Swollen Sheath

[shewasmyshadow]

Well, Rashad needs cleaned "down there" pretty bad. I did do a makeshift cleaning last week, but Rashad sucks himself WAY WAY in when I try to clean him. I got a lot of dirt out, but couldn't really get his actual sheath since it was completely pulled up and in. :( Even after cleaning out all the dirt his sheath is still very swollen. It's not hot and it does not seem painful at all, but it's definitely bigger then normal.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a41/JessicaBe/img1268505686060.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a41/JessicaBe/img1268505481901.jpg

Our next move is to get some sort of sedative from the vet and clean it that way. But, here are my questions...

1. Is the swelling just from being dirty or ...?

2. How does the swelling look to you? We think it's bigger than normal, but what do you think?

3. What sort of sedative would we want and could we give it ourselves? Or is there some sort of feed through calmer we could use instead?

[CaddoCinnamon]

I am not sure. I clean our stallions but this sounds yucky I know but he likes it. I will have to clean Caddos and am unsure of how he is going to do. How often do I need to clean a geldings sheath? This is my first gelding so I am not sure. I would ask your vet but from the picture it doesn't seem swollen at least to me. Caddos is that big. He was gelded 2 weeks ago so I am unsure of how big it should be to be normal.

[TLC97]

What did you use to clean it? Looks like it could be a reaction to what you used.

When that happened with one of my geldings the vet told me to use cold wet washclothes to pack the area to help.

[shewasmyshadow]

We used warm water and dawn soap for the washing and then a lot of warm clean water to rinse. My thought was to find a barn with a wash stall that had warm water and go get him REALLY rinsed out.

[WashingtonBay]

I'd do a vet appt - checkup, and while you're at it, teeth and sheath...

[MyMia]

I'd try to rinse with warm water as well as you can again. Dawn can be irritating so maybe that's why it's still swollen.

Charlie had a swollen sheath...last summer? I think it was. Anyway, I cleaned it out as well as I could (he sucks way up, too) but it was still swollen, and then called the vet. She asked if it seemed itchy (it had) so she said it was probably a yeast infection, so suggested an OTC vaginal yeast treatment. I did that for 3 days and his sheath shrunk.

He's due to have his teeth done this spring, so when she sedates him for that, I'm going to have her clean his sheath to make sure it's done well.

Good luck with Rashad!

[JetLagaside]

My old vet only recomended ivory soap, so as not to irritate them.

[Tiz]

The monthly wienie thread.

Squirt some mineral oil up there, swirl it around, when the gunk melts, wipe it away. Mild shampoo or soap after that if you want it to squeak! Use gloves if you're a sissy, which you can't be anymore since you've had diaper duties(way worse!).

[natisha]

It looks swollen. Is there any edema on his abdomen?

[TLC97]

I was told by my vet NO OIL of any kind ever. She recommend KY Jelly as it is safe if it doesn't rinse out fully. I think trying just regular water to get everything cleaned out will help.

Just an FYI- DO NOT go to your local Rite-Aide and ask for the biggest tube of KY they have and then when they give you a funny look say it is for your horse. I did that and I think everyone thought I was NUTS.

[Tiz]

Why did your vet say NO OIL ever?

[vicklynn]

One time when I cleaned City, he had some minor swelling so I rinsed it really good, just straight water, but got way up there again. The swelling went away. Only thing I could think of is that I didnt get all the soap that time.

[shewasmyshadow]

I was told by my vet NO OIL of any kind ever. She recommend KY Jelly as it is safe if it doesn't rinse out fully. I think trying just regular water to get everything cleaned out will help.

Just an FYI- DO NOT go to your local Rite-Aide and ask for the biggest tube of KY they have and then when they give you a funny look say it is for your horse. I did that and I think everyone thought I was NUTS.

LOL. My hubby and I had a good laugh from your post. :D I think we'll wait and see if it warms up this week. Maybe if we can hit a WARM day we'll really go after him and get him washed out. Then maybe we'll do some KY after that. Do you think another brand of lube would work? I think I only have WET right now.

[alittleoffkey]

Oil doesn't wash out, so it stays behind to collect even more dirt, more quickly than before.

