Incredibly itchy sheath

[Sunjunkie]

Hi, I'm new to the forum, so please be kind to me.

Here's my problem. My 20 year old Irish Cob Gelding has an incredibly itchy sheath. The line of the sheath has several pea sized lumps that are mobile and sub cutanious. The sheath itching drives him potty at times. He whips it with his tail, kicks at his belly & is absolutely desparate for someone to itch it.

I've had the Vet look at this problem twice over recent years (I think the vets think I've got a fetish!). It isn't sarcoids. The sheath and penis is clear & cultures are normal. The Vet said it was likely to be insect bites, but I just don't buy it. Poor D'Arcy was still being driven mad by the itching when we had 18" of snow on the ground so I'm sceptical about the midge bite diagnosis.

He doesn't suffer with sweet itch, but for a big lump he does have a few alergies. I keep him out at grass overnight & he comes in at 7:30 daily. Over the last 3 weeks I have put a layer of Vaseline on his sheath am & pm to act as a barrier, but he's no better poor love is so uncomfortable & when it s warm & he sweats.. well you ca imagine..

So, is there anyone else who can shed any light on what might be causing this? Anyone got any ideas? Treatments?

Thank you!

 

[putasocinit]

There is a thread on the tack room re cleaning the sheath, also worm with ivermectin as flies have no doubt laid eggs there which the horse will lick and these will enter his system and expel at the pupae stage.

 

[GoodyGoody]

Are you sure it is his sheath? It could be feather mites or it could be worms irritating his anus.

 

[whizzer]

Could it be thrush? There used to be a horse on our yard who behaved exactly like this & he had thrush.