Self healing sarcoid?

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liz4949

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My horse has had an occult sarcoid on his chest for about four years. It has grown very slowly so we have left well alone on vet's advice.
He is now 18 and at retirement yard since the spring. I went to see him last week and to my surprise the sarcoid has completely gone. There is a slight change in the new hair colour but only noticeable as I know where to look. I was really pleased and just wanted to share as this is apparently unusual but has been recorded before with the addition finding that such horses are unlikely to get sarcoids again.
 
You are very lucky and I envy you. I've now been battling for 3 years with my young gelding's sarcoids, and I so wish they would regress and never come back. It is rare.
 
That's fantastic! I have personally seen that happen twice - my friend's stallion had one on his chest for years and it suddenly disappeared (she claims it was after she had a wart charmer charm it) and one of my horses had a small one on his nose for a couple of years that just disappeared this year without warning. I wish my mare's sarcoids would do that. Sadly she is riddled with them and any treatment only seems to make them worse :(
 
Probably a change of yard/ grazing has allowed it to heal, they are viral in origin so a complete change has made the difference, equally they frequently start or flare up when a horse changes yards or undergoes a stressful situation, we know very little about them in reality and I suspect many do disappear without intervention just as many get worse despite every effort being made.
 
10% of all sarcoids resolve themselves spontaneously. Also if you annoy it enough the bodies own immunity will attack the sarcoid and cause it to regress.
 
Thank you all so much for your knowledgeable replies. Yes I do feel very lucky and I did wonder whether a complete change of lifestyle from a busy yard to totally out 24/7 in a small herd may have been relevant.
 
Some lesions that look like sarcoids are actually viral warts, and as with any virus the immune system will eventually see them off. Maybe with less stress his immune system is improved.
 
I think as Sarcoids are immune based possibly retiring your horse has given him the chance to heal himself, Wish it was so simple though for them all :( My poor pony has just had 12 lasered off (Wounds look amazing now) but pretty aggressive treatment to get to this stage - So glad it worked out for your pony :)
 
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