This is a weird one - sheath guard needed

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stimpy

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I have an odd but very annoying problem with two of my geldings that I am hoping someone may have some good ideas to pass on. These two boys are good buddies but they do play and play and play. Unfortunately one of them has a developed the habit of biting the other one's sheath in the course of the playing, usually as an escalation of the 'biting legs' game. This has been going on for months but has really come to a head during the snow where they have been extremely bored and the playing has really ramped up. I don't want to split them up permanently, as this problem only really occurs because of maybe 10 minutes playing in a day but this last lot of damage is bad, it has required a vet visit, followed by a week of steroids and antibiotics. My small herd is such that it is much easier if the boys stay together, though now that the snow is going I am hoping to get them separated during the day at least.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to some kind of guard that I could use? Obviously he needs to be able to pee out of it but I'd like something to stop the other one getting access to that bit of his undercarriage. They both wear rugs, and the one that is being damaged has a fairly deep rug but the other one is clearly managing to get his head up under the sides without too much trouble. I was wondering if maybe a sweet itch rug sheath attachment might act as a deterrent at least but I don't know how they work or attach.

Any ideas or suggestions welcome!
 
That would not protect it, lots of damage comes from horses teeth, lets hope its because there has not been much grass around and when it starts growing they stop playing, keep them seperated or feed more hay.
 
What about putting a muzzle on the one that is biting, you could make the holes a bit bigger in it so he could still eat or maybe a rug guard on him might stop him being able to bite so easily.
 
Don't have anything particular to suggest but, maybe you could find something that the biter really hates the taste of (or the smell) and then try coating the other horse's sheath with it. Obviously you need to make sure the coating won't cause any skin irritation. There is an ointment - think its called Green Oils which spreads on like vaseline - that smells really strong - its used for the treatment of wounds - shouldn't cause a skin problem. Whatever you do, make sure to do a sample skin test with it first.
Good luck.
 
Snuggy Hoods make a sheath cover but it only attaches to their turnout body rug

I dont think that would stop it though

I think the muzzle on the offender or the coating of nasty tasting stuff is the way forward
 
Thanks all. I have the two boys separated during the day at the mo and will keep them like that until the sheath has had enough time to heal so that I can put something like green oils on the outside. Then I think I'll go for a snuggy sweet itch rug and sheath cover, with the sheath cover fabric covered into something smelly to act as a deterrent.

Then hopefully they will continue doing their normal playing and grooming, which they both love, but it won't escalate into the sheath biting.
 
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