GUNKY SMELLY SHEATH !!!!!!!!!

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horseygirl123456

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Hi just posting this hoping someone may have experienced similar or just have some advice.We have a gelding who has a large number of melanomas situated right at top of his penis that are always covered in a very smelly grey gunge, when very bad this substance will work its way onto his belly. Its very itchy also.So far we have tried antibiotic (Noridine) combined with various creams from vet also homeopathic drops and hypercal cream. All the above seem to work to a point never completely but it always returns within a few days. He is ok weight wise perhaps needing a little more feed than usual and he does have some very tired days. Sorry its a bit long winded but any suggestions greatfully received!
 
It must be very distressing for him. Has your vet ever suggested a course of antihistamines or steroids. This could alleviate the itchiness, which may reduce the amount of gunk etc. could all be a vicious circle.

Is the horse elderly? And exibiting symptoms elswhere?
 
Hi he is a teenager and has a couple of melanomas under his tail but no infection. Have used steriod based creams but not antibiotic type as vet is concerned they can cause laminitis! we do wash it but my concern is if its an infection surely we should be able to clear it up ?
 
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Have used steriod based creams but not antibiotic type as vet is concerned they can cause laminitis! we do wash it but my concern is if its an infection surely we should be able to clear it up ?

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I just wonder though if it's a vicious circle with the fact that he is itchy causing some sort of inflamation and irritation. Take away the itchiness and you may have more chance of clearing them up.

I can understand your vets reticence about steriods - but sometimes it's worth the risk. Your lad sounds as if he may be terribly uncfortable. And if nothing else had worked I would be at least happy to discuss the option of more radical treatment - such as a steriod injection.
 
We had a gelding with squamous cell carcinoma at the top of his penis. When it was diagnosed the vet thought that he may not last much longer, but we actually kept him comfortable for two years. The sheath was washed every few days with warm water, and treated with dermobion daily. This was withdrawn from sale in the UK while we were treating him, and we had go get it from abroad (via internet - I think it was made in Australia, shipped to Africa and sold in Belgium or something like that!) when it was known as Ilium Dermapred. Not theoretically allowed but it was our only option, and it certainly kept him happy for much longer than expected. Eventually it became infected, and the infection ran along his tummy very quickly and we decided to have him pts. He was 25.
 
Have you checked for / removed a bean from the little cave on the end of his willy? Proper name - Ureathral fossa? This causes the gunky smelly stuff, and it should go when the bean is removed.
 
One of my geldings has had a similar long term sheath problem. If I don't keep it clean (which is now becoming a daily task), if becomes gunky and smelly. The first vet I had out suggested syringing with vetadine twice daily, which I did. This didn't help, so when I phoned the vet back, he suggested to try syringing twice daily with hibitane - which I did. Still no cure. The vet then said it was something that we would have to learn to live with. The gelding has been rubbing himself along the ground to relieve the itching. I went to another vet and she put him on antibiotics for one month which has done nothing either. A third vet said that sometimes these sheath problems cannot be cured. Just keep the area clean which I am doing daily.

I do have one suggestion that helps to relieve the itching though - baking soda and water!!!! I thoroughly recommend it for relieving itching. I have been syringing the sheath and cleaning it with this combination with the past ten days. An area on his hock that was beginning to become raw with him getting on the ground to rub, now has hair growing back on it! And I haven't seen him on the ground rubbing since.

Try to baking soda and water. It will at least relieve the itching.
 
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We had a gelding with squamous cell carcinoma at the top of his penis. When it was diagnosed the vet thought that he may not last much longer, but we actually kept him comfortable for two years. The sheath was washed every few days with warm water, and treated with dermobion daily. we decided to have him pts. He was 25.

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I can only echo this but sadly my horse didn't last two years.
he started to have a smelly doo dah in the late summer and the flies were bothering him terribly. I cleaned it religiously and after a few months (mid winter) he started to drop condition. He hung on through the winter and by late winter his condition was worse. I called out the vet who immediately diagnosed squamous cell carcinoma and advised me the he could probably hang on until summer but that we were talking months at most. I decided that it was fairer on my horse to let him go before he got any worse
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A horrendous decision to make but the kindest one for my horse
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