A lump on a horse does not necessarily mean that it is a tumour. Swellings and skin changes can have various causes. It is not always possible to tell from the outside what sort of growth it is.

A skin tumour involves the formation of new tissue. The extent to which this causes a horse discomfort depends, amongst other things, on:

A slow-growing, benign tumour in a favourable location does not necessarily cause problems. A fast-growing tumour in a horse, or a lump in an area subject to a lot of pressure or friction, can, on the other hand, be a source of discomfort.

There are various types of skin tumours in horses. Two well-known forms are sarcoids and melanomas. A sarcoid may, amongst other things, appear as a bald or scaly patch, a firm lump or a wart-like skin lesion. Sarcoidsdo not usually spread, but can grow persistently in the local area. Read more about sarcoids here.

Melanomasare also common in horses, particularly in greys. They are often visible as dark lumps in or under the skin.

However, not every lump on a horse can be identified simply by its appearance. Further investigation may therefore be required to determine the nature of the skin condition.

If you notice a new lump on your horse, it is advisable to keep a close eye on the area. An examination may be advisable, particularly if the lump changes, grows or is in an awkward location.

Please get in touch, for example, if the lump:

Are you concerned about a lump, swelling or skin tumour on your horse? If so, you can always have the abnormality assessed by our vets.

At Den Ham Veterinary Clinic, we first discuss in detail when the lump first appeared on your horse and how it has developed since then. The lump is then assessed in detail during the clinical examination. Depending on its appearance, location and the suspected nature of the abnormality, we may carry out further diagnostic tests, such as:

The information from these tests enables us to determine the nature of the tumour more accurately. An accurate diagnosis is important for assessing the prognosis as accurately as possible and drawing up a suitable treatment plan for your horse.

Toutes les tumeurs chez le cheval ne sont pas traitées de la même manière. L’approche la plus appropriée dépend du type de tumeur, de sa taille, de sa localisation et des résultats des examens.

Il arrive parfois qu’il suffise de surveiller attentivement une petite altération cutanée stable. Dans d’autres cas, nous recommandons un traitement.

En fonction du diagnostic, la clinique vétérinaire Den Ham propose notamment les traitements suivants :

Nous élaborons avec vous un plan de traitement personnalisé. Pour cela, nous ne nous concentrons pas uniquement sur la tumeur elle-même, mais également sur le confort, la santé et le bien-être de votre cheval.