Problem in horses ear...?

[circlet]

This is a new one on me, maybe someone can help me out... Inside my 3 y.o. geldings ear, there is a lump of some sort. When you first look at it, it almost looks like the top of a broken off corn cob, but when you feel it, it's fairly soft, but not mushy, it's white-ish/pink-ish. It's not down in the ear canal, it's attached to the skin of the inside of the ear and is about as big as a ping pong ball - but flatter.

I'm going to call the vet tomorrow obviously, but in the meantime was wondering if anyone had any educated guesses? I'm wondering if it's some sort of insect problem?

Thanks for any input, I'll let you know what the vet says.

 

[milkmaid]

wart

 

[peg4x4]

wart-------or misplaced tooth..

 

[circlet]

my vet doesn't think it's a wart...but i only had a phone conversation, he can't come look at it until friday.

in the meantime, it doesn't seem to bother the horse a bit, i'll just have to wait and see.

 

[circlet]

My wife looked around on the internet, and found that it is called an aural plaque, sort of a benign tumor caused by black flies irritating the ear. The lump usually does not hurt the horse, except for fly irritation, which can be reduced by applying fly repellant and stabling the horse at dawn and dusk, the times when black flies like to feed. Lesions typically do not regress. They are not contagious. Using a fly mask with attached ear covers helps keep flies from the ears.

The University of Minnesota Equine Center is testing a medication called Aldara (imiquimod) for this condition. Other suggestions found online included a product called Dermafas and betadine. Try this link to see a picture http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/servl ... al,Plaques.

The vet will visit him Friday, so we'll see what he has to say about the whole deal.