Today we want to talk about skin cancer, more specifically, skin cancer in equine.

We recently had a horse come in with
a giant tumor on his penis, so we surgically removed it and sent him on his way. We have compiled some information that might be able to help you identify or prevent skin cancer in your own horses.

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There are several different types, some of which are benign and will not metastasize, but the most common cases we run across are melanomas, squamous cell carcinomas and sarcoids.

These skin cancers are most common in less pigmented horses and can be found on the lightest, most sensitive parts of their body, i.e. lips, face, eyes, vagina, penis, buttocks.

Melanomas are benign growths that don’t necessary have the potential to cause your horse serious problems. Some can be removed surgically or by freezing, but in some cases, radiotherapy or chemotherapy might be the best option. These methods of removal are all based on the size of the mass. Melanomas generally look like a grey or black mass on the horse’s body that is firm to the touch.

Squamous cell carcinomas are a bit more aggressive, that is most commonly caused from sun damage. These types of tumors are generally pink or red and moist looking. These can be very serious and will need to be removed by a veterinarian.

Sarcoids are more like a skin growth which is caused by a virus spread through flies. In most cases, it is best to just leave sarcoids alone, because unlike the others, sarcoids have the potential to grow back. However, if it is in an area on your horse that could potentially rub tack and become sore, it is best to seek help from your local veterinarian.

Prevention may be a bit difficult, but doing these things could definitely help:
Use fly masks on faces with white lips, ears etc.
Fly sheets for full body protection
Baby sunblock on face sensitive areas
Or night time turnouts if possible to maximize protection

It is important to look over your horses, especially in their non-pigmented areas to ensure early detection.

If you believe your horse might have any of the cases discussed above, give us a call at (405) 547-8381.

Skin Cancer in Equine

Benchmark Animal Hospital Staff

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