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Sarcoid: Tumor composed mainly of connective
tissue that appears on the skin as the most common tumor of the horse.
Melanoma: A
tumor made up of melanin-pigmented cells. When used alone, the term refers to malignant melanoma. Sometimes confused
with sarcoids.
A sarcoid is a tumor composed mainly of connective tissue. The growths are very firm and fibrous
and may reach the size of a man's fist. A virus is suggested as the cause. There are six types of sarcoids:
1. Occult Sarcoids: They appear as round swellings in the skin with a gray scaly surface
and if left undisturbed remain unchanged for many years.
2. Verrucose sarcoids: They have a
warty appearance and often develop into flat thickened growths in the skin. They are slow growing but if disturbed by
injury or surgery can become aggressive and locally invasive.
3. Fibroblastic sarcoids: Involve
both the dermal and sub-dermal layers of the skin and extend much further than is apparent. They have a fleshy, aggressive
appearance, which rapidly becomes ulcerated, and are often associated with surgical or accidental wounds.
4. Malevolent
sarcoids: These are particularly aggressive and spread along the local lymphatic channels causing large ulcerative
masses commonly found on the face and the internal thigh. These sarcoids have a very poor prognosis.
5. Nodular
sarcoids: Appear to be entirely under the skin and are round and have a well-defined border. The overlying
skin is often thin and shiny.
6. Mixed sarcoids: Are common. They have components of the occult,
verrucose and nodular types.
Referenced from The complete Equine Veterinary Manual by Tony Pavord BVSc,
MRCV & Marcy Pavord
Your veterinarian should check all skin problems before starting any
treatment. You could be wasting valuable time if you are dealing with skin cancer and are treating for sarcoids.
The treatment developed by the Horse Protection Society is so easy and simple and also inexpensive. Grapefruit
seed extract is readily available on the internet. For many years, we purchased our powdered grapefruit seed extract
from Nutriteam.com 1-800-785-9791. This is a reliable company to deal with but they no longer carry the powdered
citricidal which is usally ten times stronger than most of the liquid forms. If you elect to purchase the liquid form,
you will need to figure the concentrated compared with the powder HPS uses.
HPS has located another company
to purchase the powdered form of the extract but we have to purchase two kilograms at a time: Amazon Forest (973) 584-3900.
Here is the treatment for sarcords:
Use a small baby food size glass jar.
Add 1/2 rounded teaspoon of powdered
grapefruit seed extract.
Add liquid veterinary grade DMSO (99% pure) & fill jar 3/4 full.
Let sit to dissolve
the grapefruit seed extract.
Apply twice a day to all sarcoids with a hemostat and a cotton ball.
(No double dipping.) DMSO opens the pores of the skin so avoid getting the DMSO on your hands. It is also a solvent so
never wear rubber or latex gloves or never put dmso in unapproved container. NEVER USE FLY SPRAY ON YOUR
HORSE WHILE YOU ARE USING DMSO TO TREAT FOR SARCOIDS! It will pull the fly spray into the blood stream of the
horse.
Grapefruit seed extract is a natural antibiotic, anti-virus, and anti-fungal. HPS will also give a
horse with a low immune system a rounded 1/8 teaspoon, morning and evening, to help prevent illnesses.
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