Swollen sheath and box rest

[Polos Mum]

Big horse is on box rest (check ligament) he's got to week 3 of 8 and he looks like he could be a full stallion again, he's having no hard feed, hay only so not much nutrition wise but clearly not being able to move about much is causing a problem with his balls (or where they should be!)

He is pretyt misserable (squeeling and bronking round the box) but he was gentlemanly enough to let me have a good feel and I couldn't find any large nasty bigs of gank. There is quite a lot of black slime on the inside of his legs from where he;s lying down.

I gave it a few good squerts of baby oil to see if that would loosen anything higher up

Any other suggestions?

 

[Tobiano]

Poor boy. I cant help really I am afraid - when my gelding got a v swollen sheath I had the vet out who cleaned it and he was fine afterwards. Maybe in your boy's case it is similar to filled legs, just in a different place. If you phoned the vet could they give you some advice without a massive call out charge?

 

[Fazzie]

My gelding gets this when he has to be stabled for a couple of days. The vet told me to try and leave alone. I found that the hair on his tummy was getting covered in black sticky yuk so I've clipped his belly - this has hugely helped.
Also once he's been ridden or turned out it goes down.
When he had to be strict box rested for two weeks the vet gave me anti inflammatories - one sachet a day and that made his sheath return to normal size within a day or two.
Hope this helps!

 

[ester]

sounds like he needs a clean at least if he has a lot of black gunk.

 

[Polos Mum]

Thanks all, vet is back out in a week to check on scan progress anyway so I'll get them to give it a good clean / anti inflam if it's still bad then.

I've always been in the leave alone camp for boys bits and this has worked fine for 20+ years of gelding ownership.

 

[Marydoll]

Some horses get a form of sheath oedema if theyre standing in, one of mine gets it if hes in for more than a day or so, discussed it with the vet, sheath oedema, it goes down when he starts moving. It might be worth discussing with your vet anyway if hes going to be in for a while as it can also be a symptom of other illnesses

 

[Slightlyconfused]

My gelding has been stabled for nearly six months with lami.....two months ago his sheath started swelling up and looked rather impressive set he had grown.
vet out to check and no infection but geldings do get swelling in that area when stood still
think fluid and gravity.

when he was walking out it started to go down.

 

[stencilface]

Mine got soft squishy sheath oedema last summer in box rest, which turned into a hard oedema. Vet didn't have a clue, ABs didn't shift it and otherwise it was ok. It went down completely when he was turned out and I think I had put it down to too much protein in the hay and bits of wrapped hay he was getting. Now he's in at night he has it a bit again, but it goes down during the day so I'm not that bothered as otherwise he's fine, obviously the box rest has just made him super sensitive as he's only on hay, fast fibre, speedibeet and linseed as well as grass ATM.

 

[Polos Mum]

I don't think it's infection of any kind, he let me have a good squeeze and if they were tennis balls of puss he'd have kicked me out of the window rather than put up with prodding.
He usually does swell there when he starts staying in over night (summer out 24/7) along with his back legs which swell the same - so I suspect it's just that but interested to know if there is any way of helping it go down other than walking him out (which he's not allowed to do)
Did any vets suggest anything or just - it's one of those things.

If his legs filled I'd stable bandage - not sure I can bandage the balls !!

 

[stencilface]

I didn't think mine was really, just gave him the ABs to see! I think it might be one of those things, but if it's hard could be due to protein in the diet from what I understand (googled!)

 

[Polos Mum]

thanks Stencilface, my pony certainly get's it from protein in his diet - he's balls are a good judge of when the spring grass really starts to come through - but big horse is only on hay and it's 6 months old now - maybe I could soak it - I'll have another feel and see how hard they are.

 

[Sags_Deer]

Are his legs swollen too, my 17hh gets this in the winter I bandage his hind legs and seems to stop swelling in his bits and legs too

 

[shergar]

Google CLIVERS FOR HORSES you can pick some from hedgerows in spring or buy dried ,this will help with filled legs and swollen sheath.

 

[Polos Mum]

Thanks - his legs seem ok atm, I'd certainly stable bandage if they were up too.

I'll look up clivers - they must be uncomfy that big!

 

[putasocinit]

A good clean, not baby oil. Also search for cupiss on the net, it is brilliant for filled legs and other swellings from lack of movement.

 

[Joanne4584]

Bertie's swells when he's not moving round much. His legs also fill. They usually settle down once he's got out for a little walk/turnout.