I go buy a huge thing of KY Jelly, and try to get in the line the teenage boy's running... just to watch him squirm, but I imagine any water-based, non-scented, non-flavored, non-...sensation-inducing lube would do just fine. :D

You can just run out there and squirt it up in there, kind of swish it around in there to get everything coated. It'll loosen a lot of gunk and let it fall quite a bit fall out on its own.

[lisakaye]

Any water based lube will work. I used KY on Brutus and it worked really well. He didn't get as dirty as often. When I first started with him I had to clean him once a month. He was disgusting. He is much better now with the KY...

[Tiz]

Mineral oil works fine, and leaves no more residue then a natural layer of body oil. Less if you follow it with Castile soap.

Since Rashad is aged, having his yearly checkup now sounds like a good idea. It could be the swelling has nothing to do with cleanliness.

[Ol Man River]

farnam makes a safe sheath cleaner,

called Excalibur price was $8 ( I just looked it up). :)

also can be used to clean mares between the teats as that
area gets pretty grimmy also.

"but couldn't really get his actual sheath since it was completely pulled up and in. :( "
(quote from original post.)

ok, the sheath is just the tube where the penis goes up and down in.

also you need to check the end of the penis for any beans (a glob of dirt).

to rinse, use a garden hose without any sprayers on it, just the end of the hose
and insert it in as far as possible and let the warm water run in and out.

Now I also had a gelding that his sheath would swell up and the vet said it
was because he was older, and excess fluid in the body gravitates to the lowest
point of the body. Like horses that stock up in the lower legs. And it was
winter time and he was not being put outside to move around when we had
alot of ice on the ground.

Now also the Vet will tranq the horse to get him to drop. Make sure
the vet does NOT use an injection of straight Ace. Their have been gelding
that could not retract their manhood after being given ace as a tranq.

I never had to tranq my gelding or stallion to clean their sheath, but
I am pretty sure most vets use a combination shot of tranqulizers for this procedure.
and ace is a small part of this cocktail. Your vet will know what I mean.

[TLC97]

Correct alittleofkey- My vet said oil does not break down and can leave even a trace of residue which can lead to more problems later on.
Any type of KY'ish lube will work, water based plain stuff (don't buy the warming stuff:(). She also said Ivory Soap or Joy dishwashing will work, but be sure to rinse well.

Getting in line with a huge thing of lube and latex gloves really makes for some interesting looks.
I like using lube because you can use it year round (cold winter months) and you don't have to worry about rinsing as much.

Ole- I used Excalibur and that is what my previous gelding was allergic too. I ended up packing him with cold clothes and putting him on meds. it was that bad.

[shewasmyshadow]

Yeah, used to use Excalibur, but ran out. The lube thing sound like a good thing to try. What I do, since we don't have running hot water, is get a nice soft wash rag and get it soaking wet, then stuff it up in the opening (it fits with room to spare) and then ring it out when it's all the way up there. Is that a good enough way to rinse? I was thinking maybe a spray bottle might even work. I think I need to get it super cleaned out, then try the lube. If after a few days the swelling is still there, then we'll go to the vet. I just can't sustain another $150 vet bill for him only to tell me "Well, he's old. What did you expect?". Rashad was given a dental last spring and last fall is when he had his episode, so he's been checked out recently. I think we'll just wait until shot time and have everything peaked at then. Unless, of course, this gets worse.

[natisha]

Maybe try a big syringe of warm water. Multiple times

[farmers_wife]

I can see when Rashad drops that he has shavings on it. But he pulls up so fast before I can grab it.
Ok that sounded weird. :innocent:

[shewasmyshadow]

Maybe try a big syringe of warm water. Multiple times

That is a good idea. Or an old turkey baster might work too.

[WashingtonBay]

I can see when Rashad drops that he has shavings on it. But he pulls up so fast before I can grab it.
Ok that sounded weird. :innocent:

Indeed ;)

It's really too bad you guys don't have a better relationship with a good vet. I do remember a bit of this from his last episode and that vet. It makes all the difference, perhaps not in the cost, but at least in the value of it.

[shewasmyshadow]

LOL. FW. :p

[shewasmyshadow]

Indeed ;)

It's really too bad you guys don't have a better relationship with a good vet. I do remember a bit of this from his last episode and that vet. It makes all the difference, perhaps not in the cost, but at least in the value of it.

