Very swollen sheath. Help/Advice needed

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Hoofprints in the Snow

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I know this should be in vet forum, but most of you are in here. I noticed this evening that my gelding's sheath is very swollen. He doesn't seem to be bothered by it and is his usual self at the moment. Have any of you come across this before and if so what was wrong and how was it treated. Am calling the Vet in the morning but am worried and curious. Thanks in advance.
 
Hi, My gelding suffers with this especially if it needs cleaning. I also had a horse who filled up there when standing in alot, rather than being turned out. And, another one who was affected by protein, so if he had too much, his sheath would also swell. All perfectly harmless, so fingers x'd your boy is the same.
 
Should just clarify, the protein was harmless to my boy, although it was a sign that, say, the grass was abit on teh rich side inspite of being restricted.Obviously in a horse prone to laminitis, the vet may have a different opinion!
 
Dont worry, my horse gets this if he is stabled without any turn out/exercise.

Exercise/turnout should get it back to its normal size and then if he will let you, give it a clean if needed. Most geldings dont mind.
 
See the post in the Veterinary forum about pitting oedema. Same story, you may find some useful info there. Have seen a number of ponies/horses getting this over the last week or so.
 
dont know if this is even at all related but I had a 3 month old foal who was poisoned because his mother took mastitis and he had a very swollen sheath and his blood results showed a low protein level.. this soon rectified when he was removed from his mothers milk and giving him a high protein feed. maybe get a blood test done to check him over but i'm sure he will be fine.
 
When my lad was on box rest for laminitis he got this problem and the bottom of his belly also was affected...it was water retention through lack of movement. It took quite some weeks for it to dissapear even when he was turned back out, but it went back to normal in the end...is your horse shut in with the snow at the moment?
 
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my old boy's sheath always swells if he had to stand in - simple solution turn him out and it goes down, some horses legs swell - some horses sheaths swell.

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my lads does this too, gave me a bit of a scare when it first happened a quick call to the vet and no loss of sleep for me.. this year I have moved fields so he can be out every day
 
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