One of the most common skin tumours in horses and ponies is sarcoid. Many vets consider this disease like skin cancer of horses as this disease is locally destructive. Sacroid in horses is progressive and persistent skin lumps that are most commonly found around the sheath, abdomen, around the ears and eyes and inside the back legs. Sarcoid in horses is prevalent in around 6% of the population of horses.

Sarcoid in horses is generally invasive and doesn’t spread to other parts of the organs. This disease, however, affects the horses of all ages, sexes and any breed.

Causes of Sarcoid in horses

Sarcoids in horses are believed to be initiated by a viral infection called Bovine Papilloma Virus (BPV). So, from this point of view, not all the horses exposed to this virus need to develop this disease. Instead, only those horses are likely to develop this illness that is genetically susceptible to it. Some breeds are even more prone to developing this disease than the other.

Appearance and diagnosis

There are various kinds of behaviors and appearances associated with sarcoid in horses. Different treatments are available for different kinds of sarcoids based on their level of aggression. Therefore, the proper diagnosis is required to initiate the treatment procedure. When a diagnosis is not made right, it may lead to a worsening of the condition, so it’s crucial to identify the type of sarcoid correctly. The major types of sarcoids are

• Nodular
• Verrucose
• Fibroblastic
• Mixed sarcoids
• Malignant sarcoids

Treatment

There are various treatment options available for sarcoid in horses. Still, their choice depends on several factors, including the horse part affected, size and number of sarcoid present, financial considerations and drugs availability. The treatment methods available are:

• Surgical removal
• Freezing (cryosurgery)
• Laser surgery
• BCG vaccine
• Radioactive beads or wires
• Application of rubber rings or ligatures
• Chemotherapy/electrochemotherapy

Healthy immune system horse

The immune system defends a body from the attacks of other organisms that also includes the diseased agents. A healthy immune system horse will protect the horse from developing of the disease as immunity involves specific cell/molecule production that in turn develops specific resistance to the disease by destroying the foreign substance attacking the body.

Best supplements for horses

A healthy immune system of a horse will lead to the improved overall well-being of the horse, whereas, a compromised immune system can allow the sarcoid to persist longer and spread rapidly.  The immune system is generally modulated by nutritional supplements, herbal remedies, vaccinations etc. We provide the best supplements for horses that will not only strengthen their immune system but will also make them less susceptible to diseases. Two of our best supplements for horses suffering from sarcoid are:

• Immun-K™: This supplement is ideal for enhancing the effectiveness and strengthening the immune system of horses. It can be taken as an adjuvant to anti-viral and anti-bacterial therapy and works as an excellent immune system booster.
• Stop 20 AM&PM™: This supplement enhances the horse performance, reestablishes levels of feed intake and improves coat condition.