sarcoid treatment

My mare has had many different treatments for sarcoids over the years including oils and herbs, sometimes successful sometimes not. At wrost she had around 13 midline sarcoids most of which the oils and herbs helped but there were 2 very stubborn ones. These would go, come back bigger and drop off only to return again.  The last time they came back they came back very aggressively and within a week grew to the size of a hens egg. Unfortunately as they were in her groin area immediate action was needed and she did have the Liverpool treatment which is, if I am honest, harsh, aggressive and expensive. She had many side effects but this was because the sarcoids were so big she ended up with secondary burn inside her back legs and going up under her tail.  But it worked but tooks months of healing, she was clear for about 5 years and this year I see a nodular sarcoid has appeared in her groin lower down this time.

My personal belief is you also need to work with the immune system of the horse, ZZ is a poorly girl, and her immune system is not good, but interestingly Anya who has epilepsy amongst other issues has this year developed her first sarcoid at the young age of 18.

As Professor Knottenbolt says from Liverpool University "the only certain thing about a sarcoid is the uncertainty". They are difficult to treat, some horses treatment is successful, some its not, but what I would say and this is from my own personal experience yes use natures rememdies through self selection which will help support the horse, but do not apply anything to a sarcoid unless it is from the vet - I learnt this lesson the hard way and now the only thing I will put on a sarcoid is green clay in some aloe/seaweed gel to keep the flies off if it is ulcerated.

An alternative to the Liverpool cream which some vets are offering is Aldara Cream - it is not as violent and you can apply it yourself so no need for all the vet visits.  It is a prescription medication but I know there has been a lot of success with sarcoids. Best thing though, treat whilst they are smaller, it is less stressful for the horse.  Good luck.

Re: sarcoid treatment

 My old mare developed three sarcoids, two on her inner thigh and one on her eye lid (all appeared within a month of each other). This was about 9 yrs ago.

She was treated by dr knottenbelt (sp??) and the vet applied Liverpool cream to the two inner thigh sarcoids, plus a different gel (I want to say zorac? But was a looonnnngggg time ago!). They went quite sore but after about three months they had disappeared entirely and after 9 years they have never come back

Re: sarcoid treatment

There is also bloodroot cream that you can use that you get from your vet. That has cleared some up really well and isn't as harsh as liverpool cream and they haven't returned.