laser sarcoid removal experiences?

[coen]

I have been fortunate not to have experienced sarcoids up until this point but my gelding has developed a small sarcoid on his side in the girth area, this started flat but in the last few weeks has grown and so is now problematic as it is catching on or being rubbed by his girth.

The vet attended and suggested it be removed via laser tomorrow at the practice and that the resulting wound will take 1-2months to heal fully enough to ride again.

Seems a shame to take such aggressive action (especially in the summer) but as it is a form of cancer I have him scheduled in encase it grows further and then I have a larger wound to deal with.

I am hoping to get some feedback on if people have found this approach worth it.

 

[meleeka]

My experience wasn’t positive I’m afraid. My boy had 9 removed by laser (including one on his girth) as he was having a general anaesthetic for something else it made sense to try it. He was left with huge holes which were difficult to keep clean (and flies were a major concern) and they all grew back within a few weeks. The holes were much bigger than the original sarcoid, whether it was a small one or big. After researching it I think I was fortunate that they only grew as big as they were before. The thing that finally got rid of them was Liverpool cream, which in hindsight I wish I’d gone for first.

 

[Goldenstar]

fatty has had numerous scaroids removed by laser over the years they have never returned to a lasered site .
It probably represents the best chance of controlling the issue but be aware it likely this won’t be a one off so saving monthly into a sarcoid fund from now on would be wise .
The aftercare is going to be a pain you must protect over horses post surgery that means keeping some cream covering the wound and being on top of all wounds etc on the other horses if it where me having one done at this time of year I would keep everything else in fly masks .
You probably will get an anti viral to put on the wound after to help prevent the risk of spread and then use a barrier type cream the vets vary on which one is best but it must not be a cream that promotes healing.
Make sure they give you sufficient pain relief for the horse .
It’s a terrible time of year to do one .

 

[coen]

Really not sure what to do for the best...

The time of year concerns me as he is already very sensitive to the flies. He is out in a fly sheet & mask daily and a summer sheet in the evening when back in the stable.
My other mare is in a separate paddock so no real danger of her coming into contact.

I am also concerned about sensitivity in the girth area following this wound healing, has anyone had any bother with that?

In terms of liverpool cream I have seen a couple of bad reactions with delayed wound healing & large scarring and the vet advised against it. As I had heard that can make them also feel quite unwell I didn't push the option with the vet.

Has anyone tried having the sarcoid frozen off?

And Goldenstar, if I am honest, had this sarcoid not been in an area affected by tack I would have left well alone.
In your experience would you do it at this time of year or wait until winter? Obviously the latter has the risk of less time to add treatment onto the insurance and of the sarcoid getting bigger.
But I am sure I could fashion some sort of cut out girth to continue riding for the next few months.

 

[coen]

The other problem in terms of pain relief is that he is incredibly fussy and will not eat bute in anything.

 

[cundlegreen]

Really not sure what to do for the best...

The time of year concerns me as he is already very sensitive to the flies. He is out in a fly sheet & mask daily and a summer sheet in the evening when back in the stable.
My other mare is in a separate paddock so no real danger of her coming into contact.

I am also concerned about sensitivity in the girth area following this wound healing, has anyone had any bother with that?

In terms of liverpool cream I have seen a couple of bad reactions with delayed wound healing & large scarring and the vet advised against it. As I had heard that can make them also feel quite unwell I didn't push the option with the vet.

Has anyone tried having the sarcoid frozen off?

And Goldenstar, if I am honest, had this sarcoid not been in an area affected by tack I would have left well alone.
In your experience would you do it at this time of year or wait until winter? Obviously the latter has the risk of less time to add treatment onto the insurance and of the sarcoid getting bigger.
But I am sure I could fashion some sort of cut out girth to continue riding for the next few months.

Can you not get a supplement for his immune system? I have a 2 yr old with one on his eyelid. I have gone the homeopathic route and used bloodroot cream on it, and a lot of it has grown out, and dropped off. I would rather encourage his body to expell it rather than use more invasive treatment.

 

[Carrots&Mints]

yeah - 3 grand later and they returned 6 months later bigger than before! DONT DO IT

 

[Goldenstar]

Your mare is still at risk , flys well ....fly .

