This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Skin Diseases, Wounds, and Swellings » Bumps / Nodules / Warts / Tumors » Sarcoid »
  Discussion on Self-healing Sarcoid
Author Message
Member:
theresab

Posted on Monday, Mar 7, 2011 - 1:17 pm:

I bought a 5 year old mare about a year ago that had a sarcoid about the size of quarter on the side of her neck. I had the vet out to look at her and do a pre-purchase exam and without a biopsy he diagnosed it as a sarcoid. The vet owns the dam of the mare and said the dam has sarcoids as well. Since I was only interested in trail riding, the aesthetics of it didn't bother me so I went ahead with the purchase.

She went from living in a pasture with relatively poor quality hay, suspect worming program, and little interaction and grooming; to living at my place with routine worming, better hay and feed quality and routine grooming.

I read the information on Sarcoid treatment on the website and initially tried using the Crest toothpaste last April. It seemed to irritate her as she started shying away from me applying it (plus the flies really seemed to like it). The vet offered to sell me the expensive paste but since it wasn't growing or causing problems I decided to leave it alone. The only thing I used on it was SWAT fly ointment if the gnats were particularly bad during the summer.

About 6 months ago, I noticed the sarcoid starting to dry out/up. When I would brush her, small lumps would fall off. The tissue underneath was not irritated or raw so I just continued with things as usual as the sarcoid continue to shrink.

About 2 months ago the sarcoid was basically gone, however left behind was a thin piece of rubbery tissue. It was poking out of the skin through a perfectly round hole, about the size of a spaghetti noodle, white, about 1/4 inch long and seemingly firmly attached underneath the skin but not the skin itself. I left it alone initially but it didn't improve. So I grabbed it with a tweezers, pulled it as far as I could out and snipped it off. Slapped some Neosporin on it and left it alone again.

As of yesterday the spot where the sarcoid was is barely visible, hair is growing in and I expect in another month or so, one would never know it had been there in the first place.

Now to the questions:

1) Would the better quality of care made the immune system fight it off better? It seems logical to me that her body would have under gone a boost with the increase in care. However, the dam has sarcoids still and I know the Vet takes great care of his horses. Plus if hers are genetic, diet shouldn't make a difference I would think.

2) What was that white rubbery tissue I cut off? Would it have been blood supply to the sarcoid? It didn't look like a tube but solid, like a root. Unfortunately I don't have any photos of it, but I remember it pretty vividly because initially I thought it was a worm poking out of her neck. It seemed to be at the center of sarcoid, about the size and color of a grain of instant rice.

I'm chalking this up to spontaneous remission and will keep an out of for future ones but I'd really like to know what that rubbery tissue was.
Member:
lilo

Posted on Monday, Mar 7, 2011 - 1:40 pm:

I don't know the answer to your question. My gelding had a sarcoid on his sheath (biopsied and diagnosed as sarcoid). Without any treatment at all, except me keeping an eye on it, it eventually disappeared. So, it can happen.
Lilo
Member:
vickiann

Posted on Monday, Mar 7, 2011 - 2:37 pm:

I don't have the answer either but have also had a sarcoid that had been on my horse's face for quite some time disappear.

It would become inflamed and bleed at times so I would clean it and treat it to prevent infection.

My Vet at the time also gave me some cream to apply that I believe had some anti-fungal properties.

After a particularly bad flare it dried up and went away.

I do seem to recall grabbing some of the granular pieces of it and removing them with a tweezer.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Mar 8, 2011 - 11:07 pm:

Hello Theresa,
I too am clueless as to what you might have cut off but spontaneous remission is not uncommon with sarcoids and one of the reasons evaluating treatment efficacy difficult.
DrO
Member:
theresab

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 9, 2011 - 3:30 pm:

Thanks, Dr. O. I was hoping it was something common that appeared or was found as the sarcoid disappears. It was a tough piece of whatever it was, I had to use heavy duty scissors to get it off. It didn't bother her when I removed it and it healed up pretty quick after that. It's just been nagging me so I figured I would take a shot at asking.

Thanks again!
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC