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zoel_222
10-06-2008, 07:03 PM
So today I noticed a HUGE bump on Whitney's belly. I'm freaking out. It wasn't there yesterday, or at least it wasn't that big yesterday. I felt it and it wasn't hot and it didn't bug her when I poked. What is it?! Should I be worried? I uploaded pictures. Not sure if that upload thingy is working yet, if not I'll put them on photobucket. Please excuse the mud. Rainy season just hit and I'm doing my best to keep it under control.
Dakota Sunrise
10-06-2008, 07:08 PM
That one is pretty big.... but I have found bumps like that on Dakota before, usually on his belly. I think they are bug bites, like from the really big horse flies. There were a ton this year- yuk. I know whenever I got bitten by that kind of fly it always left a big welt.

The bites I found on Dakota always went away in a day or two. It never bothered him either. But I still hate those horse flies!:mad:
Blue
10-06-2008, 07:08 PM
Snip had one of those a while back, right where his girth went! It was a swollen tick bite, he was fine, but I had to wait to put a saddle on him until the swelling went down, we got a good week or so of bareback riding!
Horseaholic
10-06-2008, 07:09 PM
I'm leaning towards a hernia.

*but I don't know if they are painful. It just looks like one to me.
MyHorseBiggs
10-06-2008, 07:11 PM
It probably is a horse fly bite, but man that thing big!
MyHorseBiggs
10-06-2008, 07:11 PM
Oh and does it seem to hurt him?
Horseaholic
10-06-2008, 07:11 PM
Dang if thats a bite That's one crazy bite!! Am I crazy for thinking it looks a bit like a hernia?
MileHighOlli
10-06-2008, 07:13 PM
Eeeek! That sure is big. Shadyhill I agree with you...it kinda looks like a hernia.
Blue
10-06-2008, 07:17 PM
When Snip had one I thought it was a hernia...but then I walked him up to the arena where my trainer was and she said it was just a swollen bug bite, probably tick, so that's just what I said it was. :p
MileHighOlli
10-06-2008, 07:22 PM
When Snip had one I thought it was a hernia...but then I walked him up to the arena where my trainer was and she said it was just a swollen bug bite, probably tick, so that's just what I said it was. :p

I hope that is all it is. Ticks give me the creeps tho...:p
Blue
10-06-2008, 07:27 PM
I hope that is all it is. Ticks give me the creeps tho...:p
EEP! :eek: Ticks creep me out too. lol!
zoel_222
10-06-2008, 07:29 PM
I hope it's only a swollen bite. She does have allergies to bug bites and has swelled up before but not like this. This thing is HUGE. It actually looks a lot bigger in real life. I guess I'll see what it looks like tomorrow. I just keeping thinking it's a tumor...... :(
Blue
10-06-2008, 07:30 PM
If she has allergies to bugs and Snip's looked about that size then I'm sure it IS a bug bite. SEVERAL other horses have also had bites like this, for some reason they're always on the underside of their bellies!
WashingtonBay
10-06-2008, 07:33 PM
It may be a hematoma - basically a sack of serum, from a kick or a blow, and it probably didn't start there, it may have been a swelling further up on his side yesterday, and it sinks to the bottom of the belly with gravity.

IF that's what it is, it should shrink and reabsorb over time, but it can be a little slow.
PaintedLady
10-06-2008, 07:35 PM
Just wondering...is it kinda soft and 'gishy' when you feel it? Like maybe it has fluid in it? I had a horse that developed one of those...but...it dissipated on its own....
Other than that....I KNOW NUTTN.....
shynbvs
10-06-2008, 07:40 PM
wow, if it continues i would call the vet
42many
10-06-2008, 07:44 PM
If it's not a bug bite, I'd think it might be from a kick. Years ago my arabX gelding got kicked in the belly by the wicked witch of the southwest and it looked similar. I know that one was a kick because I had to stand there across the field and watch the evil one give up grazing to rush over and attack him!
JackieB
10-06-2008, 07:53 PM
I don't have any suggestions, but wanted to let you know that I'm thinking of Whitney. I wouldn't worry too much just yet. If it doesn't bother her, I'd be inclined to thing that it will start to improve in a day or two.

You could call the vet just to ask on the phone. Mine wouldn't charge me for something like that.
lovesfortune
10-06-2008, 08:06 PM
I'm with everyone else in hoping that it's a bug or tick bite. But my 2nd thought was the same as WB's. We had an arab that had big reactions to ticks, but not quite that large, and we always found the tick or spot where it started (kind of scabby from the bite)
zoel_222
10-06-2008, 08:09 PM
It wasn't squishy, it just feels like the rest of her I guess. If it doesn't improve in the next couple days I'm going to have a vet out. I hope you guys are right and it'll just clear up on its own.

