Skin Cancer in Horses Signs and Treatments

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Skin cancer is not uncommon in horses. According to the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, these tumors can occur in any horse, regardless of type, age or breed. It is important to know the signs of skin tumors because the quicker the horse can get treatment, the better the prognosis will be.
Symptoms
Generally the signs of skin cancer in horses is seen on the horse’s skin. Skin tumors in horses fall into three general categories, each with its own symptoms. Sacoids are thought to be caused by the bovine papilloma virus. They may look like little nodules or exuberant tissue. You may see them on any part of the horse.
Melanomas are a second type of skin cancers found in horses. They are usually found in older horses of grey color. They may look like black spots on the horse. Often, this type of cancer is seen on the eyelids, beneath the tail, by the parotid gland and near urogenital parts.
The third type of skin tumors found in horses is squamous cell carcinoma. These will often have the symptoms of bleeding and a bad odor. If they are in the eyelid, then discharge will typically occur. This type of cancer may also occur near the penis. In this case, the horse may have difficulty urinating, bleed or have a malodorous smell.
In some cases skin cancer will also causes changes in behavior for the animal. This will especially occur if the cancer is causing pain.
Treatment
The treatment of skin cancer will vary based on several factors. This includes the placement of the tumor, the category of tumor and how much money one wants to spend on treatment. Typically, the tumor will be surgically removed. The surgeon will try to remove as much of the tumor as possible.
Additional treatments are commonly employed to get any remaining cancer cells as well as lower the chances of a reemergence of the tumor. There are different adjunctive therapies that may be performed. The surgeon may prescribe radiation or chemotherapy. Depending on the tumor, a medication that is either topical or oral may help to combat it. Lasers, cryotherapy, photodynamic therapy and brachytherapy are also utilized in the treatment of skin cancer in horses.
In addition to receiving treatment for current cancers of the skin, steps can be taken to prevent their occurrence or reoccurrence. If your horse is light, then avoidance of a great deal of sunlight can help prevent squamous cell carcinoma. Just keeping your horse clean may be helpful, as can sheath cleaning on a regular basis.
Fortunately, most skin tumors in horses do not spread quickly. Prompt treatment brings a very high success rate. If you do not seek medical attention for the horse when you see the symptoms, however, then they can spread. If your horse displays any of the above symptoms, then contact your veterinarian immediately for an evaluation.