Well, I think with some of this stuff an experienced horse person is almost as valuable as the vets. That is why I'd rather try asking here before calling my vet. Unless it's a emergency, of course.

[WashingtonBay]

Well, yeah - but with these shy ones that run up inside (Bay's the same way) the sedation of having the vet do it is as important as the actual skill or what kind of goop to use. In summer I can get Bay pretty well with just the hose, but it's probably too cold for that now.

And yes, Bay does get bigger when it's dirty. The dirt and gunk in a dark moist environment... you know... a little low grade infection and inflamation thing going on.

[shewasmyshadow]

Well, yeah - but with these shy ones that run up inside (Bay's the same way) the sedation of having the vet do it is as important as the actual skill or what kind of goop to use. In summer I can get Bay pretty well with just the hose, but it's probably too cold for that now.

And yes, Bay does get bigger when it's dirty. The dirt and gunk in a dark moist environment... you know... a little low grade infection and inflamation thing going on.

Well, one of Faith's friends gets the sedation from the vet and gives it herself. Do you think that would be safe? Faith knows how to give shots. I was also considering trying a feed through relaxing supplement. Just to see if that'd be enough to get him to drop.

[WashingtonBay]

Well, I wouldn't. But I don't do shots, let alone IVs, let alone sedatives. Dosing is everything... I want a vet to do that, as well as a vet on hand if something goes wrong.

[Dakota Sunrise]

Well, one of Faith's friends gets the sedation from the vet and gives it herself. Do you think that would be safe? Faith knows how to give shots.

I am not very expereinced in this kind of stuff so my opinion may not count for much, but the idea of sedating without a vet present makes me a little uncomfortable. Especially since Rashad is older.

My farrier mentioned I could maybe get a tranqulizer/sedation of some sort from the vet to give to Beauty when she gets shod, but I decided I didn't want to do that. I'm just not comfortable with the idea at all. She's only 13, but still. And there's no way I'd sedate Dakota for anything without a vet present (he's 20). Maybe age doesn't matter, but I remember a vet telling us once that they didn't want to sedate our Beagle because he was so old. And there's always things that can go wrong when animals are under sedation.. I don't know, I just think I'd want a vet there to make sure the correct dose was given and everthing was ok. But that's just me. I have next to no experience with using sedation. But I'm sure you guys know what you're doing and would be fine, I'm just a worry wart, lol.:innocent:

[shewasmyshadow]

What about some of these strong relaxer supplements. Like the ones with Valerian in them?? Would those be enough to get him comfortable so he'd drop.

Just to clarify, I have NO problems getting him to stand for this stuff. I've got my arm up there and I'm kneeing under his belly. The only thing I need is for him to relax enough to drop his "pee-pee" down. ;)

[MyMia]

I've tried a turkey baster to get water up there; it worked, but you have to get the turkey baster as full as you can, or the water just sits in the bulb and barely squirts out. I've used a big syringe that I got to give Charlie medication (no needle, just a plastic tip on it) and that worked pretty well, although it didn't hold much water at a time.

Personally, I wouldn't sedate without a vet there.

Charlie will relax when I give him a good grooming, and while I'm brushing him, I can check out the status of gunk on his penis. Would Rashad relax if you did that? Maybe you could work with farmers wife and one of you brush, and the other could squirt him with warm water to rinse him off. It would probably only work one time, but it might be enough. Just an idea.

[alittleoffkey]

I'm lucky - I only have problems cleaning the inside of Leggy's sheath; he's drops extremely easily.

Since he has shavings in there, I would just squirt some lube up there until you can give him a proper cleaning and leave it. It's water-based, so it doesn't matter if it's rinsed, and then it may at least loosen some of those shavings, or coat them so they're not as irritating. The only rinsing I do is with the sponge or rag I'm using to clean him anyway.

Edit: I wouldn't sedate either. You could check into some of those calming pastes for trailering or leaving home, but I wouldn't use anything more than that without a vet there.

