At Abbey Equine Clinic we have several options available for the treatment of lumps and sarcoids in our patients.

Sarcoids are a type of skin tumour that commonly affect horses. They are the most frequent skin tumours found in equines, and while they are generally benign, they can be locally aggressive and cause cosmetic issues. The exact cause of sarcoids is not fully understood, but they are associated with bovine papillomavirus (BPV) infection. Typically, sarcoids are not painful or itchy, but they are locally invasive, persistent, and progressive. They greatly in size and appearance. Over time they can increase in size and become ulcerated, infected and sore if left untreated.

There are a variety of treatment options available and we recommend you discuss the best treatment options for your horse with one of our veterinary surgeons. We have our own diode laser and surgical facilities allowing us to complete this treatment ourselves. We also have regular visits from Jeremy Kemp-Symonds, BA (Hons), BSc (Hons), MSc, BVMS, MRCVS who is an expert in the field of sarcoid treatment and allows us access to the most up to date and effective therapies available for our patients.

A major benefit of laser surgery is the reduced risk of contaminating the surgical wound with tumour cells as the laser damages tumour cells on the border of lesions helping to prevent the sarcoid recurring, whilst sealing off the wound bed and any blood vessels. This prevents bleeding however it does mean that these wounds must be left open to heal by ‘secondary intention’. The surgical wounds initially look unsightly, but typically they heal well, with a good cosmetic outcome and a reduce chance of recurrence compared to surgical removal alone. Laser surgery may be performed under standing sedation or general anaesthetic, depending on the number, size, and extent of the sarcoids present. Usually all sarcoids can be removed in one fell swoop, avoiding the need for multiple repeat veterinary visits as with other treatment options(topical creams etc).

‍