DD265
Well-Known Member
Today whilst grooming I noticed that my 23yo's sheath is swollen on one side. It's normal for it to swell in winter as he is stabled more/moves less but it's usually even on both sides. Today the right is moderately swollen (he has been a lot, lot bigger but again, evenly on both sides). I am certain it is fluid; no lumps, but it was also warmer than the left side. I wouldn't say that he was any more sensitive to being touched than normal.
I cleaned his sheath just with water and cotton wool as per. It's not the worst it's been (several months since it was cleaned) but he does get a build up of smegma which is black and hard and sticks to the inside of the sheath. I would say the right side was cleaner than the left, and the top was the worst as per usual. For the first time, he dropped when I was cleaning. I did notice two hard, small (like spot size) lumps on the top of the penis but they felt quite deep inside as I could only feel, not see them. Will try to monitor those; he would never normally let me get this close to the penis itself so I don't know whether they are normal for him. He does have a mole on the left outside of his sheath which has been unchanged for a number of years. He wouldn't let me get the bean out however and the threats were serious so I backed off and the penis retreated inside to not be seen again.
It was only last year that I started cleaning his sheath myself; prior to that the vet would do it under sedation when coming to do teeth. However some persistence and teaching him that it isn't so bad, means I can get as far as I do. I think if there was something seriously wrong he wouldn't have let me near as he can get very sore when he is swollen (hence vet + sedation in the past). He is bright and happy in himself, no problems urinating that we are aware of and was walking well for him so I want to keep an eye on him for a couple of days before deciding whether to call the vet. Obviously if he deteriorates the vet will be straight out. As he is on full livery YO is aware and we'll both watch him closely. In the mean time I'd like to have another go at the bean and also inspect the penis for more lumps.
Two questions:
1) how can I make/encourage him to drop?
2) does anybody know of reasons why he might hold fluid on one side but not the other?
I cleaned his sheath just with water and cotton wool as per. It's not the worst it's been (several months since it was cleaned) but he does get a build up of smegma which is black and hard and sticks to the inside of the sheath. I would say the right side was cleaner than the left, and the top was the worst as per usual. For the first time, he dropped when I was cleaning. I did notice two hard, small (like spot size) lumps on the top of the penis but they felt quite deep inside as I could only feel, not see them. Will try to monitor those; he would never normally let me get this close to the penis itself so I don't know whether they are normal for him. He does have a mole on the left outside of his sheath which has been unchanged for a number of years. He wouldn't let me get the bean out however and the threats were serious so I backed off and the penis retreated inside to not be seen again.
It was only last year that I started cleaning his sheath myself; prior to that the vet would do it under sedation when coming to do teeth. However some persistence and teaching him that it isn't so bad, means I can get as far as I do. I think if there was something seriously wrong he wouldn't have let me near as he can get very sore when he is swollen (hence vet + sedation in the past). He is bright and happy in himself, no problems urinating that we are aware of and was walking well for him so I want to keep an eye on him for a couple of days before deciding whether to call the vet. Obviously if he deteriorates the vet will be straight out. As he is on full livery YO is aware and we'll both watch him closely. In the mean time I'd like to have another go at the bean and also inspect the penis for more lumps.
Two questions:
1) how can I make/encourage him to drop?
2) does anybody know of reasons why he might hold fluid on one side but not the other?