to buy or not to buy! sarciod??

dazzlingsunbeam#1

dazzlingsunbeam#1

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I need help!!!

I really liked a horse, however when having it vetted the vet found a cluster of sarcoids under the skin that may not develop or could develop further!!! :(
The cluster was inside the back leg!! the vet was a friend and i really dont want to go against her advise but really gutted bout the horse!!
:confused::confused:
any ideas!!
is is worth the risk that they might not develop???
it was a safe allrounder that had lots of potential but is there more fish in the sea!!!
 
I went to see a horse last September, fell in love with him really liked him but he had one sarcoid at the top inside of his front leg. I ummed and ahhed and rang my vet who said dont touch it. One could spread and the various treatments dont always work. I was really sad because I liked the horse but at the end of the day I couldnt afford the treatment for the sarcoids as it would be void on my insurance because its a pre existing condition. Im still looking 5 months on for my next horse.
 
For me it would probably depend on the price. I know that sounds mercenary but bearing in mind that you would not be able to get insurance, unless it was ££££ under my budget I wouldn't go for it as I would want it in the bank to pay for any treatment it might need if it does spread. Perhaps check out on the costs/possible prognosis if it does and then negotiate with the owner.

Bear in mind, though, that however gutted you are now at not getting the horse, you would be so much more devastated if you had to PTS a year or two down the line because of the sarcoid. If the sarcoid is not really in an area where it will affect much, if it isn't very big and the price was right, I'd probably go for it if I really loved the horse- after all, any horse you buy might develop a sarcoid.
 
I'd steer well clear. Sarcoids, although not always, can definitely spread and multiply quickly and aggressively. Some sarcoids can be dealt with in quite a straight forward way whilst others are a nightmare and come back again and again, each time worse than before. There are so many nice horses out there without sarcoids why take the risk of buying a horse with a sarcoid?
 
I would discuss it with the vet a bit further. The treatments often work (but dont always) and the vet will be able to give you an idea of risk - I dont know if the clustering or the location for example are more of a problem.

If it makes you feel any better my horse had 6 or so when we bought him and they were treated with the cream and never came back. Vet obviously marked them on the vetting but said it wasnt a reason not to buy.
 
Thanks for all the replies!!

The money/price is good and the horse was well worth the price in the first place but he is a youngster so price reflects his age!!

so confussed!! i know its a risky business!!
 
Speak to your vet to get her opinion.

You could also ask your vet to photograph the sarcoids and send them to Prof. Knottenbelt at Liverpool University for his opinion.

If their advice is that they are likely to cause a problem I would steer well clear.
 
I bought my Lily last February and she had 4 sarcoids inside her back legs and one inside her front near. I knew they were there, got them treated, sucessfully, and have not looked back. I took the risk because she was the perfect horse for me and it turned out well in my case. :)
 
Think eggs is spot on as there are so many variations. I've got a horse successfully treated by a homeopathic vet (not with Thuja before I get asked) for sarcoids, but appreciate not all can be. Price would very definately have to reflect the risk, even if good value already.
 
A horse with a sarcoïd in boney places I wouldn't buy. It's hard to cure if there is a cure at all. A friend of mine had een horse with a sarcoïd on his hind heel (don't know the right word in English) She had all possible treatments done on him but she had to put him down in the end because no treatment worked out. It was frozen/treated with mades/radiocative stuff/operated/medication. She tried everything, lost a bag of money and ended up with a dead horse.
 
Dont go anywhere near it... one leads to another and before you know it there is a huge collection of them and often means that they cannot be ridden due to the discomfort. You will find something else - whats for you won't go by you!!
 
It's a risk, two possible outcomes. They remain inactive and do nothing, or they flare up and cause big problems. I have bought two with sarcoids, neither have been a problem. My one mare was on sarcex and hers have absorbed back into her body, the other is currently on it, the sarcoids have remained inactive. They are only very small warty type things. My horses were both under £1000.
 
Fiorano said:
I bought my Lily last February and she had 4 sarcoids inside her back legs and one inside her front near. I knew they were there, got them treated, sucessfully, and have not looked back. I took the risk because she was the perfect horse for me and it turned out well in my case. :)
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We had a similar experience last summer, when searching for a horse for my daughter. We found one who was, as far as we were concerned, perfect in every way, but he had several of the flattish, wart-like sarcoids. One on the crest, one on the chest and a couple on his sheath. We asked our vet for advice, and consulted lots of experienced friends, after which we decided that it was worth the risk, as he was such a lovely boy. We reasoned that any horse could develop sarcoids, and he was just the perfect horse for her.
Seven months down the line, I'm so glad we took that decision as they have a lovely partnership. Also, the sarcoid warts on his chest and crest have "disappeared". Apparently, the only predictable thing about sarcoids is their unpredictability, and that just goes to prove it!
I understand that there are several different types of sarcoid, some of which are extremely aggressive and may lead to a horse being PTS. However, I can only tell you of my own (limited) experience.
 
Yes for myself, no to sell on again! I wouldn't be bothered by the majority of them, and there are so many different approaches to getting rid of them that for most horses something will work. Sadest thing I saw was a lovely looking pony in the market who had several. I nearly bought him just to get them treated, looked like a smasher. We had a mare who was covered in them once, and had them lazered off,t his worked a treat and they never came back but expensive.
 
As an idiot novice, I bought mine with one flat wart like sarcoid. Another developed on his inside stifle. Both became enlarged and were successfully treated with Liverpool cream for under £190. That was 2 years ago and nothing since. The only thing the vet said was that I should have knocked a couple of hundred off the asking price.
 
I would have to say that I would not be keen on it, I have a mare that I had three sarcoids frozen off. They were small warty things, did not look like anything at all. The equine dentist pointed them out to me and advised to get them checked.

So far, so good. But i think I was/have been lucky. When you see what they can become, and the cost of treating them. Only worth it if horse is very cheap (and then you invest time, money, emotion in that horse).
 
Lyndsay said:
Dont go anywhere near it... one leads to another and before you know it there is a huge collection of them and often means that they cannot be ridden due to the discomfort. You will find something else - whats for you won't go by you!!
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Slightly negative opinion! I've had two that had sarcoids and both were removed (one with cream the other with homeopathic treatment) and neither suffered ever again.

SophieLouBee said:
It's a risk, two possible outcomes. They remain inactive and do nothing, or they flare up and cause big problems. I have bought two with sarcoids, neither have been a problem. My one mare was on sarcex and hers have absorbed back into her body, the other is currently on it, the sarcoids have remained inactive. They are only very small warty type things. My horses were both under £1000.
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This is a more realistic answer.

Personally I would rather not have a horse with sarcoids, as it is a risk, but its not the end of the world. With my two sarcoid horses, one was treated with a mixture of lemon balm and tea tree (advised by my vet before trying more aggressive treatments, and it worked - cost under £5!), the other was treated by the vet putting cream on - cost two or three call outs and the cost of the cream, so not a fortune. Insurance is the gamble - they will not cover for sarcoids usually, so if they were to develop badly you would be on your own.. If your vet is also your friend I guess that you will have had a deeper opinion than most of us get from a vetting - so you really should listen to that.
 
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