MELANOTIC TUMORS IN HORSES

Abstract

Melanomas are reported to make up 3.8% of the total number of neoplasms diagnosed in horses. Melanomas occur in horses of all colors, but they are seen most commonly in gray and white horses older than six years of age. Approximately 80% of gray horses older than 15 years of age are affected by melanomas. Rarely, the tumors are congenital. A sex predication for melanomas has not been determined definitely. Melanomas can occur anywhere on the body, however, they have an externam predilection for the undersurface of the tail near its root, the perineal and perianal regions, the male genitalia, the head below the entrance to the pinna, the ear margin, and the paratoid salivary gland. Our study wants to see incidence and histological type of equine melanoma in our studied cases