[mandisue]

And this is why I only have MARES


Tanya the visualization, oh goodness.... :hysterical:

And Farmerswife, you just made me fall out of my chair..:rant: :hysterical:

[shewasmyshadow]

Nope. He will not drop for anything. As soon as he sees you reach down it's SUCKED up as fast as lightening. :p

[TLC97]

Hey at least I am good for a laugh.

[Lynn_70]

For rinsing in cold weather or no running warm water, I have used the picnic type ketchup bottles. You can get them for $1 at Walmart stores and they work fairly well. You do have to do it a few times to get well rinsed. Otherwise I have used sensitive baby wipes even without cleaners/water to give things a touch up down there.

[WashingtonBay]

I can't believe no one posted the songs...


This forum is slipping :p

[IrisGreen]

Sometimes Traquilizers don't work.

When Muffin was 2 he went in for a check up and they sedated him enough to stay standing, cleaned his sheath and pulled his wolf teeth. He didn't drop for the lady cleaning his sheath and he was so tranquilized he could barely stay standing.

So, sedation doesn't mean the horse will drop but its worth a try. It didn't work with Muffin.

Also, I tried that Excalaber stuff and it doesn't work very well. KY is 100% better at getting off the crusty stuff. KY soaks in to the crusty stuff and after 5 mins you can just peel it off or run your hand around and it all sluffs off. I put some up in side if Muffin won't drop, rub it around as much as I can and leave it for a while (maybe 20 mins). He walks around and his "goods" move up and down inside his sheath with each step he takes. The movement of his walking and the KY loosening the bond between the skin and the crusty stuff works like a charm to brake lose any crusty stuff and it just falls out on it's own or works it's self out to the opening where I can reach it. Then I come back and give him a good rinsing and he's a happy camper. I also watch him for the next time he hangs out and have a clean wet cloth handy to wipe him down with before he retracts.

[shewasmyshadow]

I can't believe no one posted the songs...


This forum is slipping :p

I used to know it. :( Can't remember it now. It's to the tune of "If You're Happy and You Know It!"

[shewasmyshadow]

To the tune of If You're Happy and You Know It

If it's hanging and you see it lube your hands
If it's hanging and you see it lube your hands
If it's hanging and you see it
Grab it quick it's time to clean it
If it's hanging and you see it lube your hands.

If it's peely and it's crusty pick it off
If it's peely and it's crusty pick it off
If it's peely and it's crusty
And the smell is kind of musty
If it's peely and it's crusy pick it off

If his weenie has a beanie dig it out
If his weeny has a beanie dig it out
If his weiner has a beaner
Pull it out and he'll be cleaner
If his weenie has a beenie dig it out

Now he's happy and you know it wash your hands
Now he's happy and you know it wash your hands
It's a job that's kind of kinky
And now your hands are really stinky
But he's happy and you know it wash your hands.

The Sheath Cleaning Song #2
Author Unknown

Sing it to the tune of "Hello Mother, Hello Father" from camp son

How's it hangin'?
So much cleaner.
Aren't you glad I
Washed your wiener?

I'll admit it's
Kinda creepy
that I had to stick my arm up in your pee-pee.

It was sticky.
It was gunky.
It felt icky..
It smelled funky.

It was cruddy,
It was crusty--
When you stuck it out, it creaked like it was rusty.

After half an
Hour of toilin'
And of squirtin'
Baby oil in,
You're as fresh there
As a daisy.

Either this means I love you or else I'm crazy!!!


And one for Mares ...

Sung to the
tune of " Hello Mudda, Hello Fadda " :

Is it clean now
Near your udder?
Is it smooth now
Smooth as butter?
It's a chore that
I'm not keen on
I'm either something to be kicked
Or else to lean on

There's much crust there
Tween your teatsies
More disgusting
Than your feetsies
I'll admit it's kinda scarey
To be reaching under you where it's not hairy.

It is black and kinda peely
Sometimes chunky, but ideally
It's a good thing, all in all
So you don't rub your tail raw upon the stall
Wall.

Now the mare folks
Have their own diddy
About cleaning their mare's titty
Hope you've had some slight enjoyment
As for me I might be facing unemployment!

[WashingtonBay]

Better :D

[shewasmyshadow]

Just found this... :p

YouTube- The Sheath Cleaning Song

[WashingtonBay]

:clap: