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Barnyard Buddies:  Cleaning Gelding's Sheath  |
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Hosanna
True Blue Farmgirl
466 Posts
Hosanna
Alton
Virginia
466 Posts |
 Posted - Dec 29 2009 : 07:35:15 AM
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Ok, I feel kind of silly for asking this. I have owned geldings all my life and know all about cleaning their sheaths, etc. I've done it my share of times.
But I have a situation that has me totally stumped, and worried, and I am on the verge of calling my vet about this, and feel so stupid. "Uh, yes, hi.... can the vet some out to clean my horse's sheath?" Yeah, not looking forward to that call..... but I don't know what else to do.
This is the thing.
One of my rescued Off The Track Thoroughbreds I got in Sept. started with a swollen sheath about 10 days ago. No biggie; we cleaned him with the usual ivory soap, warm water, rinsed him out, used a little mineral oil. We got some pretty big chunks out of him, too. I thought ok, the chunks are gone, he should be great now.
He was still a little swollen yesterday so we cleaned him again; didn't get any chunks out; and smeared a little neo in there for good measure.
This morning, he was three times worse at least!!!! I led him from his stall to his turnout paddock and he acted like it hurt him to walk....I feel so bad.
He's been eating and drinking normally; his stall is wet as usual; even though I have not seen him urinate. There is urine in there so he's got to be doing it. He doesn't act sick; just a little uncomfortable walking.
I am worried about urinary tract infection, etc. I haven't taken his temp. yet; I think maybe I'll try to give him a bute later and see if it helps; but I hate to use bute for these things.
Being a fresh OTTTB; I've been having the typical issues with weight, along with his buddy - also fresh of the track. I'm feeding them like crazy,high fat performance feed, free choice hay, rice bran, veg oil, all that stuff. His buddy is gaining and looking good; he persists in being skinny.
I'm now worried sick that there is something seriously wrong with him...... and maybe I need to have the vet out to sedate him so he'll "drop", and have a panel of blood work done on him to see what might be up. I just feel so stupid to call the vet over a swollen sheath. But we're approaching 2 weeks of it, now -! 2 weeks?!
Anyone ever had these problems before with a gelding? Any ideas before I make an idiot of myself over something simple? For all my years and years of having horses and dealing with problems they have, this is a new one. most sheath issues I've had go away with a cleaning and a little neo in there. I'm freaking, here. Thoughts?
www.happilyeverafterhosanna.blogspot.com
www.thewindofheaven.blogspot.com
www.CarolinaRoses.etsy.com |
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1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - Dec 29 2009 : 08:44:12 AM
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Unfortunatly, the one time I heard of this persistant problem you are descibing, it was cancer. I would have the vet out asap.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
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Sarahpauline
True Blue Farmgirl
672 Posts
sarah
Ringgold
GA
USA
672 Posts |
Posted - Dec 29 2009 : 11:32:05 AM
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I would suggest you have the vet out so he can get a sedative and drop, this way you can really inspect it and see what is going on in there. Thankfully Ive never had this kind of thing happen to me, but it could happen to anyone I suppose. Good luck to you. Sounds like an infections process that may require an antibiotic.
Not all those who wander are lost...
www.SarahPauline.com
www.AbraxasBaroque.com |
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Faransgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
895 Posts
Beth
Houston
Texas
USA
895 Posts |
Posted - Dec 29 2009 : 5:19:55 PM
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Call, the vet. I worked at a rescue and we had all sorts of problems. It may just be a bug bite reaction, or it might be cancer. Either way nothing to mess around with. Whatever it is if he is uncomfortable he needs help. At the rescue we actually had to have one horse's penis amputated and one we worked with for weeks while he carried it around in a sling made of ace bandages. We thought we would have to have it amputated but we managed to get the infection under control and he ended up keeping his. Call the vet, better to feel silly than have to watch an amputation.
Farmgirl Sister 572
May the force of the horse be with you. |
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Toots
True Blue Farmgirl
68 Posts
Barb
Brussels
Ontario
Canada
68 Posts |
Posted - Dec 30 2009 : 04:34:21 AM
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I had this happen to my gelding last year. He stocked up. That is were he swelled up when we had him inside and standing in a stall when it was storming here. We had the vet out and he cleaned his sheath as I did and he was swollen for sometime. I think he may have swelled up more because you were scrubig it a lot. Maybe, my vet wondered too if it could be a heart problem so then the circulation doesn't pump as much blood when they are standing around. With you feeding him a lot of grain his urine maybe more on the acidic side and may burn more than normal. Try turning him out if it is possible and let him run around for a while and get the circulation going again. If he is a race horse he will be used to getting lots of work and your heaven maybe different for his system. Hope everything works out o.k for you! Keep us posted.
