Horse sheath isn’t rettracting.

[PastryChef]

My 20 yr. Old gelding has dropped and doesn’t seem to be able to retract. Sheath is typically crusty and I often pull beans. But now it’s SUPER clean, very pink/red, tiny spot that looks like it’s rubbed raw or the skin has been torn off. He has retracted occasionally but it’s very unusual for him to drop and stay dropped. I think it hurts him to retract or something. Sheath was cleaned (by vet) a few months back. Any suggestions?

 

[TPO]

Phone the vet ASAP, even if it's now out of hours, if you haven't already.

Hopefully you have and vet has been out since you posted this.

 

[AmyMay]

This should be treated as an emergency and a vet should be called.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Yes, this is indeed an emergency.

 

[PastryChef]

I’ve got the call in to her. Will hear back later. Thank you, I wasn’t sure how serious it should be.

 

[mini-eventer]

Sorry to jump on this, can anyone explain more as to why its an emergency?

It's not that I am questioning the urgency, just I've never heard anything about this issue before and I am always keen to increase my knowledge

 

[meleeka]

Sorry to jump on this, can anyone explain more as to why its an emergency?

It's not that I am questioning the urgency, just I've never heard anything about this issue before and I am always keen to increase my knowledge

It’s likely to be very painful, whatever is wrong. The sheath is meant to keep everything slightly lubricated. If it dries, it will be sore . Hopefully it’ll just be a case of painkillers and anti inflammatories, but I wouldn’t want to leave a horse in pain, without at least speaking to a vet.

a google will give you some info “horse unable to retract penis”.

 

[AmyMay]

Sorry to jump on this, can anyone explain more as to why its an emergency?

It's not that I am questioning the urgency, just I've never heard anything about this issue before and I am always keen to increase my knowledge

•
When the penis remains exposed for any length of time, the venous and lymphatic drainage is impaired, causing edema within the penis and prepuce.

•
The preputial ring becomes constricted, and the edema increases the penile weight, making it more pendulous and difficult to retract.

•
The exposed tissue becomes irritated and friable.

•
Damaged tissue becomes excoriated and infected, resulting in fibrosis.

•
Weight of tissue may lead to internal pudendal nerve damage, leading to paralysis.

 

[PastryChef]

UPDATE: I talked to the vet and she’s mostly concerned (at this moment) about it getting dry and sunburned which can be painful. We are in SoCal desert. We are going to clean well, put zinc or Desitin on it. This will make it easier and less painful to retract. She’s wanting pics of it and the little sore spot. So, we will be doing that and watching for improvement. If not she will be out to evaluate.

 

[mini-eventer]

Many thanks for getting back to me, its not something I have come across and if it do , i'd like to make sure I have the knowledge to act appropriately

 

[AmyMay]

Good luck with the vet. Hopefully they can successfully treat your boy.

Please let us know how you get on.

 

[Clodagh]

Any news OP?

 

[PastryChef]

Do we sent pic’s to vet, and he had started retracting it more. She was not overly concerned and told us to give it a good cleaning and then slather it with zinc oxide (or Desitin) to prevent dryness and sunburn. Monitoring for now. Thanks everyone!