Maggots in Sheath!

ktj1891

ktj1891

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To my horror this evening I discovered my poor lad had a maggot infestation up in this sheath. He was kicking at his tummy, swishing his tail and just lifting his back legs and I knew something was up.

So I have done a little browsing on here already and apparently its not uncommon, but I do have some questions I want to ask.

Firstly, should I still call the vet to check all is okay?
How often should I clean it? I have owned him nearly 5 years and only done it once before.
What should I be cleaning it with, any good recommendations?

Also, how far do i need to delve until i find the bean (if there is one). As I was doing the most disgusting awful job in my life I have ever experienced today, I was cleaning out the first area of sheath but i reached even further in and there was another opening which i think is where his bits were? I didnt really delve that far in as i didnt have long enough gloves and i was seriously grossed out.

I cleaned it out with some baby oil and they spray the hose up in there for a good while and he was immediately more comfortable.
 
The vets can really clean them out they really go for it .
I would give them ring and see what they say .
Fatty arrived with an infected sheath it was the grossest thing ever , it was beyond our skills to clear it up the vet gave him a wash out like of which I have never seen before we then got cream to put in ( flamazine I think) and he was on antibiotics and anti inflammatories .
Vet said it will have started out from not being cleaned out and flys getting in .
 
Please contact the vet, fly strike is common and you need to be very sure you've got them all, plus they haven't burrowed/chewed too deep? Your horse may need antibiotics.
I have one susceptible to it and vet uses flaminaze and also told me not to use baby oil. He also will not drop out his bits however much you sedate him!
Like goldenstar says, give the vets a call and see what they think?
 
C
iconique said:
Please contact the vet, fly strike is common and you need to be very sure you've got them all, plus they haven't burrowed/chewed too deep? Your horse may need antibiotics.
I have one susceptible to it and vet uses flaminaze and also told me not to use baby oil. He also will not drop out his bits however much you sedate him!
Like goldenstar says, give the vets a call and see what they think?
Click to expand...

Okay I will give them a call. I hope they haven't gone too far they were only tiny so I reckon they hatched that day or day before. He on showed symptoms today and luckily I know him so well I knew something wasn't right.
 
ktj1891 said:
To my horror this evening I discovered my poor lad had a maggot infestation up in this sheath. He was kicking at his tummy, swishing his tail and just lifting his back legs and I knew something was up.

So I have done a little browsing on here already and apparently its not uncommon, but I do have some questions I want to ask.

Firstly, should I still call the vet to check all is okay?
How often should I clean it? I have owned him nearly 5 years and only done it once before.
What should I be cleaning it with, any good recommendations?

Also, how far do i need to delve until i find the bean (if there is one). As I was doing the most disgusting awful job in my life I have ever experienced today, I was cleaning out the first area of sheath but i reached even further in and there was another opening which i think is where his bits were? I didn't really delve that far in as i didn't have long enough gloves and i was seriously grossed out.

I cleaned it out with some baby oil and they spray the hose up in there for a good while and he was immediately more comfortable.
Click to expand...
It is not uncommon for this to happen. One of my livery horses was trying to urinate for a few days and could not, the vet was called by the owner, and the vet cleaned the sheath till they were gone (20 mins) they never returned. I would get the vet in this instance to clean and check the sheath.
 
I rang and spoke to the vets and they said it would need a thorough clean and that if I wanted to do it then to use very diluted hibiscrub and make sure I wash it all out they said I would also need to sedate him. But so far he is being really good and is quite enjoying it, it must be relieving him a lot as its so itchy so not sure if I do actually need to sedate him? So I am going to try myself first and see how I get on and then go back to the vet if I am unsure, I need a longer glove though, eww!!

Also typically he normally always has his bits out and now that I want them out are they anywhere in sight, no!
 
My boy has this most summers. I've had the vet sedate and thoroughly clean him and they were back within the week.

I have cleaned too regularly and caused his sheath to swell so now I leave it to a fortnightly squirt of baby oil and a good rummage.

I then use Phaser Gel daily around and in front of his sheath.

Geldings are grim! :D
 
One of our old boys had this, it was pretty vile. In addition to cleaning, the vet gave him something that apparently made him taste horrid to maggots and that seemed to do the trick. Definitely worth a vet call.
 
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