Swollen Sheath, Seeking Advice

[Connemara20]

My 20 year old connemara has a swollen sheath and the vet has been out numerous times. In addition to the swollen sheath he has fairly considerable stiffness in the high-end/hocks. We've tried steroids twice, and previcox for a week. The vet thinks the swelling is linked to the hind-end stiffness/lameness. I tried putting him on a joint supplement (Dumor FlexMor), thoroughly cleaned his sheath, and even sent out a fecal sample to check for parasites. Parasites can sometimes cause swelling. The vet came out one more time today and gave us a better supplement (Vet-Flex) that has higher doses of HA, Glucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM, and Type II Collagen. He stated that he thinks the sheath will be swollen, and the stiffness should improve with the new supplement and more exercise. Does anyone have any thoughts or ideas? Should I get a second opinion? I just want my guy to be comfortable. The sheath isn't hot and he doesn't seem to be uncomfortable from it, it's just fairly swollen.

 

[Red-1]

I have known a couple with circulation/heart problems where a swollen sheath was the first sign. Ha the vet checked the heart?

 

[Lovely jubbly]

As above get the heart checked knew of a horse who had a swollen sheath he was in his 20s he had a heart murmur so he was retired. Sheath used to go up and down used to swell more in summer.
if your after a good joint supplement Pharmaquin is top draw...higher specification ingredients than some vet recommended ones...and it works.

 

[Ownedby4horses]

OP, I also would get his heart checked. Can you also see any ventral edemas also (areas on the chest behind the front legs), thats also a common area for the fluid to also drain to (Fluid obviously drains to the lowest point with gravity).

 

[planete]

A swollen sheath can be a symptom of Cushings' disease. Has he been tested? It was the only sign my horse showed, even when the disease was well advanced. Is he on a pain killer like Danilon? Long term use can create problems of protein malabsorption which can lead to a swollen sheath.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

As well as Cushings/PPID it is also a sign of IR. The inability to regulate insulin causes a sluggish lymphatic system, one of the known symptoms is a swollen sheath. Exercise is usually the best way to get it moving again but appreciate your boy has hind quarter issues.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

As well as Cushings/PPID it is also a sign of IR. The inability to regulate insulin causes a sluggish lymphatic system, one of the known symptoms is a swollen sheath. Exercise is usually the best way to get it moving again but appreciate your boy has hind quarter issues.

Agree with this my vet said it could be ems one of mine had a swollen sheath when he got too fat, once his weight came off it went.

 

[RHM]

As well as Cushings/PPID it is also a sign of IR. The inability to regulate insulin causes a sluggish lymphatic system, one of the known symptoms is a swollen sheath. Exercise is usually the best way to get it moving again but appreciate your boy has hind quarter issues.

Was about to write exactly this. My boy gets a swollen sheath if he has too much sugar. It was the reason why we called the vet to begin with and he got a diagnosis of EMS.

 

[Connemara20]

I have known a couple with circulation/heart problems where a swollen sheath was the first sign. Ha the vet checked the heart?

The vet hasn't checked the heart.

 

[Connemara20]

A swollen sheath can be a symptom of Cushings' disease. Has he been tested? It was the only sign my horse showed, even when the disease was well advanced. Is he on a pain killer like Danilon? Long term use can create problems of protein malabsorption which can lead to a swollen sheath.

He's never been tested for Cushings, it could definitely be worth looking into though. You never know. He has also never been on a pain killer.

 

[Connemara20]

Agree with this my vet said it could be ems one of mine had a swollen sheath when he got too fat, once his weight came off it went.

I will say my guy has always been a fairly easy keeper and thankfully holds his weight well. So the swollen sheath doesn't seem to be connected to a weight issue.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

I will say my guy has always been a fairly easy keeper and thankfully holds his weight well. So the swollen sheath doesn't seem to be connected to a weight issue.

In most cases IR is caused by ponies being overweight and having a diet high in sugar and starch. In a few cases it is a genetic issue and just like Cushings it can be seen in ponies who are slim and well exercised because it is caused by a hormone disregulation. If you have a good doer don’t discount it but agree your vet should be listening to the heart just in case of irregularities.

 

[Connemara20]

In most cases IR is caused by ponies being overweight and having a diet high in sugar and starch. In a few cases it is a genetic issue and just like Cushings it can be seen in ponies who are slim and well exercised because it is caused by a hormone disregulation. If you have a good doer don’t discount it but agree your vet should be listening to the heart just in case of irregularities.

Thank you for the advice, I greatly appreciate the insight. I'm going to give the vets new idea a chance for two weeks on the new supplement and steady consistent exercise. If I see no progress then I'm going to pursue the idea of Cushings and have his heart checked out. I just can't seem to buy the idea that his sheath will be on the swollen side permanently from my vet.