What to do?

[frostyfingers]

My dhorse will be 17 in April, and in the time that I have had him has had various sarcoid treatments which have been reasonably successful - until now.

Last summer he had a mega session which involved the horrible Liverpool treatment on 3 areas, one particularly large, which meant that he was off all summer until late October. It was pretty nasty for him and involved washing out with salt water, picking maggots off (yeuch) and a fair amount of bute. It did appear to work, however in the last fortnight a new one has emerged - quite big, oozing and fast growing.

I have the vet coming today to look, but deep down feel that perhaps I should just leave it as it is, and let nature take it's course. I'm not sure that he (or I for that matter) can go through another period of heavy treatment. I know it hurt him, and I wonder whether I should just make the best of what we have left. I think if he suggests the Liverpool treatment it'll be a "no", but if he suggests ringing it to try and strangle it is that worth a go?

HELP! I don't want to lose him, but can't let him suffer with it. Does anyone have any experience of dealing with sarcoids and any advice?

Hey Frosty.

Sorry to hear about your horse. Ringing them is the usual treatment, DH has suggested doing that to mare's sarcoid, but tbh she only has one and it keeps itself under control.

Good luck with the vet

I'm devastated....the vet has been and although he has rung this most recent sarcoid he doesn't think it will do much more than buy me a couple of months. The whole area is erupting, and apart from inflicting pain, it's pointless.

So, I have probably a couple of months left with my best friend and then he has to go, oh god. So upset, I can barely see the screen. I knew this was coming but it doesn't really help.

so sorry

Oh Frosty, so sorry to hear that.

You have done your very best though, and it sounds as if your vet has too. You are right to think that there comes a time when more treatment isn't in their best interests, and you know your boy better than anyone. All I can say is, take each day as it comes and hopefully you can enjoy the time you have left together.

Sorry to hear that :( Have you looked into alternative treatments? I know someone who had a horse with sarcoids which cleared up with herbal treatment.

I just tried a quick Google for this and got loads of company websites. The person I know went though a herbalist.

Thank you for your kind words - I still can't quite believe it, when I came back in from doing them last night my sister rang to find out how it had gone and I just burst into tears. Then felt like a traitor for discussing with her how and where to find another horse.....

Manatee - yes, we've been battling it for about 6 years with all sorts of different approaches, and I have to say that the vet has been fantastically open about it all the way. He's suggested alternatives and looked into them for me, but basically it's just our time is up. He described it as being a bit like an octopus - remove one bit and another reappears elsewhere.

So, Dhorse has had some bute and is out in a new bit of the field (can't quite believe his luck, usually it's the soggy bald patch) and we shall have to make the most of what we've got. My absolute deadline is before the flies get going, as it's an open wound and very vulnerable to infection.....

Frosty - I am so sorry. I had to make the same decision last year for my beautiful old mare. I had to make the choice between keeping her alive for my sake and putting her to sleep for her sake. I think I got the balance right - she could not have coped with another winter - but it was the toughest decision I have ever had to make and I really feel for you having to make this decision now. I wish you all the best for you and your Dhorse.

Poor Frosty. Awful for you. Awful for your horse. Hoping for the best for you.

Aww, it sounds like you have tried hard and it is just too severe. Poor horse and poor you.