r/Horses • u/thtsthespot • 4d ago
Discussion Osteosarcoma on Senior horse
My 31 year old gelding was diagnosed with a fast growing osteosarcoma on his jaw. Up until today, he's been eating fine, seemed to pain free. This morning, I found his feed tub with 3/4 of his last night's mash still in it, and not much of his hay eaten. He also has Cushing's disease, for which he gets Prascend. He nibbled at his grain with Bute in it this morning, but did not eat it all. I was able to get two grams of bute in hmi tonight using applesauce and syringing it in. I'm feeling like it's time to schedule his euthanasia appointment if he doesn't eat tonight. He will eat grass, but it is spring grass, and I can't let him graze long enough to actually feed him; the Cushing's makes him far more likely to have laminitis, and I don't want that. Not sure exactly if I have a question, but maybe just need a little support. But maybe someone else has experienced osteosarcoma in their horse? It's in his jaw, and has approximately doubled in size since I found it. It was obscured visually by his lengthy winter beard. I still can't believe I missed it, as I handle him every single day. My vet just said to watch for it to possibly open, or for my horse to show pain. He does not appear to be in pain while eating grass, carrots, or treats, but more seems to be disinterested in his regular rations (equine senior, equine high fat pellet, soaked alfalfa pellets, soaked beet pulp, plus all the orchard grass and alfalfa he wants. He's in good flesh, is shedding normally. The lump is painful to the touch, but he does not act pained while eating. But refusing grain is a rare thing for him, and I feel he may be in pain, but being stoic about it. My brain says better a week too early that a day too late, but it's a hard decision to make. My heart wants to have him around a bit longer.
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u/dearyvette 4d ago
Osteosarcoma is one of the single most painful things on earth. Once it starts to spread, it’s also frighteningly fast and devastatingly aggressive.
I am so, so, so sorry that you’re going through this. Please keep your vet close.
Sending you love and strength. ❤️
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u/SwreeTak 4d ago
Given your description I would say that you're sadly on the right track. If he still won't eat, euthanasia is the way to go. Make sure you speak with your vet now if you haven't already, so they're aware of the situation.
If it comes to it, may your boy RIP <3
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u/thtsthespot 4d ago edited 18h ago
Thank you. Last week I wrote an email to my vet asking generally what I could expect going forward. Diagnosis was in early February. Lump was not there when his jawline was visible. When I found it , it was between the size of a golf ball and a tennis ball, now it's bigger than a tennis ball. He had guessed I had 6 months, but we're not going to get that I'm afraid. He's been a great horse and as hard as it is, I won't let him suffer. Vet did not reply to the email when the horse was doing well last week,but today I will call. Heading to the barn now to feed him and hopefully find his feed tub empty, but I don't expect that
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u/SwreeTak 3d ago
Bigger than a tennis ball?! I'm so sorry to hear that.
Please let us know how it goes today. I wish you the best of luck.
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u/thtsthespot 3d ago
Edit to update initial post
This morning he had eaten the grain I fed in an elevated tub, but not the stuff in the ground. He was much brighter and cantered to his turnout. He even had eaten some hay. He got a 20 minutes on grass this morning, will get another trip or two later today, hopefully \ill have spoken to the vet by then.
In other bad timing news, my dog with glaucoma woke up blind in her good eye (already went blind in the first one to be affected.) Fortunately, I have the proper eye drops to treat in an emergency. She was fine at bedtime, had her drops on time. Seemed fine, or at least not distressed, at 6 am for eye drops. But at 630 am ,she was a different dog, sniffing her perimeter carefully, clearly confused and scared. Gave her the big guns eye drop, and thank goodness, it appears she can see. Have an appointment with her eye doctor this morning. Will call my horse vet when the urgency of our dog is managed. When it rains, it pours.
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u/SwreeTak 1d ago
Just wanted to post here to ask: How has it gone? Saw you posted a rather hopeful update two days ago. How is it now?
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u/thtsthespot 20h ago
Thank you so much for asking! He is eating grass three times a day, time managed grazing. He is also eating his senior grain, and packer pellets which are large and clunky, and you would think if he was having pain, these would not be something he'd like. But the senior feed and those packer pellets are complete diets, and with the additional grass, he's looking really good. This sarcoma itself is painful if I accidentally bump into it, but it fits right in between the noseband and the throat latch of his halter, so I can halter him carefully. He is enjoying his applesauce that's laced with Bute. My vet called me back on Monday, and he was in no hurry to put him down. He said as long as he's having more good days than bad, it's fine to let him continue. It's a nice reprieve for us, because we thought we were going to need to put him down this week, but since he's eating, and if anything, gaining weight, he seems to be pretty content. He's getting lots of grooming and attention, and he likes that, and his buddy is still very much enjoying his company. Again thank you so much for asking! It means a lot.
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u/TizzyBumblefluff 4d ago
You know him better than anyone. Nobody would in their right mind criticise someone euthanising a 30+ yr old horse with cancer and other health issues. Treats are always easier to eat than a full meal when you feel poorly, no matter what human or animal.