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Discussion on Lipoma
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Member:
Jchadola
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Posted on Thursday, Oct 14, 2004 - 1:29 am:
My friend's 18-year-old thoroughbred mare was euthanized yesterday. A necropsy was done today and the vet told my friend that her mare had a lipoma wrapped around her intestine. She had been fine earlier in the day. It started with her on the ground thrashing. When I arrived, the vet had not gotten there yet - she was mostly groaning in pain. It was heartbreaking to see. When the vet arrived (I think maybe an hour after her symptoms started), he give her a couple of injections - probably banamine and rompum (sp?) which made her groggy but seemed to ease the pain somewhat. However, they could not get her up - she just collapsed when they tried. It was obvious that the mare's pain was extemely severe. The vet did a rectal examination but could not determine anything from that. What perplexed him was that normally with colic, the heart rate increases; however, the mare's heart rate was irregular and about 1/2 of what it should be - I believe it varied between 16 and 20 beats per minute. As I watched her, she appeared to stop breathing at times. I thought she was going to die at any moment. The vet could not make a diagnosis except to say she had intractable pain. My friend decided to have her euthanized. It was very sad.
My questions are:
What causes lipomas?
How long does it take for lipomas to develop?
Why would her heart rate have been so low when normally it is increased with colic? Were her organs just shutting down?
Could there be any symptoms prior to the colic episode that would have indicated there was a problem - this mare had lost weight over the past few months despite her feed being increased.
She did not have a history of colic.
Would surgery have been an option for her? What is the survival rate for a horse with this condition?
Is there any way to reduce the likelihood of a horse getting a lipoma?
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Thursday, Oct 14, 2004 - 12:19 pm:
My condolences to your friend, Jean. Taking your questions in order:
Lipomas can be simple fatty deposits that develop a pedicle: a thin stalk others are benign neoplasias, at least until they wrap around a loop of bowel.
Years.
The rompun caused the slowed heart rate.
No prior symptoms.
No if you cannot get the horse to its feet, surgery is not an option. It the horse could be gotten to the hospital, surgery would have been an option early in the disease but the prognosis unknown until the extent of damage to the bowel is assessed.
DrO
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Member:
Paul303
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Posted on Thursday, Oct 14, 2004 - 10:25 pm:
I went through this myself with a horse I'd owned for 30yrs. ( he died at 38 ). The scenario was the same - he was in great health being ridden lightly but regularly. Occasional bouts of weight loss and re-gain. No signs until the AM we found him down in severe pain. Vet found no blockage - rushed him to New Bolten ( where he received excellant care ). My gelding was on his feet, but in his case, due to his age, they advised against surgery. We elected to do a necropsy which showed 2 large lipomas.
These things happen. I would guess that Some horses, like some people, are geneticly prone to lipomas. We can not guess how prevalent lipomas might be in the horse population, because, unlike your friend, most owners ( in the cases where surgery is not attempted ), chose not to spend the money on the necropsy. To these people, their horse "just died of colic". The symptoms were there, and under the emotional and ( sometimes )financial stress, they can't deal with anything else. This is very understandable. I'm glad your friend chose to persue the complete answer. Although today, 18 is not such a great age, abdominal bowel surgery is a very extensive procedure for a young horse to go through, let alone an 18 year old under incredible stress and probably a bit shocky. I think you and your friend can rest assured that everything that was done was right, and heartfelt thanks to her for having the necropsy. It serves us all by contributing to our knowledge of horse health. Who knows?, if enough lipomas are recorded, sometime in the future, more research may be warrented.
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Member:
Jchadola
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Posted on Friday, Oct 15, 2004 - 1:28 am:
Thanks Dr. O. and Elizabeth for your comments. I asked my friend tonight whether her mare's heart rate was slow before or after she was given the rompun and she said it was before (and also after). I remember the vet not being able to find a pulse even though she was breathing. So I don't know what was going on. I confirmed with my friend that the vet did get there in about an hour after the mare's symptoms started. I arrived just before that but it sounds like her pain was severe from the beginning. It was such a shock to have a horse go from fine to being in such terrible pain in such a short period of time. My friend's other horse, a 26-year-old quarter horse gelding was euthanized about 3 years ago because of an impaction and twist in either his intestine or colon. It was the same vet who euthanized him and he did a necropsy so the cause of his death was determined. Neither my friend's quarter horse or thoroughbred mare had a history of colic. Seems odd that both of her horses were euthanized for somewhat similar conditions.
The loss of my friend's mare was all the more tragic because she lost both of her parents 4 days apart last Christmas and her beloved dog a few months ago.
I am going to look into getting surgical insurance for my 4-year-old appendix quarter horse (I cannot get it for my 22-year-old thoroughbred because of his age unfortunately). Hopefully, it is not too expensive.
Elizabeth, you were so lucky to have your horse until he was aged 38. Out of curiousity, what breed was he?
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New Member:
airhead
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Posted on Monday, May 5, 2008 - 11:50 pm:
To start out, I am new at this. I haven't rode a horse in probably 14-15 years and the last one I owned was when I was around 8-10. Anyway, my point is I have been given as offer that, I feel, I can't turn down. An aquaitance has offered to give me a full blooded, registered with papers, Friesian stud, 2 years old. The only problem I have is the horse has a lipoma on it's right hip. I have no clue as to what it would cost to check him out or to cut the lipoma out. (I'm thinking stud service). Is lipoma genetic? Would I be making the right decision if I take this horse?}}
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New Member:
airhead
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Posted on Monday, May 5, 2008 - 11:59 pm:
Sorry but I also would like to know the life span of such animals with this disease. From what I have read on the message board, they seem to have a pretty long life. Also, does anyone know how I can find out if it is genetic?
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Tuesday, May 6, 2008 - 7:34 am:
Welcome Cindy,
Unless I totally misunderstand the situation a lipoma may be the least of your problems. As a currently green rider who is looking to get back into riding horses why would you even consider a "at best" barely broke 2 year old stallion. Go find yourself a healthy middle age well broke horse and enjoy yourself. From the information we have this is the wrong horse for you.
If you want to go forward with this remember there is no such thing as a "free horse", so have the animal examined by a experienced veterinarian and (s)he may be able to give you more accurate information on the lump on this horse.
DrO
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Member:
mrose
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Posted on Tuesday, May 6, 2008 - 10:41 am:
Cindy, as a breeder and life long horse person, and owner of two very sweet, gentle stallions, I'd like to give you some advice. NO!! Don't do this, unless you are immediately getting the stallion gelded then putting it in training with a GOOD professional! Even for someone with tons of experience, a stallion is a whole different ball game. Regardless of how gentle they are, you have to have special accomodations for them, especially for a large one like a Fresian; they need consistant work and exercise; you can never totally trust them near mares; it will take lots of training before you can ride with anyone else, even if they are on a gelding; and a young stallion especially will be testing you every step of the way. Why is this person giving you this stallion? Chances are she either can't or doesn't want to deal with him herself.
I totally agree with Dr.O's advice; find a nice sweet well trained gelding or mare. You will enjoy it much more.
I also agree with the issue of the limpoma. It could be something else, unless you have a vet's report and know for sure that this is a minor problem that will respond to treatment.
No one gives a Fresian away unless there is a reason they don't want it; and if they don't want it chances are you don't either, even if it weren't a stallion. There are lots of unregistered, well trained horses out there that you could buy for a reasonable price and that would suit your purposes much better.
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