Chestnuts

[buzzles]

I recently found out that chestnuts are more prone to cancer, sarcoids, tumours and other skin diseases. I know they usually have more sensitive skin, my mare comes out in huge lumps and hives at the slightest bite, but didn't know they were prone to more serious diseases and conditions. My mare had a lump in her mammary gland and because of her colour they were very careful to rule out any sort of tumour or cancer.

Anyone else heard of this before? I'm a bit worried now as I have three chestnuts!

 

[kerilli]

i've never heard that, greys are usually believed to be more prone to them, and in my experience that's been true.

 

[madhector]

I thought greys were more likely to get sarcoids, never heard about chestnuts though, however hard I try and get something different I always end up with bays

 

[rema]

Greys are also meant to be prone to those you mentioned.Some horses get them some dont.I do check my grey over for lumps and bumps.Touch wood all clear so far!.

 

[PennyJ]

As Kerilli, I thought it was greys that were most likely to suffer.
Lucky me, I have a grey and a chestnut!

 

[seabiscuit]

never heard of that one before! have always had chestnuts ( must be 20 years now) and not one of them has ever had the tiniest wart or sarcoid, not even one the size of a flea?

 

[dieseldog]

Greys get Melanomas (sp) so if you go to look at one feel under its tail for bumps.

 

[eventersrus]

yes l had a grey mare that had melanomas and l event a grey horse that has a really big one where the throatlash joins the headpiece on his bridle,doesnt affect his performance tho. have never seen a chestnut with it!

 

[TGM]

When I spoke to my vet about this, he said greys are more likely to get melanomas whilst chestnuts are prone to sarcoids.

 

[buzzles]

Yes, I know greys are prone to melanomas, I have three greys aswell, really must starting buying bays! Although I've never had a problem with either colours. I do regularly check the greys for melenomas. It was the vets in the vet hospital who said it to me when I had the mare in, they scanned and took biopsys as they wanted to be extra careful because of her colour. It was when they mentioned cancer and tumours that I got worried.

 

[sarah23]

my chestnut had sarcoids, i had it treated and touch wood it never came back.

 

[Blizzard]

Maybe the lighter the colour the more sensitive they are, that would explain why Lance has skin as tough as an elephants hide add never gets any cuts etc!

Ive always thought it was greys who were more susceptible to sunbrun and skin compaints.

 

[loulum]

I think greys and chestnuts tend to have pink skin which is why there more sensitive.I had two greys and lost one to sheath cancer which presented itself in genital warts!The other grey didn't have any major problems but was rather sensitive.I've now got a chestnut who is prone to mud fever due to her pink skin and has rather a violent reaction to fly bites-she comes up in big lumps but as long as I treat these problems they don't cause any hassle!

 

[Baggybreeches]

My old grey jumping pony had two huge melanomas at the base of her ears, will try to get a photo to illustrate, but not heard about chestnuts!

 

[dieseldog]

Greys and Chestnuts don't have pink skin, if you part the hair you will see that it is black, if you have a coloured though their white bits do have pink skin. Maybe Chestnuts are like ginger haired people who get sunburnt etc easier?

 

[Nats_uk]

I've never heard of this. I have a chestnut and yeah he has more sensitive skin, i.e. boots rubbed after one day, plastic spurs left bald patches etc but his skin is fine apart from that (and he is unlucky enough to get whatever he would be prone too!)

Also thinking about it, we have had a few cases of sarcoids at my yard and only one was a chestnut.

 

[Mooch]

My grey has mostly black skin, but she already has melanomas under her tall.

They are very common in greys, to the extent it is normally expected for them to have them. Most of the time they stay malignant and don't cause any problems.

I've not really heard of anything re Chesnuts. Perhaps they are finding more and more out these days, especially as we are funded by insurance for us to treat any problems that occur.