saddlesore
Well-Known Member
Despite regular cleaning my geldings sheath is disgusting and the smegma is pinkish. Once cleaned there are no cuts or abrasions. Any idea what could be going on? ?
Disgusting sheath ?
- Thread starter saddlesore
- Start date
Red-1
I used to be decisive, now I'm not so sure...
What are you using to clean it? It could be too harsh for the delicate skin?
Goldenstar
Well-Known Member
You could be over cleaning how often are you cleaning this .
its unlikely to be serious but it might be .
I think you should talk to a vet sooner rather than later it might help if you got a video and some stills to send to vet .
its unlikely to be serious but it might be .
I think you should talk to a vet sooner rather than later it might help if you got a video and some stills to send to vet .
saddlesore
Well-Known Member
i tend to use fragrance free baby wipes to gently remove any ‘goop’ and then I’ll either pop on a bit of lube ? or a dot of sudocreme. I have sheath cleanser but only use that occasionally. I’m fairly sure I’m doing the wrong thing but it needs done so often I’m at my wits end.
saddlesore
Well-Known Member
I’m almost certainly over cleaning by this point. I was thinking to contact the vet, it’s really strange though as once clean there’s no evidence of anything sinister or anything that could be causing it. Pics and video is a great shout ?
Carlosmum
Well-Known Member
My last gelding was a horribly mucky chap. I found myself pulling lumps of black goo out regularly. For cleaning I only ever used veterinary obstetric gel ( lambing lube) and sometimes warm water. I think some geldings are just that way inclined. I know when mine hadn't had much work, he was muckier. Its as if the movement of the hind legs would help clear it.
Gloi
Too little time, too much to read.
The smegma is likely to be pinkish if he has pink skin there.
SEL
Well-Known Member
I got the vet to sedate so we could have a good look at my old boy who was mucky and didn't seem to be retracting properly. Vet gave a good clean with loads of dried up disgusting lumps.
A month or so late the willy cleaning lady was out so I thought I'd see whether she could do anything without sedation. She found a huuuuuge bean and I didn't really have any problems with him for years after
A month or so late the willy cleaning lady was out so I thought I'd see whether she could do anything without sedation. She found a huuuuuge bean and I didn't really have any problems with him for years after
millikins
Well-Known Member
My old boy is really mucky, always has been and won't let me anywhere near his willy. He's a greasy pony, his coat is very shiny and greasy, his mane and tail too. He sees the willy lady from time to time, she, unlike me is allowed to fiddle with his nether regions.
AdorableAlice
Well-Known Member
I find if I keep my old lad too warm he gets a mucky sheath much quicker than if he is a comfortable temperature. He also gets mucky if he isnt moving around enough.
Cleaning wise I use warm water and nothing else.
Cleaning wise I use warm water and nothing else.
Gloi
Too little time, too much to read.
Mine gets pretty disgusting in winter he seems to fill it with mud as well as smegma. I tend to slosh the warm hose up there to swill it out.
Archangel
Normal, 10 cats ago
Live natural yoghurt (left at room temperature for a while to activate all the good bacteria). Apply generously as far up as you can get. Don't rinse it off.
This keeps my gelding's sheath in excellent order.
This keeps my gelding's sheath in excellent order.
irishdraft
Well-Known Member
My gelding has the most foul sheath atm, he has a whitish/pinkish looking goo which doesn't smell the best. His legs are covered with black crud, it's normal for him, it seems to have phases of it being foul. I just scrub his legs clean and clean out the sheath with warm plain water. I don't think there are any health issues.
saddlesore
Well-Known Member
I’ve checked for beans- he’s very cooperative and always drops lol. Nowt to be seen ?
saddlesore
Well-Known Member
It is pink skin! Why would that make smegma pink??
Roasted Chestnuts
Well-Known Member
My boy is disgusting. I pull hay and straw out from there all the time?
I have planned to do it after the farrier today as when he sweats I can smell him even when longlining ?
I have planned to do it after the farrier today as when he sweats I can smell him even when longlining ?
Gloi
Too little time, too much to read.
