Laser Treatment for Sarcoids - Wound Question

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sarahhowen

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Hi Y'all,

Last Tuesday Leo had Laser Surgery to remove 12 Sarcoids and has obviously come away with a number of large wounds, the majority of which are healing super quick and already dried out and scabbed over.

One is producing a cheese like substance which according to my discharge notes is completely normal - but what it doesn't say is what this substance is - I just wondered if anyone out there could shed any light on what it is and what purpose it serves in the healing of the wound??

Dont really want to trouble the vet asking as I already know its a common respnse and not anything to worry about - but Im just curious :)
 
sarahhowen said:
Hi Y'all,

Last Tuesday Leo had Laser Surgery to remove 12 Sarcoids and has obviously come away with a number of large wounds, the majority of which are healing super quick and already dried out and scabbed over.

One is producing a cheese like substance which according to my discharge notes is completely normal - but what it doesn't say is what this substance is - I just wondered if anyone out there could shed any light on what it is and what purpose it serves in the healing of the wound??

Dont really want to trouble the vet asking as I already know its a common respnse and not anything to worry about - but Im just curious :)
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The vet will be being paid a very large amount for treating twelve sarcoids I would trouble him with a question .
I am glad your horse is going on ok it's a bit of a shock the first time you see laserng done isn't it .
 
To be honest it was a bit of a shock but I had done plenty of research and had mentally prepared myself, what has surprised me is how well Leo is taking it all, Previously (Before we owned him) he had a number of sarcoids treated with Liverpool cream that even to this day he is suspicious if you approach his nether regions with any cream.......... Post Laser I expected him to retract into his shell and be difficult to catch as when we got him 18 months ago he was very devoid of personality and a ****** to catch - but he is SO much happier since they have been removed, I can clean them on my own without needing to tie him up and although he can fidget when I approach the ones near his nether regions he is fine as soon as I start to clean them, Personality wise he seems much happier and almost more affectionate.

I did keep him in for a few days post surgery as I didn't want flies getting remotely close to the open wound bed before they scabbed over, turned him out on Friday for an hour fully expecting to play the "you cant catch me game" for a few hours and he actually walked up to me when I went to go and catch him.

Whilst I don't want to speak to soon about how this treatment is going, to date I am thrilled with how they are healing, its just this last one that is taking its time and even then its still looking far better than expected!!

Cost wise, also they didn't get that much from me, Laser Removal for 12 decent sized Sarcoids, done under standing Sedation and Local Anesthetic, all follow up creams and Bute and the total bill was £575.00, I do think I will need to get more Flamazine as they only gave me a small tube but cost wise I have been pleasantly surprised :)
 
That's is good value .i paid £1200 for three however they where badly placed and a huge amount of tissue was taken out they took four months to fully heel.
Ask for a big tub of flamazine it works out cheaper .
I use filtabacc cream as a fly barrier for turning out my vet suggested it it works very well I used a separate tub for any Knicks or cuts on the other horses the vet said there's no evidence to think I could infect my others from a contaminated cream but better safe than sorry .
 
Thanks Goldenstar - Just found it on ****** and its a good price, Need to order his Gut Balancer anyway so will tie it in with that order.

Fully expect the wounds to take considerable time to heal but in terms of how they are looking currently its much better then expected.

Thanks for the Filtabacc recommendation :)
 
who did your surgery ? My lad had 9 removed last summer and he did look like a swiss cheese and it was all a bit gory but everything healed well. I was told to wash in warm salty water to start with and then leave alone to heal naturally. I was given some cream to put on them of which the basic ingredient was the same as you find in cold sore cream, as it has anti viral properties.

As Goldenstar says, you have paid for this treatment and have a perfect right to ask your vet if you have any questions and queries, so don't be afraid to call up and check.
 
Hi KautoStar, laser surgery was performed at Ashbrooks in Knutsford Cheshire, Wounds are generally healing well with just the one producing at the moment, I have called the vets and they are going to call me back regarding how long the wounds should discharge for before I start to worry :) Like I say, at this point I am not worried just more curious about what this substance is and what it contributes to the healing process :)
 
So whilst googling something else I have found out what the "Cheese like" substance is......... "Fibrin is a sticky yellow substance that normally acts as a glue in tissue rebuilding" :) All Good :)
 
Interesting how we have all been advised to use something different as after-treatment, and the different costs involved. My gelding had 2 removed by laser, 2 banded and the rest Liverpool cream over 10 days (3rd year running we have had to treat his sarcoids). He spent 10 days at the vets (in west Lancs). The bill came to around £1700, and I was told to put Equi-salve on them to stop the flies. The two lasered sarcoids; one on his face and the other on his ear, have healed really well. The others are just doing their normal post-Liverpool cream healing, but the reaction was faster this time as I think they used much stronger cream. I saw the Flibrin on his laser wound on his face, and also on a big creamed sarcoid site on the back of his leg.
 
Initially I was told to just clean gently with warm water for the first week which I did (Slightly longer on one that was discharging for longer, once they scabbed over they they said to use the Flamazine as apparently it is a cream that was designed for use in human burn victims and almost nourishes the new tissues forming, hopefully speeding up healing time and also reducing scaring. Is your horse now Sarcoid Free Helen??
 
My horse had laser treatment few years ago, I used to call he's wound a pizza as that what it looked like.lol
But if you are worried perhaps send picture to your vet.
I did this alot as never been though the healing process before.
 
sarahhowen said:
Initially I was told to just clean gently with warm water for the first week which I did (Slightly longer on one that was discharging for longer, once they scabbed over they they said to use the Flamazine as apparently it is a cream that was designed for use in human burn victims and almost nourishes the new tissues forming, hopefully speeding up healing time and also reducing scaring. Is your horse now Sarcoid Free Helen??
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Too early to say at the moment. The face and ear sarcoids look great and I'm very hopeful that we have been successful. Some of the others, particularly on the sheath and axilla have been treated before with Liverpool cream or banded and have grown back, so I'm a little less optimistic. Two on his shoulder were cut out and frozen last time, but Liverpool cream was used this time. His seem to all appear with spring coat changes, so we wait with baited breath, but I have an awful feeling that this may be an annual occurrence.

My nearest specialist veterinary hospital for sarcoids used to be Liverpool where Prof Knottenbelt was based (Leahurst), however Prof K has moved to Glasgow, which is handy because I have also moved to Scotland and Glasgow is now my nearest veterinary hospital. If the sarcoids do come back again my youngster will be referred straight to Glasgow for laser treatment on all of them next time. However, how many years can you keep burning holes in your horse before it becomes cruel? If we have to do it again next year that will be the final attempt. After that we will let nature take it's course until he tells us he is too uncomfortable to carry on. Sadly he is only 6, homebred, and the horse of my dreams. Hey-ho......
 
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