Haematoma

[sweetbriar]

My pony has had a large soft lump near on the top of her rump for a number of weeks. When the vet came to give her a flu jab I asked what it was and he said it was a haematoma.

He said that she'd either rolled on something in the field or had been badly mounted by another horse. He told me to give it two weeks and if it hadn't gone down to call him back and he would drain it.

Two weeks later, the lump is still there. It hasn't reduced or got bigger. Its not causing her any discomfort and she's moving OK.

Has anyone else had the same thing happen to their horse or pony. I am calling the vet out but I would be interested if anyone else had experienced this kind of injury.

[lisae]

My previous horse gave himself one on the lower chest when he decided to go through a Dutch door that swung out for him nicely but we also had an oak 2" x 4" that he had to break to get out! He had a big pouchy lump dangling between his front legs but it only lasted a week or so. It wasn't sore to touch.

[sweetbriar]

Thanks lisae,

This lump has been there for about 3-4 weeks now. Its not got bigger, neither has it reduced in size. I think it may be a job for the vet.

The lump is firm but fairly soft to the touch. I've prodded it with my finger and she's not even bothered so it mustn't be causing her pain.

The vet said the lump was just blood where a vessel had broken.
She could just be like me, a slow healer.

[Wally]

Yes I've seen them as big as water melons which have been resorbed and as small as small footballs which needed draining.

If left they can become infected and all sorts of nasty complications can occur. If you are brave and used to such minor surgery you can do it yourself, but it is a real bloodbath, so if you are squeamish let the vet do it.

You will have to be brave if you are squeamish as the cavity needs to heal from the inside out, the wound will most likely need to be kept open for as long as possible and will need either syringing daily with saline or dilute peroxide. If the wound in the skin closes over too quickly you can get an abscess forming. Having said this, it really isn't a problem, I did one on a cow last year with no complications whatever....cow hide is 100 times tougher than horse hide though!

[sweetbriar]

Just to let you know. The vet is due next week to drain the lump. I just hope I don't pass out looking at all the blood!

[Anja]

My girl had a haematoma come up when she got wacked by a gate on mer tunny i left it for a few days then i hosed it the a rode her with it and she was ok about that and after riding her it when down! maybe you could hose it?
hope this helps ANJA

[sweetbriar]

I did think of that Anja or maybe putting a cool pack on it. I think because its taken so long to go down I need the vet to drain it off.

I'd certainly think of it if she did it again. Because it took a couple of weeks to work out what it was and get the vet up I felt I'd left it too late for cold hosing.

She has been ridden all the time while she's had it and it hasn't reduced in size.

[Anna**]

My mare had one when she badly pulled a muscle. It was at the top of her hind leg and came up in two days, was very,very sore and caused her alot of pain. She was put off work for six weeks on box rest (and painkillers) to let it absorb as the vet was reluctant to drain due to infection. It went completely and you can see no sign.:)

[PaulandRuth]

Our mare had a very large haematoma on her neck,the regular vet advised leaving for a few weeks for 2 reasons.
Firstly the broken blood vessels would have time to heal, reducing the risk of infection back in to her blood stream and secondly there was a chance the lump would disperse of it's own accord.
However after no reduction and several weeks asked for a second opion and after consultation agreed to drain.
We had to clean out and pack the "crater" with Aloe Vera gel twice daily and she now has made a full recovery apart from scar tissue.

One thing to bear in mind with Summer upon us, you'll need to ensure those pesky flies are kept well at bay, if you decide to have lanced.

Good Luck

Paul;)