Hole behind sheath

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Allykat

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This is going to be hard to describe, but I'll do the best I can!!

My cob gelding has recently been suffering with "itching" he's been stamping his backlegs and swishing his tail as though getting rid of summer flies, but there are no flies to be seen. Yesterday his loaner spoke to the yard manager and between then they decided to have a closer look. YM started at back hoof and worked her way up and found nothing untoward, except the higher up she got the more itchy he was. She thought she would look at his sheath incase it was gunk that was irritating but all seemed ok. She found a crusty bit just behind his sheath and she picked that off. Underneath this appears to be a hole
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Its a bit wider than a finger width, smooth edges, no cuts, grazes or damage, its all covered in fur yet you can clearly get a finger in it. Its not causing him any pain, discomfort or distress except that it appears to be horrendously itchy
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It was dark so I couldn't really see and I'll try and get a better look in the morning but it feels like it has probably always been there. Has anyone got and ideas what it might be?? Could it be something that formed after he was gelded??
 
Not sure what the hole is, but sounds like he may have a maggoty sheath???

I saw this on a yard horse and was expecting massive wriggling, fishing tackle size maggots.......

They were tiny and almost invisible to the naked eye..... I mean, who wants to get that close anyway!!!

Might be worth another check..... though a bit late in the year for them to be laid
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Well I did think that but all the normal bits look pretty much normal. I really don't think its maggots, but I guess anything is possible
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Was there a smell with maggots?

We have the rubber gloves and sheath cleaner at the ready, so guess what I'll be doing tomorrow morning!!? I just hope its not too cold or he'll never get his bits out
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poor boy
 
No more smelly than normal..... but he had to be sedated to get the whole willy out..... the maggots were right at the root!!!!

Sorry
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He had a good clean and some powder puffed up there to kill any that were missed
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Dunno about the rest of you, but I'd like a photo! Can you gat him to lie on his back, so you can get a clearer shot. Also, If you are doung choc chip cookies....
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Seriously, whatever info you can impart after you have it sorted, we'll be pleased to hear.
 
Well I am of the opinion, that it would be where he was gelded and you have come across the empty sack and the scar that may have ensued
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I am aware that my Welsh D x has an indentation in these regions that I can stick my finger and it feels like a scar and can get a bit scabby and he adores that area being scratched and shows his appreciation
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Unless it has penetrated the skin, I don't think you will have too much to worry about, however have a word with the Vet, or next time you see him let him have a look
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Maybe just an idea, if you are concerned there may be something in there
Cotton wool, wet with normal clean water, then just wipe inside the hole and see what comes out stuck to the cotton wool, if its just crud and stuff then I would just clean it out, if its blood VET! if nothin really comes then I would probably just ring your vet to check.

If its definitely the hole that is itching him not something in his sheath then you know where to focus, but if you clean his sheath and he stops itching you know where the problem is

baby wipes can also do a good job (just as a cheap alternative)
 
our little one has something very similar - behind sheath,just about where you would expect the danglies to have been! It looks like a split,very pink shiny new-type skin.Sometimes in the summer it can get a bit crusty,and we just bathe it clean.Does not seem to cause any discomfort,certainly not painful,just intriguing! Showed two of our vets,on separate occasions,and they both said they'd never seen anything like it.Nice to know (I think!) there are others out there.
 
QR.....thank you all for putting my mind at rest
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Brightinsel....I did try to take a pic today because I wanted my own proof
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however, Jester was not accommodating and I just could not get him to lie on his back for me!! Bad manners of what
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Of course failing light and a very dark undercarriage didn't help either
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We got him out today and gave him a good old wash. I'm pleased to report back that there were no maggots (Yay!!) and no abnormal amounts of gunk up there. He did have a couple of greasy looking lumps of stuff but they washed out ok. The hole is completely clean and it goes in about 3/4 of the length of my index finger. There is nothing in there at all. I gave it a good flush out with derma wash before probing gently around with my finger and the poor old bit nearly fell over
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I'm guessing it is, as said above, remains from when he was gelded and I'm thinking that some scars do have funny sensations so maybe his scar tissue is just itchy
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My TB is due for his jabs in January so we will get the vet to have a look but I am no longer in a worried and confused state.

I will continue to try and get pics though of the hole and the silly thing cocking his back leg so he can get a better scratch
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How interesting, Dyl has this little hole too, it gets sort of clearish scabby stuff on it and he just loves to have it picked off and scratched. Don't like getting caught doing it though but he loves it, turns his bum whenever it's due a pick
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I just find it all a bit odd that this hole has obviously been there for a long long time as Jes is 18 but it's never bothered him as it has this year. He's been turning his bum on us for weeks and we didn't realise what he wanted us to do
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I would suspect that it is either from his gelding and the tissues did not heal together leaving the neatly formed hole, or when he was gelded, he had a slight infection which drained out through the hole, leaving the hole when it cleared up.

As the vet is coming out soon, get him/her to have a look at it to be on the safe side.

My gelding still has his 'sacks', I think it was because he was cut late.
 
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I would suspect that it is either from his gelding and the tissues did not heal together leaving the neatly formed hole, or when he was gelded, he had a slight infection which drained out through the hole, leaving the hole when it cleared up.

As the vet is coming out soon, get him/her to have a look at it to be on the safe side.

My gelding still has his 'sacks', I think it was because he was cut late.

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I made this same conclusion. My TB was cut when he was 3 and he still has his "sacks" I assumed they would be there due to the operation being much bigger being done at that age, but Jester's just looks totally different. I'm pleased I found nothing "up there" and he does feel better for having had a good wash
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