My donkey has just been diagnosed with Fibroblastic Sarcoids.  It's very nasty, he's been a little angel letting us bath it twice a day with salt water, and syringing antibiotics into him, although the last 2 days he has started to kick out so I'm assuming it's no longer comfortable for him.  Last night I was told he would require referral to a specialist hospital where they would do further investigation and probably laser surgery.....................this bill would run to several thousand pounds!!  As my partner has recently been made redundant this, unfortunately, is just not an option.  Our vet has said they could tie it off and see whether it comes back, but having read an awful lot on the internet intervention like this usually encourages aggressive regrowth.  Or we can leave it a while and see what happens, but the thought of sceptacemia is not a nice one, and the fact he's now kicking out suggests to me he's not happy.

Advice from anyone who has experience of this horrible condition would be much appreciated.  He's only 6yrs old, and I really don't want to lose him, but I seem to be running out of options.  Please help!

Hi Susieq, sorry to hear about your little lad, donkeys are adorable.  Just thought would mention this but there is a fab forum for horse people called Arabianlines that I look at  a lot of the time. The people there are really kind and helpful and I know the other day they were discussing Sarcoid advice. I know he isnt an Arab horse but dont let that put you off asking,I know they will offer you good advice.

Hope that helps.

Is it worth contacting http://www.bluecross.org.uk/web/site/AboutUs/Veterinary/VetIntroduction.asp to see if they can help out with the costs ?

Thanks Ponk, will take a look

Thanks LJS, got quite excited when I saw this, but unfortunately they only treat animals in their catchment area.  Anyone know of anything similar in Chester area? 

http://www.horsevet.co.uk/sarcoids.php
Have you seen the above page?

I think that for sarcoids surgery is a bit dramatic - banding does seem to be the best method to deal with the sticky-out ones, and treating with some sort of anti-viral as they are suspected to be of viral origin.  I don't know how surgery would stop a viral infection tbh.  To ease the discomfort I would recommend the banding - they will not be irritating him if he can't feel them anymore and banding will cut off their blood supply.

Look here

http://www.bluecross.org.uk/web/site/AboutUs/Veterinary/Veterinary_Care_Fund.asp

I know it says other companion animals but I would class a donkey as one so if you put up a good case I am sure you could persuade them to help ?

Thank you - this is the most positive information I've read so far.  Will discuss with vet today.

Also, you could call up some of the long established stables in your area as they will no doubt know more "budget" and effective home treatments for them :-)  Nowt as wise as horse folk, especially the older ones.

Missed that bit!  Thanks for your help, will call them today

Thanks for all your advice guys, just to let you know the vet has been and banded the sarcoids.  We've got a million balms, tablets, granules, and lotions to give him but as long as it works I don't care.  So, it's now just a case of keeping fingers crossed, and hope it falls off and doesn't return!

The Blue Cross were also really helpful, so thanks again to everyone

x

Great lets hope it works

why dont you contact the Donkey Sanctuary (Sidmouth) they may be able to point you in the right direction.

Hi Sam, I used to work there so that was my first port of call.  It's their fault I became obsessed with them in the first place! 

Hi Susieq
any progress on the banding of your donkey's sarcoids? Just caught up on this thread. Our Shetland has had them since we got him in 1994 & he's had some off surgically & the very expensive cream applied but some more have grown. He doesn't seem too bothered about them.

Hi there, thanks for your post, Ringo had the sarcoids banded 2 weeks ago, they dropped off in no time but I'm pretty sure they're coming back.  They don't seem to bother him at all and to be honest I would leave them well alone if it wasn't for the fact he has the severely ulcerated kind which bleed continuosly (attracting flies, and have a high risk of infection).  I've heard of cyrosurgery (freezing) which I'm going to discuss with the vet on her next visit. We're still bathing him twice a day, it's a good job he's such a placid boy!