If you don't believe me, here's what a vet says.
https://horsesidevetguide.com/drv/Observation/428/skin-seems-reddened-or-irritated-in-a-location/
Pikachu
Well-Known Member
My old boy got very gunky as had melanomas in his sheath and had to be sedated each clean but went from 6 monthly to nearly weekly so vet took swabs and he had a bacterial infection.
It was 2 different strains that were resistant to oral antibiotics so vet put liquid in aqueous cream which had to be put on for 5 days. Went through a lot of dormosedan gel for that.
If I remember correctly it was about this time last year. It did clear up the extra gunk but he was still pretty bad. I can’t say long term if it would have come back/got worse again in winter as he was pts in the summer (not for this, various factors with the melanomas in sheath being one of them).
It was 2 different strains that were resistant to oral antibiotics so vet put liquid in aqueous cream which had to be put on for 5 days. Went through a lot of dormosedan gel for that.
If I remember correctly it was about this time last year. It did clear up the extra gunk but he was still pretty bad. I can’t say long term if it would have come back/got worse again in winter as he was pts in the summer (not for this, various factors with the melanomas in sheath being one of them).
FFAQ
Well-Known Member
One of my boys is sp disgusting I think he has a secret vegetable patch somewhere and is using it to plant potatoes!
saddlesore
Well-Known Member
No I believe you! Was just wondering
Julia0803
Well-Known Member
My boy is similar. I’ve tried cleaning it lots, and cleaning it very infrequently and it doesn’t seem to make a difference as to how gross it is in the skin folds. His Willy doesn’t get particularly bad, just the sheath.
Interestingly he is also pink skinned and dark pink gunk. As with a PP, once it’s clean I can’t see anything up there that’s untoward/reason for his dirtiness.
Interestingly he is also pink skinned and dark pink gunk. As with a PP, once it’s clean I can’t see anything up there that’s untoward/reason for his dirtiness.
Fransurrey
Well-Known Member
Disgusting sheath ( I only used willy friendly sheath cleaner, or Aloe Vera, or water) was one of the reasons I tested my boy for PSSM1, as this combined with persistent thrush and a whole host of physical symptoms made me suspect chronic condition. Any chance of a metabolic condition with your chap? I also tried not cleaning at all, by the way, but this just resulted in disgusting 'cling ons' at the sheath entrance, which annoyed the poor lad.
Floofball
Well-Known Member
It can definitely be a symptom of metabolic issues. Being previously metabolic it is now the first indication that my lads diet needs adjusting. He was producing lots of smeg in Aug - had the Willy washer out - still having to clean legs and around sheath daily - it was gross. Got him off the stressed grass in his fat patch and put him back on old meadow hay - cleared up overnight! Even surprised me ?
saddlesore
Well-Known Member
Interesting thanks! Yeah it’s definitely a possibility as I struggle with his weight. He is barefoot though and sound and no fat pads so I’m thinking no to EMS?
saddlesore
Well-Known Member
Can I ask how you knew your lad had metabolic issues?
Floofball
Well-Known Member
I asked for a blood test which confirmed it in the end. I just struggled so much with his weight, he was such a good doer (think metabolism of a Shetland living on fresh air!) He was exercise intolerant and very lethargic, sensitive to grass (hives, grass glands) and had gunky legs from a smeggy sheath. I do think fat pads are the biggest giveaway to issues though as it’s the adipose tissue that exaberates the insulin disregulation. He had them on his shoulders.
Fransurrey
Well-Known Member
My pony with EMS never had fat pads and was barefoot for nearly 20 years (booted off and on). I was suggesting metabolic as an umbrella term, though (PSSM1 is one). Worth treating him as if he was EMS/PSSM1 and just seeing if it makes a difference. For my boy I would really have to remove all grass, though, so I just put up with it and clean regularly.
Bojangles321
Member
When we had the Willy washer lady out she actually told us that a horse ‘dropping ‘ their sheath wasn’t helpful for bean checking. It’s actually easier to check for beans with them still retracted. Was also told to only use KY or similar.I’ve checked for beans- he’s very cooperative and always drops lol. Nowt to be seen ?