Barb |
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Hosanna
True Blue Farmgirl
466 Posts
Hosanna
Alton
Virginia
466 Posts |
Posted - Dec 30 2009 : 05:54:02 AM
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I stall him only in bad weather; the rest of the time he is in his turnout paddock, with his buddies - a OTTTB mare and a older QH gelding. All they do is stand around their hay piles and eat. Interesting thing is, as Barb was saying - both of them - the track horses, not the other QH gelding - stock up in their hind legs. From not much moving around. So the other day, I took both of them walking up and down the lane for about 20-30 minutes.
As I was pondering this yesterday, I thought about the fact that maybe we had made it worse by cleaning him; maybe we pushed something up in there further. I also asked my husband - who cleaned him last - if he had thoroughly rinsed him out. He said "Uhhhhhh.....I thought so", but sounded like maybe he didn't rinse him thoroughly enough. Even something as mild as Ivory soap can irritate that sensitive area. I also read a thing on line by a vet that said using KY was better than anything. You don't even have to rinse it. So we might try that, too.
I thought about his diet causing this, also. I do feed him a lot of Purina Omeline 200 Performance feed, and Equi Jewel Stabalized Rice Bran Pellets, corn oil, and endless amounts of plain old fescue mix hay. No alfalfa. So if it's anything, it's the rice bran pellets.
I gave him a half a gram of bute last night - and didn't touch his sheath. I haven't been out to the barn yet this AM - headed out now. I'll see how he is. We decided to give it till Friday and then call our vet. It's not that I am cheap and don't want to pay for the vet, I just prefer to call him out for things that don't seem like a waste of time on an over reacting, over protective fretting female. (ME.)
www.happilyeverafterhosanna.blogspot.com
www.thewindofheaven.blogspot.com
www.CarolinaRoses.etsy.com |
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Toots
True Blue Farmgirl
68 Posts
Barb
Brussels
Ontario
Canada
68 Posts |
Posted - Dec 30 2009 : 10:09:01 AM
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| I had another thought. What about arnica? It is supposed to help with swelling, muscle aches and pains. Maybe you could try that. My gelding had it for about 3 months because of his unactiveness(if that is a word.) There is just too much snow here for them to move around enough. What if you put him by himself? If he is by himself maybe he will run the fence and excercise himself. My guys fret a bit but if it gets him moving it may help. good luck |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Dec 31 2009 : 04:46:59 AM
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Don't laugh, but we have had problems similar to this with our male elephant and rhino.
Can't remember what happened to the ele, but the poor rhino had been housed on sand.
NOT good!
So vets were called, gently washed him out for a few days, and eventually the swelling went down.
So it might be prudent to call the vet |
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junkjunkie
True Blue Farmgirl
1306 Posts
Judy
Lawrenceville
NJ
USA
1306 Posts |
Posted - Jan 01 2010 : 09:07:38 AM
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I'll first begin by saying that I have no experience with horses whatsoever...other than reading some horse blogs and internet articles. I looked up sheath cleaning on google and besides the cleaning of the sheath, you have to check inside the 'member' at the end of the uretha opening for a hard accumulation called 'the bean'. At the end of the uretha, there's a sack on the side of the inside that commonly collects the gunk that can harden. You have to use your finger to remove it (using gloves and lubricant). If left unchecked, it could become worse by getting larger and cause urination to become painful or clog up the uretha. You probably know this...I just wanted to add this info, from a complete novice. :) All the best in finding a solution. In the long run, you'd be doing the best thing by calling a vet.
"To have life in focus, we must have death in our field of vision." Benedictine monk John Main |
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Hosanna
True Blue Farmgirl
466 Posts
Hosanna
Alton
Virginia
466 Posts |
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goneriding
True Blue Farmgirl
1599 Posts
Winona
Central Oregon
USA
1599 Posts |
Posted - Jan 01 2010 : 12:35:22 PM
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I had one gelding that it did turn out to be cancer. But in all likelihood, it will resolve itself by itself given time. I don't do much sheath cleaning but my horses are out and about and Mom Nature takes care of things.
I don't think I would sweat it too much just yet. Let the pH come back to normal and things should resolves themselves.
For uber-opinionated, pleasurable horse related reading, please visit http://horseinfoperson.blogspot.com/
I have some other blogs in the works...please stay tuned and I'll let you know where to go! :-)
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countrymommy85
True Blue Farmgirl
898 Posts
Krystle
MT
USA
898 Posts |
Posted - Jan 25 2011 : 7:29:40 PM
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I noticed yesterday my gelding was a little swollen and I just assumed it was from him not moving very much. Then this morning while I was giving him hay I noticed it was swollen worse so I checked and he seemed fine, not hot to the touch or anything and he is urinating properly. Well the farrier came out later today and she noticed it and she checked too. Nothing out of the ordinary. One thing she did notice that I didn't was his flanks were hard and more swollen than what a horse his size should be. Plus on top of that He is losing weight. I've been giving him hay, when I noticed weight loss added Omolene, when that didn't help I added corn oil. Now he is underweight and I have the vet coming out tomorrow to see him. Any tips tonight to give me some idea's what it could be? I thought maybe lyme? When he was 3 his front leg randomly swelled up for about a week then just as randomly went away. The farrier suggested maybe cancer... I had this guy since he was weaned! He is 9 now! I'm giving him the best feed, best hay, clean ice-free water, regular deworming.... I'm so worried about my guy, he is such a sweetie! Anything I can do to prepare myself? Does anyone have maybe some easier to fix problems, other than him having tumors or something like that? Thanks in advance!
