Sheath cleaning queries and opinions..

[AbbeyL]

Hi!

So this isn't going to be the sort of thread you'd probably want to read whilst eating (I do apologise..), but I have a few questions in regards to sheaths.

I've always had mares so sheath cleaning has never been something I've ever thought about, I acquired a gelding a year a go and I've had a little prod around to check for lumps and things but overall he seems fine and doesn't have any blatant issues (and to be honest I wouldn't know how to sheath clean!).
However, today he 'dropped' for a wee and a MASSIVE bean fell out! It was at least an inch and a half long and half an inch wide.. I couldn't believe it! I felt so terrible because it must have been causing some discomfort? I've never known of them to just 'fall' out before!

Also, what are peoples opinions on cleaning? Do you just leave them naturally (as I'm pretty sure they don't clean them in the wild ) or do you think cleaning them out is better for them?

Thank you
From Abbey and (a seemingly relieved) Splash!

 

[Annagain]

Unfortunately, I'm a bit of an expert on sheath cleaning. My boy has melanomas so his needs regular cleaning as they cause an over production of smegma.

Generally I'd say leave well alone in terms of cleaning, keep an eye on the area and check every so often for a bean but as long as all is well and there are no signs of any problems, let nature take its course. Having a bean doesn't necessarily mean you need to clean the whole area, just removing it is probably enough.

If you do find the need to clean it, use nothing but warm water with a splash of liquid paraffin in it. Anything else can destroy the natural balance of bacteria and cause more problems.

The difference in the wild is they tend to get cleaned naturally through regular use.

 

[wingedhorse]

Unfortunately, I'm a bit of an expert on sheath cleaning. My boy has melanomas so his needs regular cleaning as they cause an over production of smegma.

Generally I'd say leave well alone in terms of cleaning, keep an eye on the area and check every so often for a bean but as long as all is well and there are no signs of any problems, let nature take its course. Having a bean doesn't necessarily mean you need to clean the whole area, just removing it is probably enough.

If you do find the need to clean it, use nothing but warm water with a splash of liquid paraffin in it. Anything else can destroy the natural balance of bacteria and cause more problems.

The difference in the wild is they tend to get cleaned naturally through regular use.

I thought baby oil was also okay to use as is skin pH and generally skin friendly, and helps soften and remove the gunk.

 

[planete]

I would not clean unless necessary but it is a good idea to regularly check the area and become familiar with how it looks when it is healthy so you can spot any changes (my gelding has just had a biopsy taken as we suspect cancer).

 

[JanetGeorge]

Field kept horses often/usually need no cleaning (unless it is very dry and dusty - chance would be nice!) Stabled horses often do - particularly if they are on shavings or deep litter. It's a good idea to get them used to at east a hose up there - so if you DO see a mess - you don't get your head kicked in when you try and clean. After work, shen sweaty, is a good time.

 

[AdorableAlice]

I keep my old boy clean with the odd handful of KY. Wilko's or Superdrug are the cheapest, but I do get funny looks with 6 packets in my otherwise empty basket !

 

[pippixox]

I have never needed to clean it in the 10 years I have had my boy! when hot in the summer and washing him I will hose in that area, but never touched it!

 

[Hepsibah]

Yep, personal lubricant is the best thing for sheath cleaning, its the only thing that doesn't have to be rinsed off so is the least controversial too. I have found the best place to get it is from agricutural merchants where they sell it by the litre for lambing/calving.

 

[FFAQ]

One of my boys gets quite filthy so I have a little clean up when it's really smelly. I use warm water and boots lubricant. My other boy always looks squeaky clean so I have never touched him.

One of my clients discovered that her horse is allergic to baby oil - poor boy, I think she'd been quite thorough!! :/

 

[Annagain]

I thought baby oil was also okay to use as is skin pH and generally skin friendly, and helps soften and remove the gunk.

The advice I got from my vet was the fragrance in baby oil could cause problems.

 

[Shoei]

Am I the only one with a gelding that likes to let it all hang out!!!!!???? as a result at least I can check it regularly. He tends to stay fairly clean and I have never found sign of the mythical bean (maybe I'm not checking right) but he drops it out at any excuse! especially after exercise, if it's hot or the worse time... in the dark when im doing up rug strapps!!!!!

 

[Annagain]

Am I the only one with a gelding that likes to let it all hang out!!!!!???? as a result at least I can check it regularly. He tends to stay fairly clean and I have never found sign of the mythical bean (maybe I'm not checking right) but he drops it out at any excuse! especially after exercise, if it's hot or the worse time... in the dark when im doing up rug strapps!!!!!

Yes! I have to sedate mine to clean his. He's a very chaste boy and defends his honour vigorously!

 

[Regandal]

Those people who don't clean - do yours never get the 'mouldy cornflakes' bits stuck all over?

 

[Hepsibah]

Cornflakes aren't the problem, it's the smelly black ichor that drips on their back legs that needs cleaning. That and the bean of course. Crispy bits get picked off or wiped off.

