Overnight Rusty, an eight-year-old Thoroughbred, developed a very strange swollen spot at his navel. There was no evidence of injury, just the swelling. He was too upset from discomfort to communicate, so I decided to monitor the situation before deciding upon a course of treatment.
Hours later the swelling had extended along his underside past the midline. Now there was heat and tenderness and the area around his navel had swollen so that it looked like two testicles! One of the most bizarre things I’ve seen. Since he has an outie, my mind leapt to scary thoughts of a ruptured umbilicus. He loves to romp and maybe he strained himself? I put those thoughts aside and decided to focus on a less frightening cause, like an insect bite.
Swelling from navel to midline.
I cold hosed him, then liberally applied clay to all the swollen areas. I administered a natural antibiotic remedy orally and another mixed with his feed. This routine continued, minus the oral antibiotic, for 12 days.
Testicle-like swelling at navel.
The swelling along the midline was totally resolved within three days. At seven days the “testicles” were hugely reduced and the heat was gone. By day ten the “testicles” had disappeared. I continued the treatment for two more days just to be sure. Whatever it was has totally resolved.
Rusty back to normal.
Have you seen anything like this? What was your experience? Please feel free to share ideas and your experiences by clicking the comments link below.
