Cancer / Tumors
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Squamous Cell Carcinoma This disease is life-threatening and should be treated by a veterinarian swiftly. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is
Equine Lymphoma in Horses
Alt. Names: Lymphatic cancer, Lymphosarcoma, Malignant lymphoma
This disease is life-threatening and should be treated by a veterinarian swiftly.
Definition of Equine Lymphoma in Horses
Symptoms of Equine Lymphomain Horses
- Nodules
- Weightloss
- Underweight
- Reduced Performance
- Fever
- Lethargic
- Low Appetite
- Swollen Lymph nodes
- Diarrhea
- Coughing
- Labored breathing
Common in
- Middle-aged horses
- Young horses
Treatment of Equine Lymphoma in Horses
Treatment options are limited and often cost-prohibitive, and advanced disease progression at the time of diagnosis means that euthanasia is usually opted for, as treatment is very rarely curative. The form of lymphoma will dictate the options available for treatment.
Treatment is only palliative (prolonging life) rather than curing the disease. However, in solitary and some cutaneous lymphomas where surgical removal is possible a cure may be achievable, assuming there is no other disease elsewhere.
If end-stage/advanced lymphoma is present then there are limited options available.
Surgical excision of solitary tumours: The unusual form of lymphoma that occurs in the conjunctiva of the eye region is best treated with surgery.
Chemotherapy: Lymphoma can be treated with multi-drug protocols or with corticosteroids alone.
Hormonal therapy: Some lymphomas are responsive to progesterone therapy (especially cutaneous forms of lymphoma).
Prevention of Equine Lymphoma in Horses
There is no way of preventing the development of Equine Lymphoma. An earlier diagnosis may improve prognosis if therapeutic options are viable to owners, so lymphoma should be considered as a differential diagnosis in many cases.
How Happie can help you manage your horse's health
Digital health management offers numerous benefits in modern equine healthcare.
With the Happie Horse App, you can track symptom patterns and body values, such as Temperature, Pulse and Respiration. Allowing you to notice abnormal changes in body and behaviour early on, leading to more successful treatments.
The Happie symptom checker allows you to add all of your horse's abnormal symptoms in order to present potential causes and diseases.
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