Sarcoids in Horses & Ponies - a Type of Equine Skin Cancer
Definition:
Sarcoids in Horses are a benign type of skin cancer that affects
some horses. Sarcoids are thought to caused by a virus infection
and can occur in all types, breeds and colours
of horses and ponies in all parts of the world.
Sarcoids should not really be described as warts as they are not caused by the wart virus papilloma.
The sarcoid growths are locally invasive in the areas of skin surrounding the sarcoid but fortunately they do not spread to the horse or pony's internal organs as can sometimes happen with malignant equine tumours.
Some ponies and horses do become quite severely affected by sarcoids.
WHERE SARCOIDS GROW ON A HORSE OR PONY
Sarcoids can grow on almost any part of horse or pony's body.
The most usual sites for sarcoids are the areas of the horse that have thin skin and / or little or no hair - for example around the muzzle, eyes and sheath.
DIFFERRENT TYPES OF SARCOID THAT AFFECT HORSES
There are 6 different types of equine sarcoid: Occult, Nodular, Verrucose, Fibroblastic, Mixed and Malevolent.
The fibrolastic type of horse sarcoid grows much more quickly than the other forms and usually occurs on the head, legs or abdomen of a horse or pony.
The verrucous or warty form of equine sarcoid grows slowly.
This type of sarcoid has a dry hardened, crusty appearance. IA verrucous sarcoid can be flat or stands up on a stalk.
OCCURRENCE OF SARCOIDS IN HORSES
Sarcoids increase in number during the summer months, this is possibly due to being spread by flies and insects, and they tend to increase in size during the wintertime.
Once a horse has developed one sarcoid, it is extremely likely that he will get more growths of a similar nature.
HOW TO TREAT SARCOIDS IN HORSES
There are several methods of treatment for horse sarcoids:
Surgical removal, cryosurgery or freezing, radiation, homeopathy, BCG
Injection, laser surgery and chemotherapy are the most common methods
of removing sarcoids from a horse or pony.
HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENTS AND REMEDIES FOR HORSE SARCOIDS
Care must be taken with Homeopathic and natural treatments as some substances such as Aloe Vera and Tea Tree oil are contra-indicated and can be dangerous.
The homeopathic remedy Thuja has been reported as being a successful remedy for sarcoids where other treatments have failed - especially for the warty type of sarcoid.
The generally recommended dose is 3 x 1m tablets twice a day for one week, followed by a break of a week, then dosing for another week until the growths disappear.
Thuja cream is another method of treatment and can be applied every other day.
Silica is a homeopathic remedy recommended to benefit the nodular type of sarcoid.
PREVENTING GROWTH AND SPREAD OF SARCOIDS
Accidental injury, biopsy or surgical interference with a sarcoid growth on a horse may aggravate the growth and cause agressive regrowth.
Ideally a horse should be treated for sarcoids at an early stage when the lesions are small and before they have spread.
HORSE CARE ADVICE AND EQUESTRIAN ARTICLES
How to Treat Mud Fever | Horse Insurance Advice | Salt Blocks for Horses | Arthritis Supplements for Horse | Equine Dentistry | Horse Feed Storage | Dehydration in Horses | Horse Worm Egg Counts | Supplements for Veteran Horses | Benefits of Glucosamine Supplements for Horses | Salt Blocks |Anaemic Horse |Kent Tack Shops | Essex Saddlery | Capped Hocks Horses | Feeding an Overweight Horse | Definition and treatment of Sarcoid - a benign form
of equine skin cancer in horses
and ponies caused by a virus infection.
Treatment includes laser surgery, homeopathy, freezing and chemotherapy.