Sarcoid on sheath - need to vet?

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Ciara121

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Hi all,

I've been offered a lovely cob by a family member for a very good price ( practically free). He's five years old and quite green but with a fantastic temperament. I've known him since he was about six months old and he's never been unwell with the exception of one or two cuts and he's been under the care of the local vet for routine vaccinications / checkups etc and was seen recently.

My concern is that two weekends ago when I finally agreed to buy him ( have been thinking about it for awhile), I spotted three tiny black lumps on sheath. When I said this to the family member, they started treating him with a type of cream from a local retailer which is apparently used by a lot of well known equine establishments and two of the three lumps have gone.

I will still get this issue investigated by a vet but am I mad to pursue the purchase in the meantime? I know I could just get him vetted now but he's being schooled and I haven't paid any money yet so I dont really feel its my call. The family member said they'd get it checked if the cream didn't work but as its worked for them before, and appears to be working now, I don't want to appear to be looking for problems where there are none. I've owned a horse before this for about ten years but I've never come across this issue.

Any thoughts? Thanks for reading.
 
I think you'll get mixed comments. If like me you've owned horses and have never had a problem with the odd sarcoid then it won't bother you ( it wouldn't worry me) but if you get someone who's had a lot of problems then they'd probably give you a different reply. I'd get the vet to look and get it whipped off ASAP.
 
Mine had a tiny wart / sarcoid on his sheath (about 5mm across) when I bought him age 6. It never got any bigger, and since I started using turmeric this winter it has now practically disappeared. The bigger they are, the more numerous they are and the faster they change, the more they are something to worry about.
 
I'm one of the different opinion brigade I'm afraid. Mine had one small sarcoid on his sheath at 4, he is now at 6 he is covered in them. Over the past two years we've used Liverpool cream on 4 occasions and last week he had laser treatment on one on his face and one on his ear. All other forms of treatment have been used and failed.

However, that being said, there are a lot of people who have been successful in getting rid of them. My younster's dam had 3 small ones around her udder at the same age. She was treated once with Liverpool cream and they went and never came back.

Bit of a gamble, but it depends how much you want the horse and how much of a risk you are willing to take. Good luck in whatever you decide.
 
Thanks guys, the lumps have gone now so not entirely sure what they were?! Maybe just warts or something? Getting him vetted in the next few days so hopefully he'll get the all clear. Thanks again!
 
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