SARCOIDS can occur in a number of different forms, and their clinical significance – and so impact on the horse – will also vary. They can be small and benign or extensive and spread rapidly into surrounding tissues.
Sarcoids are classified into six types and horses may have more than one type at the same time. They must be assessed on an individual basis, so always consult your vet if you think your horse may have a sarcoid.
There have been no reports of spread to internal organs (metastasis) but that does not make them any less devastating given the potential impact they may have on the function or aesthetics, or both, of the horse based on tumour location, size and frequency.
“Sarcoids must be assessed on an individual basis”
They are linked to the bovine papillomavirus,
