Melanomas

["Kathy Mayeda" <Kathy_Mayeda@atce.com>]

Title: Melanomas

My grey gelding has a flat scabby melanoma right behind his scapula.  Other than the vets taking a double take at it it hasn’t caused any problems.  He also has little beany melanomas at his poll right where the bridle lies and several little beany ones under his tail dock.  No problems with those.  His grey dam had terrible looking big melanomas all around her vaginal areas which caused stallion owners a little empathy when they tried to get her bred, but she was not affected by it at all. She produced Proclivity and Acuity, both of them national quality halter mares that have been bought by Brazilians.  She passed away peacefully at around 30 y.o.

As far as having melanomas bothering him underneath the saddle, I guess he has to tell her if it’s bothering him.  I bet it won’t, but I’m not the vet.  Another grey mare that I know had melanomas at the girth area surgically removed before her winter break and has had no problems at all afterwards, although I heard that they may come back even worse if you mess with them.

K.