~We can make the world a better place for our kids and future generations by what we do today!~ |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
Posted - Jan 25 2011 : 8:09:16 PM
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Crystle if his flanks are hard and he is seeming underweight you might want to check his water intake. I know you said you are providing a lot, but in this cold weather, sometimes horses won't drink as much. Also has he had a snotty nose or any sort of cough? My horse had a snotty nose and then started dropping weight- turned out she had a bad bit with pnemonia and about died. So definitly watch how much he is eating. Also when was he last dewormed?
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
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countrymommy85
True Blue Farmgirl
898 Posts
Krystle
MT
USA
898 Posts |
Posted - Jan 26 2011 : 07:15:39 AM
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Alee, he was dewormed the day after Thanksgiving and for about 2 weeks his water intake was lower than normal. This past week though I had to fill the water trough twice so it seems like he is drinking more than normal now. He doesn't have a snotty nose but his manure isn't normal. He has his normal horse apples but there is a lot of liquid surrounding them. The vet should be here in an hour or so. It is so hard to be patient wondering what is wrong with him!
~We can make the world a better place for our kids and future generations by what we do today!~ |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
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countrymommy85
True Blue Farmgirl
898 Posts
Krystle
MT
USA
898 Posts |
Posted - Jan 26 2011 : 09:47:42 AM
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The vet just left and she said it's just edema from "stocking up" and being inactive from the extreme cold we had last week. She said that I should get him a higher blend of alfalfa hay since mine is mostly timothy and small percentage of alfalfa. I should also switch from the Omolene 100 to a Senior blend until he gets his weight back up. She also suggesting adding beet pulp. After examining him she said its quite normal for geldings to look that way after the weather we've had and she's had a ton of calls with people wondering why their gelding looks like a stallion. I was worried especially because I make sure he is clean and doesn't have a bean. His teeth are good, although getting them floated this spring isn't a bad idea to stay ahead of the game for this coming winter and she also suggested deworming him with a Gold product just to be sure he doesn't have any residual tapes. If, after following her suggestions, he doesn't look better in a month, then we will do blood work. Hopefully he will start gaining weight and keeping it on! Hopefully its the easy fix my vet thinks it is!!!
~We can make the world a better place for our kids and future generations by what we do today!~ |
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traildancer
True Blue Farmgirl
485 Posts
Loyce
Glide
OR
USA
485 Posts |
Posted - Jan 26 2011 : 1:39:58 PM
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I agree with the poster who mentioned the "bean". A couple of years ago my gelding was pretty swollen. It went down after the day's ride. It must have come back and that's why I checked for a bean. Believe me, it's not something I do for fun!! My younger gelding had a swollen sheath, again, that reduced in size after riding, but then returned. I finally took him to the vet because I couldn't get the swelling to stay away. Turns out, he had "evaginated" (what a cool word!) some skin from a previous puncture wound.
The trail is the thing.... Louis L'Amour |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
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rschaaf
True Blue Farmgirl
174 Posts
Renee
Wooster
Ohio
USA
174 Posts |
Posted - Jan 30 2011 : 8:14:31 PM
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Hosanna,
How is your horse? I worked for an equine vet and he never used mineral oil because he said it can make them swell. All he would use was Nolvasan (?) surgical scrub and warm water. My horse got small tumors on his penis and stopped dropping out to urinate so I would have to clean him every other day and I never used mineral oil or neo and he was fine.
"There is beauty, there is grace, in my peaceful country place!"
See what I'm up to at: http://www.lifeonctfarm.blogspot.com |
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rough start farmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
3331 Posts
marianne
The Beautiful Pacific NW
Washington State
USA
3331 Posts |
Posted - Feb 01 2011 : 05:11:52 AM
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Good luck Krystle, it is such a tough time to keep these big animals healthy. Especially, when they are trapped by rough weather! I love our vet because she is like yours and takes the path of least resistance and gives us a chance to get the animal healthy without big lab bills. I hope your gelding is better with each passing day!
Marianne |
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Barnyard Buddies: Cleaning Gelding's Sheath |
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Cleaning Gelding's Sheath
