Equine Health Update EHU Vol 21 Issue 03 | Page 39

• Regimen: ○ ○ Successive injections are given at 1, 2 and 3 week intervals with each subsequent injection being given a further week apart, up to a maximum of 4 week intervals, until an effect is observed. Three to 9 doses are usually required (~5). ○ ○ Commonly some swelling at site and even abscess formation with sinus tract formation. ○ ○ Monitor horse for 12-14 h post-injection due to risk of anaphylaxis. • Freeze-dried attenuated BCG is cheaper, but more dangerous to operator and more liable to cause anaphylaxis. Hyperthermia • Requires repeated application over several weeks - impractical. delay the application of proper methods often to the point where conventional medicine has no chance. Before embarking on this, a proper analysis of clinically derived trials must be studied. Usually → failure of declaration of any results at all. Monitoring • Resolution of lesions. • Non-recurrence of lesions in same or distant site. • Good cosmetic and functional results should be achieved - some caveats at difficult sites such as the eyelid. Subsequent management Treatment Intralesional therapy • Cisplatin (emulsion of 1 mg cisplatin/ml in sesame oil to have prolonged effect from injection - good for nodular lesions, not for occult lesions) or AW5- LUDES. • Lesions around eye and mouth where BCG unsuccessful. • Nodular lesions (AW5-LUDES). • Some treatments may need to be repeated. • Care must be taken not to traumatize lesions. Monitoring • Non-recurrence of lesions. Prevention Autogenous vaccination Control • Illogical, no evidence that they are of any benefit and may increase severity of condition. • Ensure horses have minimum lesions over summer. • Ensure good fly control. • Lesions multiply over summer and grow over winter. • Wound management is critical where the horse has sarcoid or where other in contact horses have sarcoids. Homeopathy • Homeopathic remedies are often used but as might be expected are universally disappointing and can → serious exacerbation. • The main problem with these methods is that they • Volume 21 Issue 3 | September 2019 • 39