see what happens. Thanks for the advice on the head position, Dr. O. Finn doesn't usually eat anything when he's bleeding like that, but I'll be sure to keep him tied for periods of time. It seems like he usually spits out a really ugly looking clot full of stuff at some point, and after that starts to recover. I usually know he's coming around after that because he does start to eat. I think he did a little better the last time he was bleeding because he was able to stand quietly in the pasture by himself while the others were in the next pasture just staying quiet and watching him. When Finn has a bad day, we all do; dogs lay around watching, three other horses stand still and watch, and I am beside myself with worry and obsession that I'm going to lose my sweet horse.
One more question: since this sarcoma is in his cheek, would a fly mask be helpful in eliminating harmful sun rays?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Jul 23, 2015 - 3:51 pm:

Since it is in his mouth if I understand your above, I don't think a mask will help.
DrO
Member:
npo33901

Posted on Thursday, Jul 30, 2015 - 2:01 am:

Hello Kim,
bad day...poor Finn. What hope is there he'll get better ?
How would YOU feel having mouth full of blood ..and probably constant pain and discomfort ? Do you think he is happy to be tied up ? No Flies ? no... talk it through with your vet and make decision . Hard on you , but will help your dear friend !!
AnnaMarie.
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