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Discussion on Treating skin growths
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Posted on Sunday, Apr 29, 2001 - 5:31 pm:
I have scanned much of the related information but I have not seen any suggestions of what to use when skin melanomas, or growths break open and start oozing. I have an old horse that has them on his tail and just recently they have started oozing a pus like fluid and it seems to be sensitive to him. I am putting antibiotic ointment on it and washing it every other day. I am not sure that this is the best thing to do. I don't see where anyone has managed this problem and said if it will heal. How do you keep the bugs off it?? Will it hurt to wrap the tail?? Any new suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.
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Posted on Monday, Apr 30, 2001 - 9:14 am:
Hello Pam,
The melanomas, should be treated the same as those that have not broke open, see the article Equine Diseases: Skin Diseases: Melanomas.
As for the local wound it should be treated just as any open wound (see : Equine Diseases: Skin Diseases: Wounds: First Aid, Care, and Proud Flesh). But realize that treating this locally will not heal it, it is a area of cancer that does not heal like normal skin would. The purpose is to prevent infection. If the broken open tumors are small discreet lesions you could try surgical removal or cryosurgery. If this is not possible the hope is that by treating the cancer systemically that you can can create regressin and that the normal skin might regrow.
Tails can be wrapped if done carefully, circumferential bandages can easily cut off circulation. The trick for me is to pick up a little hair after each go round and bend it back over the bandage and incorporate this into the next overlapping layer. The result is the hair will hold up the bandage without excessive pressure put on the tail. A tail bag may also be an answer if the lesion is not too high.
DrO
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