Sheath cleaning - do you do it and how often?

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eva

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Calling all gelding owners! Do you clean your horse's sheath or do you ask your vet to do this? How often does this happen? I have got my horse a month ago, he seems fine, I'm not sure if sheath cleaning is really necessary?
 
Sheath cleaning is definitely necessary - you can't just leave a crusty willy!

I clean it as often as possible by squirting baby oil on it a few times a week. It then self cleans.
 
I would seriously caution against putting products of any sort on it. If necessary, get some latex gloves and pick off the scaly buts if you need to but past experience has shown me that it's not wise to put products designed for human use onto horses. The perfumes and stuff can bother them.

I just leave my boys alone and I've had him 8 years.... he seems fine.

And welcome to the forum btw Eva!!
 
When I first got my gelding, I was told that I needed to clean his sheath area - so I did and I only use horse specific sheath cleansers.....however I had been told differing opinions about cleaning and not cleaning and TBH I now dont.....he sometimes gets a bit mucky on his legs (very obvious as he has white legs) so I do tend to wash his legs and his general area as and when needed....but he has never had any issues whatsoever since I stopped cleaning it all the time.....hope that helps!
 
I clean it maybe every 5 or 6 months! He's got much better. I used to only be able to do it when he was sedated for teeth but now I do it when he has it 'out'. Last time the vet came to do his teeth I asked her what I should use on it and she said it's better to use nothing, just water. She said if you are going to use a sheath cleaner, you only need to use a pea sized amount.
 
Think there is alot of mixed opinion on this one, I normally pick off any loose bits of skin every now and again (probably every few months). I havent cleaned it properly for 2yrs and there hasnt been any problem. Every year I look for a "bean" but am yet to find one. My horse is quite clean but I have seen some nasty looking ones and if they were mine they would be cleaned more regulary.
 
Depends on the horse. We have 2 geldings. One needs doing about every 4 months (gets black sticky gunk on inside of his legs and starts swishing his tail between his legs to let me know). The other has only had it done once in 2 years. He got v uncomfortable in the hot weather, swishing tail between legs, trying to kick his tummy, couldn't drop his willy to pee etc. He hates having his "area" touched (tries to kick you and as he's 17'3" he's got a long reach! Never kicks out in any other situation though) so we had to get the vet to sedate him to do it. He was much happier afterwards.

Use water or diluted sheath cleaner on clean cotton wool.

I'd say don't do it unless you need to. Vet told me the yellow crusty stuff is fine but the black stuff can be a problem.
 
I have 3 geldings - the New Forest doesn't seem to need his cleaned - never had a problem, the Connie is gross but fortunately is the best at putting up with the cleaning!! I'm picking bits off him every week and just clean with water and use unperfumed plain baby oil as it help rub the bits off. The TB gets all dry and flaky skin but is very 'delicate' I squirt baby oil on it every week or so and it stops it from getting dry and also is much cleaner.

I've had less problems using baby oil than I have with any of the specific sheath cleaners.
 
I get the bean out the end every few months otherwise it gets too big to squeeze out the hole. Other than that I leave it alone unless there's an offensive aroma!
 
Thanks everyone! Especially Maletto for welcome :) I was reading H&H for a while and it's a real knowledge pool! sea rather :)
so to sum up: black gunk + uncomfortable behaviour = needs cleaning with mild stuff (water/unscented baby oil/pea-sized sheath cleaner); no gunk, no discomfort = leave well alone.
 
I washed my boy's a couple of months ago, since then it just seems to be his willy that gets crusty, in about a week! So I tend to clean that off when I can, and I like to remove the bean regularly to prevent any problsms.

Never thought of baby oil to keep his willy clean, has anyone had any problems with this?
 
Thanks eva :) I've got to scrub him this afternoon for a show, he's quite dirty at the mo so making him sparkle is gonna be hard work! Love him though hehe :D
 
My vet told me not to use any products including horse ones, they upset the Ph balance. He said to use plain warm water with a new sponge that has been washed because there are chemicals in the sponge.

Unfortunately my horse will not let his out even with sedalin, so I had a plan, after we ride he comes back and immediately p's so I had gloves, water etc ready, water was a bit cool by then but I managed to get it a bit cleaner.

Will have to do it again soon, as soon as you touch it though he sucks it back in so you have to be quick and grab it gently and work quickly before its retracted !

Only other way would be to get him sedated by injection which seems costly just to do that but if it was necessary I would, I do keep an eye on him.

I think it costs loads for the vet to do the cleaning as well so try and do it yourself
 
I must admit I have different reasons for most, which I won't go into before breakfast; however, I clean my lad every couple of days, I vary what I use, some days clean warm water, sometimes a product called 'clean boy' which is green gunk, and by far the best, hibiscrub solution (again warm water) every so often, I always use a sponge, and I have a HUGE bottle brush, which is his favourite thing! IAlso finish off with some sudocrem (sp). In summer he is rather fond of the hosepipe also.wouldn't recommend that or the brush to everyone, but it is essential to my chap - however if he didn't have his particular 'needs', I would say probably about once a month... but olive oil rather than baby oil... I wash his legs down to get rid of the mess, flies seem to love it! He wouldn't let me near him for years, and was always a vet job, which as someone says is expensive!
 
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Having been kicked a few times trying to use warm water (even with one leg held up he managed it !), I now use unperfumed baby wipes. Gloves on, and a quick wipe once a week - and he doesn't bat an eyelid now, so I'll reduce the amount of times now he's got used to it. He even lets me touch the sausage now, which was a huge no-no. Still to work on getting the bean out, but we've made huge progress. :D sm x
 
At least every month without fail. Sketch is really good with it and for some reason loves it haha. I used to find this really embarrassing when I was younger and having to do it on the yard with all of my friends giggling at me when they got off lightly with all having mares! Anyway, my method is, gloves on, warm water on my sponge, give it a wipe, on goes baby oil and all done :).

I've never had any problems with bad smells or beans (!) or anything in all the time I've had him so I've just stuck to this method lol.
 
oooooo when the boy's bad.......the smell is something else.

The bean is like a solid stone of smegma that gets stuck in the willy next to the urethra, and has to be "popped out" every so often. Or not in the boy's case. :D
 
I had Phil for 7 years without any issues.

Last summer he was doing very short/regular wees so I decided to take a look. My placid gelding tried to take my head off of my shoulders :eek:

Got the vet out who sedated him (and still had problems), cleaned him, found a bean and found an infection. £180 later... Then 3 months later another £150 because he started weeing strangely again, luckily no infection this time so smaller bill but they recommended me cleaning it properly every 3-6 months. I now check him regularly and keep an eye on his urinating habits :p

And I don't use any product! Hose in/around the sheath to soften bits then just stand and pick :p He gets a big build up at the top of his sheath and I normally find the start of a bean.
 
get one spray bottle of baby oil, mix 1/4 of the baby oil with 3/4 water-spray on (after shaking well) whenever they drop it (usually after a ride with my two). no problems :)

mare are much ickier IMO!
 
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