 

[Goldenstar]

I would take it off in early winter , however it depends on how aggressive it is your vet will advise .
Be prepared to be shocked when you see it post op , it’s not nice I was present when Fatty underwent lasering at the dick when it was a very new procedure .
I am quite used to horsey gore but that was at the limit I will admit to feeling faint when I smelt him burning and there’s a fair bit of blood post op .
You need to be prepared it removes that sarcoid but unless your very lucky the herpes virus is lurking in the horse waiting to go again when the circumstances suit it.
It’s important to keep the horse well and not stressed .
I think Fattys had five bouts of lasering a couple in bad places cut out and two bouts with Liverpool cream he’s not had one for about six years fingers crossed .
You take the gamble in Fatties case he was awesome at his job so the cost was worth it if your horse is insured I would throw everything at it for a year and in the meantime start saving something monthly to cover any future problems .
You pay your money and you take your chance .
Vets do not expect or promise that it’s a cure .

 

[exracehorse]

My lad had scaring from laser removal on his inner stifle. Came up on vetting. I’ve had him 2.5 years and the sarcoid has returned. But grown at quite a rate. As it’s not effecting his tack position etc , I’ll leave. So it didn’t work.

 

[coen]

Ah it is so difficult to know what to do with this.

I keep the two horses at home so inevitably if it is viral based then my mare would be exposed to it & there is not much I can do about that. They are in separate paddocks, have their own grooming kits, tack & rugs ect but still not much else I could do practically.

Has anyone had any success with the more homeopathic route?
I have been popping a little well gel (aloe vera based cream) on it.
Feed wise he was on dengie healthy tummy + equi jewel and I have now bough the sarc ex supplement

If there is anything anyone recommends please let me know.

 

[Goldenstar]

You should not use anything that promotes healing you need to ask your Vet what to use I would be using an anti viral if it’s any way raw to protect the horses and cattle near by and also a barrier cream .
And gallons of fly spray eye masks etc .

They don’t fully understand How they spread they may do it in several ways but flys and cows and others horses with wounds are in the mix it’s also likely that’s why they get them round the eyes the flys go on the eye site

 

[Goldenstar]

The other problem in terms of pain relief is that he is incredibly fussy and will not eat bute in anything.

They can inject with painrelef in the surgery and then get the Bute in tubes like a wormer .

 

[cundlegreen]

Ah it is so difficult to know what to do with this.

I keep the two horses at home so inevitably if it is viral based then my mare would be exposed to it & there is not much I can do about that. They are in separate paddocks, have their own grooming kits, tack & rugs ect but still not much else I could do practically.

Has anyone had any success with the more homeopathic route?
I have been popping a little well gel (aloe vera based cream) on it.
Feed wise he was on dengie healthy tummy + equi jewel and I have now bough the sarc ex supplement

If there is anything anyone recommends please let me know.

This is who I used. https://www.facebook.com/dorothy.mc...1DJTuHn9PN48l6iMtsYQSWQ8KbcLmGWt41njY&fref=nf
Her sarcoid pills helped the sarcoid to come more to a head, then I used the bloodroot cream. I also got a remedy for a mare that had crusty spots all over her, and that worked in less than three weeks.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

I have known 3 horses to have sarcoids lasered off. All 3 are clear, scarless and the sarcoids have never returned - one was lasered 15 years ago and is still clear of them!

I've dealt with ones that have been cut off too. Sometimes they come back, sometimes they don't.

Never had experience of Liverpool cream. Bloodroot did nothing for the one we used it on who then went forward to the laser and hasn't had a problem since.

 

[coen]

Well following advice from the vet again I proceeded and he had the laser surgery yesterday and a inch deep disc has been removed.
The specialist called following to let me know that he doesnt think it is actually a sarcoid so we will know more when the lab results come back.

As he gets terrorised by the flies I mentioned I was concerned about possible infection so they said I could cover the wound but he rolls at lot in his stable during the evenings so this came off, I popped a new dressing on at 10pm and then it was off again by the morning.

The only cream he has been supplied with is the anti viral and I have been told to leave the wound alone and only wash if something yucky like poo gets on it.

So wondering if anyone has any advice for keeping a dressing on. After the first week it should scab and be ok uncovered apparently.

 

[Carrottom]

If the dressing is on the girth, you could put a wad of gamgee (or similar) over it and hold it in place with an elasticated surcingle.

 

[coen]

Turned out to be a melanoma and not a sarcoid which is unusual given that he is a chestnut but it seems we acted early so should be all good.

Fortunately the wound hasn't be anywhere near as bad as I expected and has dried out to form a scab so keeping the flies away hasn't been an issue, guess it is now just a waiting game to give it enough time to heal fully.