{"id":13660,"date":"2022-06-16T11:15:35","date_gmt":"2022-06-16T15:15:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/equestrianbootsandbridles.com\/?p=13660"},"modified":"2022-06-16T11:15:36","modified_gmt":"2022-06-16T15:15:36","slug":"equine-sarcoid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/equestrianbootsandbridles.com\/equine-sarcoid\/","title":{"rendered":"Equine Sarcoid: What is Sarcoid on Horses & What To Do About It"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
An equine sarcoid<\/strong> is the horse version of skin cancer known as an aggressive fibroplastic neoplasm<\/em>. It’s the most common type of cancer<\/strong> in horses and has multiple types of appearances and presentations. You might notice a lesion that doesn’t have hair growth, spot a sore that won’t heal properly, or observe a small lump that grows into a large growth seemingly overnight. It has multiple causes that include viral infection and genetics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sarcoids are a stand-alone form of cancer in that they are not related to any other type of cancer. The appearance of a sarcoid doesn’t mean that your horse will eventually develop other types of cancer during its lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Spotting an equine sarcoid doesn’t mean you should panic, although you do want to get it treated quickly. <\/em>Instead, sarcoid on horses is more of a nuisance that mildly affects their overall quality of life in most cases. A sarcoid can be irritating and painful, but it can also be a minor nuisance that never bothers your horse. They form in certain areas of the body and are also likely to form on top of scars. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Equine medical science hasn’t been able to find a definitive cause for sarcoids, but the current theory is that it’s transmitted by flies carrying bovine papillomavirus. Flies transmit the virus when they land on a horse and attack an open sore or bite. The virus then starts replicating once it’s made a home in the horse. Not all horses will develop sarcoids, while others will develop multiple tumors and lesions throughout their lives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The bad news about horses who have sarcoids is that they will always be prone to developing lesions and bumps throughout their life. The good news is that sarcoids are not related to other cancers, and a horse that has sarcoids can live a long life.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Advances in sarcoid treatment have produced results that slow down and even eliminate the recurrence of sarcoids, but to date, there is no medication that can prevent their appearance. What is certain is that all horses have a different response to treatment with some horses achieving permanent cessation of tumor development while others have no response at all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Read on to learn more about equine sarcoid, what to expect from its appearance, how to treat it, and how you and your horse can live with the condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As always, this information is for educational purposes only and you should always consult with your veterinarian when it comes to your horse’s health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n