Sarcoids-what happens if left untreated?

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ech

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As title really. I have been to see a horse for sale that has several sarcoids in the inner thigh region that have not had any treatment. Apparently some grow a bit and some drop off but largely they stay the same. My only previous experience is of a few small ones (size of a small grape) that were treated with Liverpool cream. These ones are up to 4cms in diameter. Other than the sarcoids the horse is lovely just wondered what other experiences any of you guys have had out there.
Thanks, x
 
It's a tough one, but personally I'd steer clear, based on experience of my old mare who has always had a few. Ones on her inner 'thighs' up to a couple of cm across could rub, get sore and bleed when she was in work (rugs with leg straps are a no-no) which was nasty, same on her neck and the flies tend to hang round them in summer. That said, I did have some successful homeopathic treatment which got the worst to drop off, but they're still around in her old age. Burning them never made any difference, they just came back. Faced with one again, I'd put head over heart and walk away, sorry.
 
Best talk to your Vet as sarcoids are a very "it depends" sort of condition.
What type of sarcoid are they? The most appropriate treatment may vary with type. For some leave alone may be the best thing.
Depending on exactly where they are on the inner thigh they may be difficult to treat.
Are they where a topical cream would rub onto healthy skin? Pickle had a couple like that successfully treated by banding & injecting with Liverpool Cream. But others we decided not to treat as they were where the skin is thinner & there was a risk of the banding tearing the skin.
I have to admit that the word "several" would have me walking away, based on previous experience. But if the horse is perfect in other ways AND the price reflects the risk (I couldn't ride my cob for the last 21 months of her life because a treated sarcoid on her back failed to heal) it may be worth weighing up.
 
Walk, sorry. Treatment could be very expensive and left untreated they could cause big issues in the stifle area re rubbing (although you can put vaseline on the opposite side/around them to prevent treatment rubbing onto non-affected areas).

If you consider insurance, the sarcoids will be excluded and if you decide to buy then treat the horse, then you could be spending hundreds.

If left, they could spread and affect her movement and some YOs won't allow sarcoid affected horses on to their yards because of the risk of cross-contamination to other horses.
 
Very tricky decision. I have just got back from the yard this morning after giving my horse bute, hibiscrubbing a big hole in his groin from a sarcoid that the vet removed on Wednesday. I have three that are banded. Two are ok but the larger one is coming away at the moment taking alot of skin with it - which is looking extremely sore. Im telling you this as my horse had no sarcoids when I bought him 6 years ago. They appeared three years ago and the vet said to leave alone. They have grown dramatically this year hence treatment with Liverpool Cream, banding and some homeopathic pills. However, my horse is a true star a real schoolmaster and Im not hesitating to spend this amount on him...I doubt the insurance will pay out but a claim has been put in for several several hundreds of pounds ;0( . My answer is yes buy the horse but only if you are prepared for potentially expensive treatment of these. My experience is they rarely just disappear.
 
My lad has some on his sheath - they have never altered or caused him any issues, so have been left untreated. They developed a coupls of years ago.
If he had had them when I went to view him, I would have not given him a second glance, but he has turned out to be my horse of a lifetime.
The only thing I would worry about is if you need to sell the horse on in the future, so would get a vets opinion before you make a decision.
 
My boy has one from last year and Ive been treating it with Blootroot cream.Vet is coming friday to see it. Either way its expensive to treat.

A lot depends on the size/type of Sarcoid it is.
 
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