|
|
Discussion on Sarcoid in Ear
|
| Author |
Message |
Member:
mandrie
|
Posted on Tuesday, Apr 8, 2008 - 11:12 am:
Has anyone had any experience treating a sarcoid in an ear with Xxterra? My gelding has a cherry tomato size sarcoid in his ear, which recently has started to grow more quickly. My vet recommended treatment with xxterra. My horse isn't great about having his ears handled. I am wondering what to expect with the treatment, and if any one has treated an ear, did you use a fly mask with ears to keep it clean during treatment?
|
New Member:
chance48
|
Posted on Tuesday, Apr 8, 2008 - 10:28 pm:
I have used both xterra and Aldara on sarcoids ON (not in) the ear as well as in other locations. Xterra caused much greater inflammation of the tissue than Aldara. I am extremely impressed with the results from Aldara in killing off the Sarcoid and in its specificity to the tumor tissue. In such a sensitive area as the ear I would definitely try it. Aldara is a human cancer cream.}
|
Moderator:
DrO
|
Posted on Tuesday, Apr 8, 2008 - 11:07 pm:
I have seen one horse where the Xxterra got in the ear canal and became very irritating and the owner could no longer treat it. In this location I would consider sedation and injections with BCG (described in the article). We have discussed Aldara creme including a treatment regimen and efficacy so run a search on it to find that discussion.
DrO
|
Member:
jerre
|
Posted on Wednesday, Apr 9, 2008 - 10:50 am:
My horse had a pea-size sarcoid at the base of the ear -- outside -- and it was successfully frozen off in three applications. That was four years ago, and it hasn't returned. There is a small bit of white hair at the site, however.
Jerre
|
Member:
36541
|
Posted on Wednesday, Apr 9, 2008 - 7:25 pm:
Hello Marie Anne,
I used Xxterra with complete resolution on a filly with aggressive sarcoids in both ears. They were the size of pecans, and growing rapidly. I chose it after lots of research, and because I needed to try something at home before hauling in quite a ways to a major vet center. Libby became awfully ear-shy during the process, and did get a secondary bacterial infection of the inner ear as the tumors were necrosing. I have before and after pics if you are interested, because I was a real skeptic that a "herbal" could help us. She is two years without recurrence, and has been started under tack with no residual handling issues. Best of luck, Stacy
|
Member:
mandrie
|
Posted on Wednesday, Apr 9, 2008 - 9:05 pm:
Thanks for the responses. Dr. O, my vet did discuss the injections, and we may proceed that way, but I am going to try the Xxtera. I applied it tonight without too much fuss, after he had worked, and was concentrating on his evening hay. Stacy, I would be interested in the photos, and I will try and remember to document this as well.
|
Moderator:
DrO
|
Posted on Thursday, Apr 10, 2008 - 6:47 am:
Stacy you have to remember that aspirin started as a herbal remedy. Our experience is that Xxterra is effective with just an occasional recurrence as is noted in many other discussions on this site. Based on my experience solely, it is only slightly less effective than with the injections and except for inside the ears my first line of treatment.
Note however that this ear shyness that Stacey notes can become severe. After several weeks of treatment and before the sarcoid was successfully treated the horse of my client would strike out with his front feet at those who would approach who showed any interest in the ear. Good Luck.
DrO
|
Member:
36541
|
Posted on Thursday, Apr 10, 2008 - 2:07 pm:
You're right Dr. O, I should have thought of the Xxterra more like I think of digitalis and I wouldn't have been so disbelieving when it did work!
Marie Anne, Dr. Larson did tell me that they had had mixed results with tumors on the inside of the ears. That is an additional reason I took the pictures. The first two application were not painful, but by the third day she was very tender and I had to twitch her to apply the XXterra. I applied it daily for 6 days, but could clearly see the tumors involuting by day three. I really couldn't believe my eyes. It was June, and the gnats were already active, so I was not surprised when she got an odorous yellow discharge from the inner ears on day 10, although the sarcoids were gone at that point. Taking care of her ears was a real challenge for months, although she has forgiven me now.
I will try to send you the pics tonight when I am on my home unit. I tried in the past to post them, but did not have the skills needed to size appropriately. Stacy
|
Member:
36541
|
Posted on Thursday, Apr 10, 2008 - 2:09 pm:
Oops, I see I need your email as it is not on your profile. Mine is stacyupshaw@earthlink.net if you need to clear me through your spamblocker. SU
|
Moderator:
DrO
|
Posted on Friday, Apr 11, 2008 - 8:46 am:
Stacy, why not post them here and everyone can benefit.