Thanks for thinking of her JackieB :)
cloedoll
10-06-2008, 08:10 PM
I think you have gotten some good answers...I dunno what it is, but I sure do hope it isn't too bad and she gets better quick!
Diane of Buck's Hollow
10-06-2008, 08:10 PM
I hope that is all it is. Ticks give me the creeps tho...:p



Mee too. But if it is a bug or tick bite...How long should she wait for it to go down? Buck had a smaller one on his belly a few days ago but it went down in 2 days.
PaintedLady
10-06-2008, 08:14 PM
I'd say if it hasn't gone down, or 'feels different' (Like....heat) in the next day or 2, call the vet! It very well could be a kick tho. (Never thought about that....) Was she in with others?
zoel_222
10-06-2008, 08:38 PM
Yes she's always in with the others. They're a very mellow herd, though. I rarely see kicking or fighting. Doesn't mean I doubt it was a kick, though. They're horses, there's always a chance of a kick.
Equine_Woman
10-06-2008, 09:21 PM
It may be a hematoma - basically a sack of serum, from a kick or a blow, and it probably didn't start there, it may have been a swelling further up on his side yesterday, and it sinks to the bottom of the belly with gravity.

IF that's what it is, it should shrink and reabsorb over time, but it can be a little slow.

I second what WB said. It looks like it might be a Hematoma. Sterling has had her fair share of those in life. If it is one it will get to where it will "pit" as it heals, ie you can poke your finger up there and it will form a mold around it.

Let us know what it looks like tomorrow!
MileHighOlli
10-06-2008, 09:40 PM
Mee too. But if it is a bug or tick bite...How long should she wait for it to go down? Buck had a smaller one on his belly a few days ago but it went down in 2 days.

Yeah. I would say if it has not gone down in a day or two call the vet out for sure. If it is a bug bite it could be infected, hence the lump, or causing an allergic reaction and require an antihistamine of some sort.
zoel_222
10-07-2008, 06:36 PM
Well it's been a day and it hasn't gone down any. If it's still there tomorrow I'm calling the vet.
WashingtonBay
10-07-2008, 06:45 PM
If it's a hematoma it might be there a few weeks. It's just fluid and has to be reabsorbed. I have a hunch that's what it is, but you're never wrong to call a vet.
HeartofSteel
10-07-2008, 06:47 PM
Poor Whitney, I hope it's not Pigeon Fever but we talked about that last night and said she didn't have any other signs so hopefully she still doesn't. Let me know what you find out!
Turn and Burn
10-07-2008, 08:08 PM
It might be Pigeon fever, I heard it causes lumps on the belly.
AUEquine
10-07-2008, 11:53 PM
I'm jumping on the Hematoma wagon here! With it being at the lowest point of the belly that just seems like gravity's effect on a previous injury. And like WB said it can take weeks for those to disapate.

don't worry it's way to far forward to be a hernia!
Diane of Buck's Hollow
10-08-2008, 12:30 PM
How is Whitney today?
zoel_222
10-08-2008, 04:26 PM
I haven't seen her up close yet today. She's been hanging out on the other end of the pasture all day but I'll keep you guys posted when I see her.
zoel_222
10-08-2008, 08:11 PM
No change. Still a big old lumpity lump. I tried to call the vet's office but they're closed, seeing how it's after 5. Even if it is a hematoma, I don't know for sure and I really want to be on the safe side. If it's something serious hopefully a vet will be able to catch it before it gets bad.
jeezitsjacki
10-08-2008, 09:25 PM
I would say bug bite but I think a vet call would be a good thing. good call!
Ariesgrl131
10-09-2008, 01:54 PM
My mare had that before, My vet said it was probably a spider bite. He recommended I give her a gram of bute a day for a week and see if it goes away, which it did....$ 200 vet bill for a $10 tube of bute..
Jump The Moon
10-10-2008, 01:32 PM
I think all the above are possibilites, but I can't suggest any myself - I (as yet) have no first-hand experience with lumps, and I sure hope I don't any time soon!! I hope this is nothing bad, and that they're all better soon.
Dakota Sunrise
10-11-2008, 09:03 PM
How is she today? Any change? Hope she gets better soon!
zoel_222
10-11-2008, 09:13 PM
I called the vet earlier and left a message. Today the swelling really went down. It's not that big anymore. When I poked it, it left a little mold around my finger so yeah it's most likely a hematoma. I don't think I'll have the vet out anymore. I mean, a lump that acts like silly putty can only be a hematoma, right?