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Sarcoids are particularly nasty fibrous equine skin tumours. Rather than being viewed as somewhat harmless warts or angleberries it is probably better to consider them as a type of skin cancer, which in severe cases can result in a horse being destroyed.
Unfortunately sarcoids are unpredictable in appearance and behaviour, and are prone to recurring after removal. However, the good news is that sarcoids do not spread to other organs of the body and some sarcoids never seem to change throughout a horse's lifetime.
There are six different forms of sarcoid but it is possible for them to change from a relatively quiet type to more aggressive if they are scratched or surgically removed, making them difficult for vets to treat.
The different types of sarcoid are:
* Type 1 – Occult: Signified by hair loss and a grey, scaly area of skin, which may progress to other types of sarcoid, particularly if traumatised in any way.
* Type II – Verrucose: Signified by areas of thickened skin, which may have a broad base or neck. Liable to become aggressive if traumatised.
* Type III – Fibroblastic: Red, raw, ulcerated growths that bleed easily. Sometimes associated with wound scars. Very aggressive if traumatised or surgically removed.
* Type IV – Nodular: Relatively benign growth seen under the skin and can usually be removed without dire consequences.
* Type V – Mixed verrucose, fibroblastic and nodular: Probably a transitional state, when less aggressive types are changing to more serious sarcoids.
* Type VI – Malevolent: Extremely aggressive mass of ulcerating nodules spreading through the skin.
Common sites of sarcoids include around the eyes, lips and muzzle, under the belly in the abdomen, chest sheath and groin areas, and on the legs (particularly on the inside).
It is not known for certain what causes sarcoids but some scientific evidence points towards a virus, so it makes sense to keep young unaffected horses away from older affected horses. Appaloosas, Arabs and Quarter horses appear to have a higher risk than thoroughbreds, and standardbred horses have a smaller risk than thoroughbreds. Sarcoids are most prevalent in horses between two to six years old and the risk is said to increase with age up to about 15 years. Thereafter it declines, with geldings having a slightly higher risk than stallions or mares.
It is thought that sarcoids grow over the winter and multiply during the summer months, which may be linked to the increased numbers of flies at this time. Keeping horses stabled when flies are at their worst is therefore a sensible precaution.
Treatment tends to be prolonged, repetitive and expensive with no guarantee of success. In some cases a vet may decide it is better to leave the sarcoid alone rather than risk exacerbating the condition by treatment.
Treatments include: radiotherapy, application of chemotherapy agents, surgery, freezing the area with liquid nitrogen, immunotherapy and anti-cancer drugs.
If you suspect your horse has a sarcoid, do not be tempted to meddle with it, as you could make the situation much worse. Always seek veterinary advice. However, don't panic as the chances are the lump you found could be something else such as a skin infection, insect bite, scar or some other type of growth.
Unfortunately sarcoids are unpredictable in appearance and behaviour, and are prone to recurring after removal. However, the good news is that sarcoids do not spread to other organs of the body and some sarcoids never seem to change throughout a horse's lifetime.
There are six different forms of sarcoid but it is possible for them to change from a relatively quiet type to more aggressive if they are scratched or surgically removed, making them difficult for vets to treat.
The different types of sarcoid are:
* Type 1 – Occult: Signified by hair loss and a grey, scaly area of skin, which may progress to other types of sarcoid, particularly if traumatised in any way.
* Type II – Verrucose: Signified by areas of thickened skin, which may have a broad base or neck. Liable to become aggressive if traumatised.
* Type III – Fibroblastic: Red, raw, ulcerated growths that bleed easily. Sometimes associated with wound scars. Very aggressive if traumatised or surgically removed.
* Type IV – Nodular: Relatively benign growth seen under the skin and can usually be removed without dire consequences.
* Type V – Mixed verrucose, fibroblastic and nodular: Probably a transitional state, when less aggressive types are changing to more serious sarcoids.
* Type VI – Malevolent: Extremely aggressive mass of ulcerating nodules spreading through the skin.
Common sites of sarcoids include around the eyes, lips and muzzle, under the belly in the abdomen, chest sheath and groin areas, and on the legs (particularly on the inside).
It is not known for certain what causes sarcoids but some scientific evidence points towards a virus, so it makes sense to keep young unaffected horses away from older affected horses. Appaloosas, Arabs and Quarter horses appear to have a higher risk than thoroughbreds, and standardbred horses have a smaller risk than thoroughbreds. Sarcoids are most prevalent in horses between two to six years old and the risk is said to increase with age up to about 15 years. Thereafter it declines, with geldings having a slightly higher risk than stallions or mares.
It is thought that sarcoids grow over the winter and multiply during the summer months, which may be linked to the increased numbers of flies at this time. Keeping horses stabled when flies are at their worst is therefore a sensible precaution.
Treatment tends to be prolonged, repetitive and expensive with no guarantee of success. In some cases a vet may decide it is better to leave the sarcoid alone rather than risk exacerbating the condition by treatment.
Treatments include: radiotherapy, application of chemotherapy agents, surgery, freezing the area with liquid nitrogen, immunotherapy and anti-cancer drugs.
If you suspect your horse has a sarcoid, do not be tempted to meddle with it, as you could make the situation much worse. Always seek veterinary advice. However, don't panic as the chances are the lump you found could be something else such as a skin infection, insect bite, scar or some other type of growth.