Cryotherapy for sarcoids -does it work???

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monstermunch

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My horse has a series of small sarcoids in his armpit and on his chest. The vet happened to see them today as was out checking something else and happened to mention that cryotherapy (freezing the sarcoids) should completely heal them as they are small.

Has anyone had any experience of this treatment. Was it successful. Any thoghts would be great. Have seen a studu where 33 out of the 50 horses treated were cured. Comments very welcome. Thank you
 
It worked for me. My mare had a huge, nasty one on her stifle and had cryotherapy on it. It took around six weeks or so, but eventually it exploded (completely gross!), but it never came back and didn't scar.
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Not quite, LN. Verrucas are warts but sarcoids are a skin cancer. Sarcoids are unpredictable so it isn't necessarily safe to assume that what works for one horse would work for another. However, cryotherapy can work as people have posted and it isn't as invasive as some other forms of treatment. If you decide to have it done, be very careful what you put on the wound afterwards x
 
Sorry I didnt mean varrucas were like sarcoids as I am aware sarcoids are skin cancer, (not necessarily malignant!) but I meant the idea of cryotherapy was similar to how they deal with varrucas by it!!!

Iv never seen it done on horses, not sure how it would work, or not! but I don't see how it could make things any worse! so long as veterinary guidance is sought throughout!
 
When we had it done, the horse was sedated and the cryotherapy applied in the stable (vet had a machine thing). The area around the sarcoid was coated with vaseline to protect the skin. I think he applied it three times or so, with a gap of a few minutes in between.

The next day the sarcoid was big and weeping. We had to keep it clean with saline solution, and keep the area around covered with vaseline or suchlike to stop it from being burned. The sarcoid got progressively bigger over the next few weeks after the treatment until eventually it actually exploded. It was the most horrible thing ever! But it all came off. Left a clean hole in the horse's skin which we then treated like a normal wound, it healed well and didn't even scar.

I think the whole treatment was around £150 so not bad at all!
 
wow, that sounds really gross! :-s

but do you have any pictures? just cause id like to see what you mean! (for future reference, if ever I see it in practice.......)

still, ew! but at least the end result was a good'un!
 
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