Sheath

[cobstar]

My 6 year old cob will not drop his sheath for me to clean it so the best I can do is use sheath cleaner and try to reach up inside. He has now started to get messy legs when he urinates and his outer sheath area seems to be swollen. I know other horses have had this problem and it has resolved itself but does anyone have any suggestions for resolving this problem without resorting to calling out the vet?

 

[AmyMay]

Does his sheeth look nice and clean when he drops it for a wee.

I must say I never clean willies, but leave nature well alone. I will have the odd pick when he drops it out, and look to see all is well. But other than that don't touch it.

Is your horse overweight? That could be a reason for the sheeth to look swollen.

What kind of mess is on his legs??

 

[Blizzard]

my friends gelding has this problem, he never drops even when he has a wee, and always ends up with wee on his tummy and legs, its disgusting.

Like you she cant get in to clean it properly, Ive actually only ever seen his willy once!

She just cleans his sheath as best she can.

 

[darksecret99]

My boy has a very mucky sheath whcih irritates him when he gets hot (and he gets the stinky stuff down his back legs from rubbing when rolling) if I dont wash it quite regularly.

Sometimes the vet will allow you to pick up some seditive/muscle relaxant that makes them hang it out if they know the horse etc - might be worth giving them a ring?

My boy drops his down if I rub his belly now!!

But when I first got him (only a few months ago) he had to be completetely knocked out because (even sedated so he could barely hold his head up) he would try and kick anyone (especially the vet!) that even looked down there cos he had a bean whcih must have been very sore!! (He is the worlds biggest whimp though and the vet said he had never had to knock another horse out for that before, so I think he was an extreme case!!)

All rather stressful, so its definately worth getting it sorted if you are worried, even if that does mean calling the vet out... if it is a bit sore, then perhaps once its done once he may be happier about having it done in future!!!

Good luck!

 

[Tia]

[ QUOTE ]
My 6 year old cob will not drop his sheath for me to clean it

[/ QUOTE ] LOL!! I'd be most concerned if any of my geldings dropped their sheaths

.

I don't clean sheaths however when they drop their willies I will check once in a while that there is no bean there and occasionally I'll gently rub off any crusty bits on the willies.

The swollen area outside the sheath could be as a reaction to fly bites - I'd rub summer fly cream around this area as it is a soother. It could also be larger if he is a chubby horse.

 

[PennyJ]

with my boy we have learnt from experience that when his sheath swells up then the "bean" is getting big and needs picking out. (YUK)

 

[Rainbowrider]

My gelding also swells a bit when he needs a bean removing from his "urethral fossa". You just gently squeeze it out and the swelling goes almost immediately.