Ok so the long standing questions….. what are the lumps at the tip of my horses ears??
A number of horses present with lumps at the tips of the ears, which as vets we call nodules.
These are seen commonly in horses that live in more temperate climates such as NZ.
Appearance:
These lumps are approx 1cm in diameter, non painful, and round. They are most commonly found on the inside of the ears at the tips.
They are covered in hair, but the hair can be slightly matted together with a slightly greasy substance. This is because these nodules can induce the production of a sebaceous oily substance as they fill the sebaceous glands and change their secretions. (A sebaceous gland is found in the skin and produces an oily substance).
These nodules almost always stay very static in nature and DO NOT grow or become inflamed or painful for the horse.
Diagnosis:
The most likely diagnosis for these is a fungal keratoma.
These are caused a free living non-pathogenic fungus. This fungus is found in decaying matter such as muck heaps. They are spread by biting flies feeding on the same matter.
Diagnosis is made by a biopsy, however they are best left alone unless they are causing a problem.
Most importantly is to differentiate them from a tumours, such as a Sarcoid.
What should we do about lumps on our horses:
Monitor carefully and closely
Measure it repeatedly to monitor growth
Get straight in touch with us if you have concerns or it changes
I would highly recommend not to use home remedies.