Advice! Swollen Sheath

[tomrabbit]

My pony has come out of his stable today with a slightly swollen sheath. It doesn't appear to be painful, he will let me touch it, but it is definitely swollen, and I realise now that black stuff I found on his hind legs over the last couple of days must be secretions from the sheath(I thought it was pine tar, which he occasionally picks up from trees). He has a very large sheath, and does make a lot of secretions.
I'm going to search the site now for advice, but if anyone online can help, please let me know your experience. Should I try to clean it gently in case something is stuck up there (shavings, hay...), or should I leave it be. I will be checking to see if he pees (although there is a blizzard just now, so that may be difficult). His appetite is fine, and in himself he seems fine. Or is this something you should call the vet out for sooner rather than later? Would rather call him out now than wait for evening.

[clara81]

How old is your pony? I would call the vet. I've come across this before and my horse had to have a long course of antibiotics but it did turn out to be a symptom of a more serious illness. On the other hand it could just be because he is stood in (like filled legs). I'd still get it checked though.

[mandal]

I'd get the vet too for an exam. Here's the link to a thread in Hall of Fame that you might find helpful. ihdg.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=fame&action=display&thread=59795

[tomrabbit]

Yes, Mr Hand taught me everything I know about sheath cleaning! I still have a printed copy in my grooming box! It's a great link, Mandal.
I don't think there will be an issue with a bean, as I extracted the bean just a couple of months back when I last cleaned his sheath (it was quite large, but didn't seem to be causing a problem).
I've done some surfing, and it seems that this isn't an uncommon problem, where geldings are inactive. I think that standing around for long periods may be the cause- we have been snowed up for about a month now, no riding at all, and they aren't moving much in the field, and they have also been going out later in the mornings.
I've just gutted his stable, so I'm going to bring him in just to see if he pees (he usually does on a new bed). I'm also going to walk him round, and put the hay in the field in little piles spaced out to encourage him to move, and this evening I will gently clean the sheath, as I can see there are a lot of secretions building up. I think I will hold off calling the vet for the moment, unless he is having problems peeing, as he isn't in pain, and his behaviour is otherwise normal, but I'll see how it goes this afternoon.
My pony is 7 BTW.

[heather]

My Lusitano, recently gelded, produces a massive amount of smegma, can be the size of half agolf ball, if not cleaned weekly. My vet said not to worry, just some produce more than others.

I have had two geldings whose sheath often used to swell especially if having to stand in more due to weather. It never caused a problem, and would go down if worked.

Just occasionally though, I believe it can be a symptom of heart problems, so worth asking the vet.

Heather

[boffin325]

Some geldings do seem to produce more smegma than others,and it is true that being stabled for longer does seem to make it worse.It's one of those things that differs from gelding to gelding, if the swelling persists it might be worth getting a vet opinion though.

On a lighter note…… why is it that whenever you clean a sheath, someone always appears who hasn’t got a clue what it is you’re doing?

This has just reminded me of my most embarrassing moment.

I was busy in the stable doing said job and I heard the YO come in the block showing someone around. I didn’t take much notice until she opened my stable door…….
“And this is……….ooops!”
There I am with my bucket of water sheath cleaner, hand up the horse’s sheath, the horse standing there with that soporific look on his face………
YO was trying to suppress a fit of the giggles.

“May I introduce the Duke of Westminster?”
“Good afternoon” he said
“Err...Ummm, good afternoon your Grace…….ummm; I’m afraid I can’t shake hands…….”
“Yes, indeed, we’ll leave you to it”

Later YO said she had to explain to him exactly what I was doing……..he was a bit perplexed LOL.
“You should’ve seen your face”, she said…….. I bet! ;D

[anastasia55555]

haha!!! always at the awkward moments!!

and back to the matter of the post, Tomrabbit sounds like best course of action :-) hope his problem clears up soon :-)

[donnalex]

I would get it checked, he may need antibiotics.
There was a thread on a while ago and most people agreed the ones with tumours on their penis produce the most smegma. It was not clear from the discussion whether the excess smegma caused the growths or the growth caused the oozing. I would get him examined thoroughly for growths, under sedation if necessary.

[genni]

Has he been stabled a lot recently? Maybe because of the snow? They can get swollen sheaths when exercise is reduced but I can't remember why!

[kathrynp]

If he has an infection it is likely (but not always the case!) that the sheath will be hot and he will have a high temp. Can you take his temp? Might help keep your mind at rest till you can have a chat with the vet on Monday. Normal rectal temp 36.8-38.4C.

[Willhegofirst]

My lad gets a very mucky sheath which swells very quickly if not cleaned regularly, large hardish lumps of smegma. I normally put a handful of Aquas (sp?) cream up his sheath to soften everything then the next day wash out with warm water, seems to work for him.
If he is not normally mucky check for infection as others have said.

[dptc]

I would get the vet out, Tigger was ill with a viral type infection and he had a swollen sheath, he was also jusat not himself very under the weather and low, antibiotices sorted him. It could be an infection of the sheath which also would probably need antibiotics. Better to get vet out sooner than later if it is still swollen and catch whatever it is!

[feemac]

Thats interesting I have a Highland not moving far in the field too an he has a swollen sheath its be cleaned his hind legs are slightly swollen too.

[tomrabbit]

UPDATE
So I did everything mentioned in my post above, saw that he could pee, walked him round, cleaned him gently with warm salt water, and today it isn't swollen any more, but I will be keeping a close eye on things.
From what I have read, the drainage of the lymphatic system (?) can be compromised when a horse is inactive, causing collection of fluid in sheath. We have a lot of snow, and have had for many weeks now, and have been putting hay in manger in field, so even when out, the horses have been standing still. I am putting hay in loads of little piles all around now so they have to move.
My pony does produce a lot of smegma, but it has never been a problem up to now, and I've always believed that it is better to clean as infrequently as possible, so as not to destroy the natural environment within the sheath, but maybe I will have to rethink this. He does produce huge beans, and his sheath is normally extremely large, wobbling profusely when we trot, much to the amusement of my daughter. I think he may have been gelded late, judging by his passport, so possibly that is why the sheath is large? Anyway, just another thing to think about!