sarcoids and k/spines wernt herd of twenty year ago how times change ..

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thinlizzy

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Hubbys out kids busy so ive time to think reading posts, etc, sarcoids were never herd of twenty years ago maybe as warts, and k/spines definatly not, how times have changed ,because both are really common ailments my boy had sarcoids and was succesfully treated but i realised lots of horses have had them i have had friends with horses with k/spines yet there mustve been loads with sarcoids and k/s twenty year ago but never treated......is it just technology developing or are we a softer nation ?
 
I remember horses with sarcoids 20 years ago, although I do take your point. The theory that's it's a vector borne pathogen would mean a) it's possibly been spreading and b) it would be more prevalent in a denser population. I can only say to my experience but I'm amazed how many horses have sarcoids here relative to in Canada and I've now seen two groups that come from very dense horse populations, which makes me wonder. Horses travel a lot more now, tend to live in more places, and interact more often. Stands to reason more is getting passed around.

As to KS, surely much of the "rise" is diagnostic? We simply couldn't tell without an autopsy until fairly recently. Plus people are more likely to look now, especially since there are treatment options. I have a book from pre WWI in which the author details a study he made of various "unridable" horses which were then destroyed and he found a high percentage of spinal arthritic changes. Also, fashions in riding, horse care and breeding may have precipitated a situation where things like KS happen more often.
 
I think the same goes for Cushings too.

I remember about 30 years ago a livery at the riding school I was at then had a 13.2hh dark chestnut pony and we always used to laugh about his curly coat and never shedding much of it in the summer. Now I realise he had Cushings but I don't believe anyone had heard of it back then!
 
A horse of mine was diagnosed with KS about 20 years ago, and had surgery. John Walmsley who operated on him said that most horses who were reputed to be "cold backed" probably had KS or something similar, as there was no reason why a horse should just be cold backed. Other people said that the horse was "just being naughty" and I should give him a smack if he threatened to buck me off! He had another 10 years of happy life after his operation. Sarcoids were usually known as warts and I knew several horses that had them.
 
I had a horse with a sarcoid in 1972. It was called an angleberry.
I got a "cure" from up the country, and it dropped off. Wish I had it now, I'd be rich!! (I think it might have contained mercury, or some such banned substance)
 
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