Thrush in Sheath?

[katymay]

My poor boy, has been displaying odd symptoms the last few days including rolling and scraping his tummy along the ground repeatedly, he was plastered in mud so tied him up with a haynet and had a good look, seems the issue is with his sheath because I was lightly brushing around that area and he literally went like jelly so queue further scratching from me and I knew I had found the issue, wasn't sure if it was outside or inside so gave the outside a really good wash with diluted hibiscrub which he enjoyed so much so he was lifting his leg for me to get right in there.
Rinsed him off and gave him a little wipe internally with clean cloth and he nearly fell on the floor with relief, using a gloved hand had a feel around no lumps or gunk but very itchy , I was wondering if he has thrush? Would you get the vet to swab or just treat? Feel bad as I cleaned him a while ago and must have upset his natural balances in there

 

[Fairynuff]

Could be that the mud has irritated him. Slap some udder cream on the area around his sheath and inside too.

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

I'd keep him in overnight for a day or 2 to let things settle. I don t like hibiscrub as it kills all skin bacteria, only use it if absolutely nothing else will do. washing with a mild glycerine soap solution or Sheath Wash at the correct dilution would be my preferred option. I have rarely ever done a wash, and I got the vet to do it as he had a bean, and I had no one to hold him, the idiot used cold water ............ so he 's off the Christmas card list.

 

[olop]

Mine had a similar episode in the summer last year, turns out he had mites up there might be worth having a check for them and getting the mite vaccination, worked for mine.

 

[Clodagh]

Please don't use hibiscrub inside his sheath, did you the first time? I never wash but I know people are dead keen on it nowadays, but just use plain warm water if you must.

 

[KautoStar1]

Just plain warm water wash & don't put anything up inside like udder cream you are just introducing potentially more bacteria. If unsure call the vet.

 

[katymay]

Thanks all, no I didn't use any products inside, the hibiscrub was just to wash the outside mud off,
I used liquid paraffin previously when I gave him a wipe internally so won't use it again.
I called the vet and she advised to leave alone and call in a few days if no better and would come and treat for mites.
Things have settled right down and the scraping the tummy has stopped.
I did find two blood sucking black flies in his ears ( mosquito? ) which I removed so wondered if they have had a nibble on his sheath?
Vet advised not to clean in future unless an awful lot of gunk down leg's, he just had some big clumps of black sticky around his sheath opening which prompted me in the first place.
I've got some sudocreme would that be okay to wipe on the outside to soothe further irritation?

 

[MochaDun]

Interesting reading about the mites...the only 2 times in the 12 years I've had my horse that he's had mites he's also had an itchy sheath at the same time - I never connected the two but think there must be a connection from the sound of it. As they do say leg mites can go as far up as the belly. I had swabs done the first time and he did have an infection so I guess the mites must have upset that delicate flora of (good) bacteria that live inside the sheath. I had the mite injection for both times he had itchy legs and sorted.

OP I'd get your vet's advice on what to put on (if anything) as it's easy for stuff on the outside to get taken up inside when the horse withdraws himself back up and in! There's a very delicate flora of (good) bacteria inside a horse's sheath that you don't want to alter.