DrO
|
Member:
36541
|
Posted on Friday, Apr 11, 2008 - 1:28 pm:
I will try to post here tonight Dr.O, but may have to send pics to Admin as I am really computer challenged. Sorry Marie Anne, I have not made it home to the home computer yet - but tonight looks likely... Stacy
|
Member:
mandrie
|
Posted on Friday, Apr 11, 2008 - 11:20 pm:
No worries-we're not going anywhere though I am curious to see the images. The farrier was out yesterday, and his assistant remarked that he thought the growth resembled a cocoon, and expected a spider to emerge, so I wonder if I have the correct diagnosis. The tumor/growth does have seem to have a hard outer surface.
|
Moderator:
DrO
|
Posted on Sunday, Apr 13, 2008 - 9:23 am:
Though sarcoids are common in the ear another common rule out would be aural plaques for more on this see, Diseases of Horses » Skin Diseases, Wounds, and Swellings » Bumps / Nodules / Warts / Tumors » Overview of Bumps, Nodules, Warts & Tumors. Be sure to review the description of sarcoids because they can be quite variable. Perhaps we need a good image from you marie. You and Sarah will find a description of how to post at, Help & Information on Using This Site » Uploading Images and Files Into a Posting.
DrO
|
Member:
mandrie
|
Posted on Sunday, Apr 13, 2008 - 6:57 pm:
I will try and post the images. I am on day 4 with the Xxterra and see no real change, other than a discoloration due to the Xxterra. He is not overly sensitive, either.
|
Member:
36541
|
Posted on Monday, Apr 14, 2008 - 9:53 pm:
After a brilliant link from Ann, I think I am able to resize and post the before and after Xxterra treatment images I saved from a few years ago. The gunk at the top of her ear is the remainder of my Crest toothpaste trial...
|
Member:
36541
|
Posted on Monday, Apr 14, 2008 - 10:23 pm:
OK, now for the after picture, this is day 8 of the Xxterra treatment, but before she got the secondary bacterial infection. 
|
Moderator:
DrO
|
Posted on Tuesday, Apr 15, 2008 - 6:11 am:
Thanks Stacy,
DrO
|
Member:
mandrie
|
Posted on Monday, Apr 21, 2008 - 8:54 pm:
Update-I can't see that the xxterra has helped. The growth keeps growing, but is has now a black outer crust its about the size of a walnut, more or less. My vet is coming out tomorrow to check his teeth and the progress with the xxtera.
On a more positive note, Robbie looks great, is working well under saddle, I think we're one the way to licking the white line disease (see other posts), he's gaining weight, and is not demonstrating an increased head shyness, though it is clear this thing does irritate him.
|
Member:
cpacer
|
Posted on Tuesday, Apr 22, 2008 - 10:55 am:
Wow Stacy, 8 days later? What was the overall application and healing time?
My young horse has one on his chest that I think is getting bigger and cracks sometimes, and I just found 2 more on his belly.
Was thinking of doing the Xxterra treatment and now that I've seen this, think I will. Wondering if I can get the treatment done before it gets too hot and swarmed with flies though, or if I should wait until winter?
|
Member:
36541
|
Posted on Tuesday, Apr 22, 2008 - 2:41 pm:
Marie, what a bummer to see no change at all. I'll be interested to hear what your vet thinks about the diagnosis at this point. Maybe a straightforward removal will now be an option.
cp, I put the Xxterra on daily for 6 days, could see a change at three days. When the tumors were gone on day 8, I worried they might have fallen into her ear! Because she got a bacterial infection, total healing time was three weeks. She was very earshy for more than a year. I don't know if you would have as quick a response with a flat lesion - the attachment point for Libby's tumors was actually quite narrow so was quicker to necrose. I had to do the treatment in June, despite the gnats, as her tumors were growing daily, and I'm sure that contributed to the secondary infection.
|
Member:
mandrie
|
Posted on Tuesday, Apr 22, 2008 - 9:32 pm:
The vet cut it out today, and treated the area with xxtera and will send to a lab for biopsy. When I went by this evening Robbie seemed ok, recovered from the tranq, did not seem particularly uncomfortable, and let me scratch around his ears. Now I guess we just watch to see if it grows back.
|
Member:
mandrie
|
Posted on Friday, Apr 25, 2008 - 8:24 pm:
Tonight I found one in the other ear! I swear it popped up overnight, and is the size of a cherry tomato, white in color, and very smooth. Frankly it looks more like a fluid filled cyst, sort of, but he wouldn't let me near enough to touch it. (Its a little further back in the ear). I understood that excising the tumor may cause it to come back more aggressively but I presume it would be the same ear. It this just a coincidence, or is it related?
|
Moderator:
DrO
|
Posted on Friday, Apr 25, 2008 - 11:06 pm:
Coincidence marie but I remain uncertain as to what you are seeing. Would photos be possible?
DrO
|
|
|
