Facts about Sarcoids

  1. The sarcoid has several important implications for both owners and vets

  2. Sarcoids can occur in horses of all types/breeds, all colours and both sexes. Horses in all parts of the world are affected

  3. Sarcoid is best regarded as a form of skin cancer 

  4. Sarcoid is not related to other forms of viral or reactive papilloma

  5. The commonest sites for sarcoid to be found are those areas with thin skin, limited or no hair cover and a tendency to sweat

  6. There are 6 different types of sarcoid
    • Occult Sarcoid
    • Verrucous Sarcoid
    • Nodular sarcoid
    • Fibroblastic Sarcoids
    • Mixed Sarcoid
    • Malignant Sarcoid

  7. The equine sarcoid can be mistaken for other conditions and other conditions can resemble sarcoid!

  8. An individual horse may have one lesion or may have up to several thousand sarcoids

  9. Sarcoids occur at all body sites

  10. Not all horses respond in the same way either to the presence of sarcoid tumours or to the treatment modalities.

  11. It is not known whether sarcoid tumours are transmissible between horses.

  12. Can a horse (either mare or stallion) that is affected with sarcoids be used to breed?

  13. What is the risk to foals if their dams have sarcoids?

  14. Sarcoids are difficult to treat.

  15. Effective treatment is more certain if lesions are treated early, and if the horse is under 4 – 6 years of age

  16. A diagnosis can be confirmed by biopsy of the lesions

  17. The pathological features of the sarcoid are very recognisable in most cases

  18. There is no effective vaccine for sarcoid. 

  19. Flies may be important in the spread of sarcoid across the horse

  20. Sarcoids are commonly reported to multiply on an individual horse over the summer and grow over winter.

  21. Horses with [many] sarcoids are often reported to perform less well

  22. A horse that has any sarcoids at all is,  by definition,  liable to them and probably remains so for life.

  23. A few cases heal spontaneously with complete disappearance of the lesions

  24. Horses with sarcoids that injure themselves can develop serious sarcoid lesions at the site of the injury.

  25. Accidental injury or intentional damage (e.g. biopsy or surgical interference) to a sarcoid may result in a more aggressive lesion with rapid re-growth.

  26. An early diagnosis and prompt and effective treatment is the best overall policy.

  27. The commercial value of a  horse with even one sarcoid is probably less on the open market than the same horse without a sarcoid.

  28. If you are considering the purchase of a horse with one or more sarcoids consider the following before purchase: