Anyone any experience of ovarian cysts?

[dalesponyrider]

We have been having a go at putting D in foal this year and have hit a problem. D hasn't had her usual stonking great season the minute she gets with other ponies this Spring.

Any other year, whenever we have gone to the Spring show or to stay with Greydales, D has come into the most enormous season. Not this year.

So she last Wednesday she was scanned and it showed a 32mm ovarian cyst. Vet gave her an injection of Chorulan (I think) which was supposed to get rid of the cyst in 48 hours. She has been rescanned today and the cyst is now 52mm and definitely not gone!

I could leave it to nature and see what happens or continue with injections. I am getting more advice from various quarters but just wondered if anyone had any experience of this sort of situation. I've no idea just at present what to do for the best.

[olivia]

Awww poor D - that sounds nasty. I can't give any advice or experience, but wanted to say lots of popped cyst vibes coming from me!

Olivia

[dollylanedales]

Oh dear, thats not nice for D. I assume you would still be blissfully unaware, as there would not be any obvous symptoms of this cyst?

Re the season bit. For the past three years Molly has come into season twice, gone to the stalllion been covered, and then no more seasons for the summer.

This year, none at all - not even her usual Dales show one. Until a couple of weeks ago when the shire at a driving event caught her eye.

Last year, the vet suspected she had an ovarian cyst, but a scan showed nothing.

I know nothing about cysts, but it seems very strange if the injection was supposed to take it away, and its gone bigger. Difficult dilemma to know what to do.

Sending positive vibes D's way to make that horrible cyst go away so she can have a beautiful baby!!

[lucydales]

Poor D!
Don't know anything about them, sorry Linda, but sending best wishes to you all!
It makes me realise how lucky I've been!

[dalesponyrider]

Another vet, at Newmarket, albeit experienced in T.B.s (repro bits surely the same though) thinks it may not be a cyst at all but maybe just a huge follicle! Based on the fact that it has doubled in size in a week! He suggest getting progesterone levels checked, and if they are approaching nought, then that would support his theory and get her covered! Conflicting view but a bit more upbeat, so I quite like it! A photograph was taken of her scan last week so it is being sent to him to look at to see if he can shed more light.

Flippin mares! Trust D to be awkward! LOL! Lots of positive ovulation vibes please guys!

[greydales]

Fingers very much crossed it is the second scenario Linda! It does sound strange that a cyst would double in size in a week - but you would have thought the original vet would have thought of this

Oh well lets hope that she comes strongly into season any day now!

[maggie]

For what it's worth, I reckon that 52mm is very (too?) big for a follicle and that, if it was one, she'd be red-hot in season by now. (if you'll pardon the indelicacy)

Cysts can go up and down in size dramatically, it depends on the amount of fluid in them.

Personally I'd stick with the Chorulan and give her another dose.

[tinkerdorisalison]

can't help much but just wanted to say good luck and hope it all settles down and D gets in foal.

[laura]

I can't help much either but I hope it all gets sorted out ;D

[bevbob]

I hope it gets sorted soon too Linda, it will be fantastic when you get her in foal.

[dalesponyrider]

Going up to see D today and going to look at the progesterone results sheet and discuss it all with Julie - see if I can make sense of it all and decide what to do.

The vet local to Julie hasn't any experience of reading progesterone tests so we are taking some Newmarket advice! It does all get a bit confusing when you are not au fait with breeding hormonal stuff though. I've printed off loads of stuff from the internet and there seem to be several sorts of blood filled corpus luteums. The trick is to know if it is pre follicle release or post - which is what the progesterone test is supposed to show if I've got it right.

I think the tests show now that she has a corpus hemorrhagicum and the treatment for this is a shot of prostaglandin. The only trouble with this is that it can cause colic! Don't really want to put her through that again!

Anyway, I'll report more when I know, and understand more!

[dalesponyrider]

Well what I've said is about right. She has released her follicle and the corpus luteum is filled with blood. D won't be cycling properly as she thinks she is pregnant. Without the progesterone test we wouldn't have known this and I'm really surprised the normal vets don't do it. They would have continued to give her Chorulan which wouldn't have worked. She needs prostaglandin which she will hopefully have on Tues. Then she will be in quite a bit of discomfort, will sweat profusely and get the sort of colic that shoots everything through! So not the same as her impaction! The Newmarket vet has seen the scan and says it is a very big one so she needs scanning on Friday and a second injection giving if necessary. She should then come into season early next week and we are to leave this one to sort her out. Then the next season we can cover her.

Julie is very kindly prepared to keep her up there to do this for her. I will have an overnight bag packed ready. If Julie is at all worried, she will ring me, I will cancel my clients and hot foot it up there! Please wish all concerned the best of luck!

A few links that helped me.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corpus_luteum

www.ul.ie/~equines/Laboratory%201.htm

www.ivis.org/proceedings/AAEP/1998/Mccue.pdf

books.google.co.uk/books?id=jlZAT-9VwUIC&pg=PA291&lpg=PA291&dq=corpus+hemorrhagicum+mare&source=web&ots=6T7paKqqpI&sig=K-2sZ-47mGfCly_wCzRGVjIhcRY&hl=en#PPA297,M1

[dalesponyrider]

This link explains the Chorulan.

www.vetstreamfelis.co.uk/Corporate/intervet/hormones/..%5C..%5C..%5CDrugs%5Cdatasht%5Cv29c1350.htm

[emmadales]

Ill keep my fingers and toes crossed that all goes well on tuesday.

Hoping this injection does the trick.

[bevbob]

Well Im really pleased you have found out the cause. I hope all goes well on Tue Linda, how fantastic that Julie is keeping her there too.... that must be a huge comfort to you.
Lots of love and good vibes for you and D.