 

[oldie48]

Nope, i've got one of those, let's it all hang out all of the time! My old TB gets very flakey and is perfectly happy for me to de-flake him, I use a specialist sheath cleaner but it does need to be rinsed well. I have a horrible feeling that he quite likes it so it's not a problem to do it.

Am I the only one with a gelding that likes to let it all hang out!!!!!???? as a result at least I can check it regularly. He tends to stay fairly clean and I have never found sign of the mythical bean (maybe I'm not checking right) but he drops it out at any excuse! especially after exercise, if it's hot or the worse time... in the dark when im doing up rug strapps!!!!!

 

[Sleipnir]

My gelding is quite filthy, so I have to give him a cleaning once in a few months, or else he gets massive beans that give him trouble urinating. I use just clean water, don't want anything else to disrupt his pH.

OP, as you admit you're not adept at this thing , I'll guess that what you saw falling out of his sheath was actually not a bean, but just a larger lump of smegma. If I were you, I'd ask a vet to show you how to do a proper cleaning and how to extract beans, if there are any.

 

[DD265]

My boy is a delicate flower, and in the past has always been sedated and cleaned by the vet because "it might drop off and then I'll die Mummy". Currently working on trying to clean it before the next yard visit at the end of the month, or it will have to be a vet job again!

 

[Limbo1]

Had a pony as a teenager who loved having it cleaned - Clean wet jaycloth over hand and shoved it insider! Repeated till all black stuff stoped coming out. It would sometimes come out (willy) then you could pull back what I assume was the forskin??? and there would be a yellow gunky ball in there - is this a bean??

Kids pony we have now has a very cornflaky willy, when it is out I tend to try to pick bits off but he is not amused and tries to kick me! Good job he is only 12.2.

 

[rachk89]

My horse thank god is clean there. And nothing weird comes from it either which is amazing since he is grey!

 

[jojo5]

Would absolutely support the fact that you need to know what your boys bits look like - in the winter of 2012 I noticed what looked like a tiny white fungal mark on my boys penis. I watched it for a couple of weeks - it didn't change - and then mentioned it to my vet as he had come for a routine visit. Within two days my boy was having his penis resected - it was the very very early stages of squamous cell carcinoma. As a fairly laid back cob, 'messing with his bits' had been the only thing that might cause him to threaten with a leg; since then, I softly squeeze them every night - he now behaves with this, and it's a good check as a feeling of 'wooden ness' (!!!!) is another sign of sqc. My vet said, incidentally, that not being able to clean him had not contributed to the development of sqc.
N.B. Baby oil can be quite an irritant for some horses.

 

[Crugeran Celt]

Up until 8 years ago I had only ever had mares. I have never washed my gelding and as he dangles his bits out regularly I can see he is always clean. Never seen any muck or 'beans' and definitely no cornflakes! Am I just a lucky gelding owner or just blind?

 

[Sleipnir]

Crugeran Celt, you might be lucky, but it won't hurt if you ask your vet to check your geldings' privates when his teeth are done next time.

 

[ycbm]

The difference in the wild is they tend to get cleaned naturally through regular use.

No they don't

Stallions only mate when mares are in season and in the wild the mare is normally pregnant and not in season.

One stallion has a group of mares. That means most stallions have no mares.




On cleaning, I was in the 'haven't touched one and never will' camp. But now I have one who produces a hard thick shell of smegma which is obviously uncomfortable. I have to clean it all out once a month. I use masses of lambing lubricant on the first of the month and then on the second day it's all loose and ready to get out. The other I never touch.

 

[Crugeran Celt]

Sleipnir, don't think my equine dentist would be too happy to check!! I will have a good look at him tomorrow he's always got it dangling out anyway.

 

[Shoei]

I'd like to see your face when you ask though ☺️

 

[Sleipnir]

Sorry, Crugeran, I honestly did not think of that.Around here, all we get is just generic vets, so I didn't get the wild idea of an exclusive equine dentist. Good luck with checking your boy out, though! Mine got his chiro visit today and I was honestly quite embarrassed when the chiro noted how RELAXED he is.

 

[Crugeran Celt]

My gelding constantly has his bits on display especially if it is windy. He must like the sensation of it blowing in the wind. Sleipnir my equine dentist is brilliant and has horses of his own so wouldn't be a bit surprised if he would check it out for me. I was speaking to a friend who has had her gelding for over 25 years and has never washed him or had him checked by a vet and has never had a problem at all.

 

[DD265]

Well I cleaned the sheath this morning and lived to tell the tale. He was actually very good when he realised I was only wiping what would come off with the sheath cleaner as opposed to picking. Unfortunately willy cleaning is going to be a lot more difficult, I can't believe how well he can hide it!

 

[_HP_]

In all the years I've had my geldings (19), I've never had to clean them until last year. My cob is always fine but my shetlands both need cleaning every now and then. Both were rubbing their bums alot and stopped after I cleaned their sheaths out and between their bums cheeks.
Excess smegma can be a sign of EMS too

 

[Prince33Sp4rkle]

we have one horse that baby oil works best for(spray bottle, so just spray up in to the sheath) and the other 2 work best with KY jelly (good handful and smear!!!!!!)

i would try KY first as designed not be rinsed off