Sheath Health

katpower

katpower

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I'm a semi-professional willy washer based in Western Australia, and I'm beginning to formulate some theories on sheath health. I'll be keeping much more detailed records in the new year, but would also like some anecdotal evidence if possible.
The sheath is a bacterial environment, like the gut - when that bacteria is out of whack, the sheath produces an excess of stinky smegma, which can be uncomfortable for the horse. I suspect there is a link between unhealthy sheaths and the horse's general health, specifically gut health. I think that a horse with ulcers, or a tendency to frequent colicking, or a history of neglect - basically, a horse with poor gut flora - will be more likely to have a mucky sheath.

So - if you have a horse with mediocre health - have you noticed that it has a grubby sheath? Horses with grubby sheaths - is your horse in peak health, or is it a bit "off"? I'd love you to share your observations!
 
I had problems with my gelding last winter. He had a bad mud fever infection that travelled up his leg so was on antibiotics....which as we know tend to wipe out the bad and the good bacteria. Within weeks he had a profuse bacterial sheath infection (it was from something rather unpleasant which possibly had leached into the field we think due to flooding which he'd rolled in/got all over his belly area but think his system was still building back up from the previous problem. He also I discovered was then battling bad mite infestation so I would say his system was down a bit which allowed things to get out of kilter generally and the critical balance in the sheath area was struggling. Here in the UK it was also a vile wet winter after a hideously wet summer and my vets take was that they'd never seen so many horses struggling to fight off various low grade infections/problems last winter so I think possibly the weather had played a part in that. Also there was a possibility mine was early stages of Cushings which leaves them more prone to such infections. with having to tackle the sheath infection with veterinary treatment with a very deep clean which again removed the good and the bad bacteria and then treat with very specific antibiotics for that bacteria topically, we knew it would take a good while to get the natural sheath good bacteria back up to how it should be. I understand there are prescribed broths that are available that can aid that process. So yes overall I'd say if the system is really down and out of balance a horse may get problems in that area or any other area but not necessarily through gut related problems as the bacteria we had while can be ingested was only on the outside skin. If he'd had ingested that same bacteria I don't think he'd still be here with me. And this winter we have had a Cushings test which was borderline so retesting in the Spring. Bit rambly but just my experience of a problem (which I pray never recurs!) in that area.

And ETS I personally think too much cleaning of the sheath when it's not required can cause a problem too due to upsetting that fine natural balance of bacteria. I never did mine more than about once or twice in hot summers to keep the flies away if it got a bit gunky.
 
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katpower said:
I'm a semi-professional willy washer
Click to expand...

LOL. But on a more serious note, my lad has had a low grade virus a few months back and I didn't notice his sheath getting any more gross. His just gets big flakes of skin on which some veg oil soon takes care off.

Katpower can I ask you a question? Noticed a lot of people on here go on about a 'bean' at the end of it, my boy doesn't have one and never has. Why is this?! I thought it was pretty normal for them to have one which needed to be removed.
 
Yes my horse has very recently had laminitis and been diagnosed with cushiness disease. I have noticed his sheath is quite grubby with dirt coming off and sticking to his back legs. I had put this down to reduced movement due to box rest but his system was so out of sink that he had bad hives as well as laminitis so the dirty sheath would fit with your theory.
 
My gelding started getting a swollen sheath a few years ago. It needed cleaning quite regularly - there was never much gunk, but as soon as it was clean, the swelling went. He was diagnosed with Cushings about 18 months ago, and I wonder if the sheath thing was an early part of that. He has never had any other symptoms, he was diagnosed because I used the free voucher, and he is on Prascend now. I just make sure I give his sheath a quick clean out each week and he has stopped having problems. He does get a very sticky bit of smegma quite regularly, but no swelling now.
On another note, I think there is smegma, which is the black stuff that builds up in the sheath and seems to have a moisturising type effect when it's not hard and dry, and then there is the yellow stuff which comes from a gland at the tip of the penis - this is where the 'bean' occurs. There doesn't seem to be a different name for the yellow stuff which I find odd.
 
I noticed a diet-related change in my lad's sheath. When I got him, he had very bad black marking all down his back legs and a sheath to match - judicious use of Hibiscrub and Femfresh washes helped to sort it out; vet didn't think it was infected but obviously needed sorting and must have been uncomfortable... Try to leave it alone as much as poss, and just wash with warm water as much as possible.

Since I've put him on a 'barefoot' diet, with molasses removed, and then with alfalfa/soy removed, his sheath has been miles better. He rarely needs cleaning now - when he does, he always a bit of straw in there so think that is the culprit! May also to an extent be that I keep an eye on it - and if I'm grooming and he wants it cleaning, he hangs it all out till I've cleaned it for him!
 
How does everyone clean the sheath and what do you use. My boy never hangs out so I always have to dig around inside with sheath cleaner.
 
I have 6 geldings, ive had them for years, from being a youngster, some have messy sheaths, some never need cleaning, they are all in good health.
 
I have a 2 1/2 yo gelding. Great health, no infections, just the usual yellow flakes. I leave it alone unless it is particularly flaky. In which case he gets a handful of Sudacrem slopped on, which seems to clean things up perfectly. This is maybe once or twice a year though - I think they are better left alone if possible.
 
The only time I notice my boy's getting grottier is during the hotter months, then he sometimes gets some on his back legs. He's in good health though.
 
wow my freind has a horse which is stabled with me has got a sheath problem!! been in out vets 12 months now its swollen all the time cold hosing exercise is helping! but dont think it will ever be 100pc right, it seems not to be able to self clean so we have to clean it for him regular we think he has weak immune system which automatically affects his sheath everyone puzzled why at 15 years old this has just happened, lady whom owns horse has had him since 4 years old and never had a problem with him until last year xx
 
katpower said:
I'm a semi-professional willy washer based in Western Australia, and I'm beginning to formulate some theories on sheath health. I'll be keeping much more detailed records in the new year, but would also like some anecdotal evidence if possible.
The sheath is a bacterial environment, like the gut - when that bacteria is out of whack, the sheath produces an excess of stinky smegma, which can be uncomfortable for the horse. I suspect there is a link between unhealthy sheaths and the horse's general health, specifically gut health. I think that a horse with ulcers, or a tendency to frequent colicking, or a history of neglect - basically, a horse with poor gut flora - will be more likely to have a mucky sheath.

So - if you have a horse with mediocre health - have you noticed that it has a grubby sheath? Horses with grubby sheaths - is your horse in peak health, or is it a bit "off"? I'd love you to share your observations!
Click to expand...

I keep an eye on my horses sheath and it gets to grimy I get the vet in to clean it.
 
I leave my gelding's winky alone. I used to squirt it with oils but I found that it really in the long run made no difference. I did notice though when he was splashing in anything he would let it all hang out and the water would be hitting it, dont know if this was coincidental though??
 
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