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  Discussion on Chronic incurable infection in sheath
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Posted on Tuesday, Jul 2, 2002 - 7:43 am:

In Jan, during our gelding's annual vet check, it was discovered he had some sores in his sheath. We were advised to clean it regularly. This did not resolve the problem; for the last 5 months, we have used a saline gent or amikacin wash daily. The infection is better, but our vet says that it is incurable, and that she is talking to her professor at LSU to see if he can call around for new or experimental treatments.
No mention has been made of biopsy; this is a spotted saddle horse with a lot of white.
She said that grey or spotted horses such as this one are prone to this condition.
Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you in advance. Ann

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 3, 2002 - 3:33 am:

What is the vets diagnosis?
DrO

Posted on Friday, Jul 5, 2002 - 8:18 am:

The vet's diagnosis was "chronic incurable sheath infection."

Posted on Friday, Jul 5, 2002 - 10:13 am:

You need to realized that is NOT a diagnosis but an opinion and it sounds like you need a diagnosis. Quite frankly I do not know of a likely infection of the sheath that would be incurable and certainly could not come to this conclusion without testing for an organism.

Since this is a spotted horse I cannot help ut wonder if this might not be squamous cell carcinoma and if so early treatment will be successful.
DrO

Posted on Friday, Jul 5, 2002 - 11:49 pm:

Well, that was our first thought also. I can get a culture done myself.
I know this is not in the train; but am soo sad.
We lost a lovely little lady today. Coliced while at the trainers; we tried to take her for surgery. Died in the trailer with me watching.
Our hearts are breaking; had her autopsied; no reason was found for the huge torsion she had. Buried her in a lovely spot on our place and are crying and missing her.

Posted on Saturday, Jul 6, 2002 - 6:43 am:

Chris, I know how those images stay with you. Am sad along with you that she had to die that way. It helps me to try to remember the horse when he/she was at her best and doing humorous, sweet things.

I have a wonderful, the sweetest horse in my barn, gelding that is going for laser surgery on July 16th to remove squamous cell carcinoma from the prepuce. He had a tiny sprig biopsied and manually removed last fall, but it is back and larger. The vet hopes the laser surgery may get more of the precancerous cells. This is one of the best lesson horses I have (and, I know it's hard to believe but he's an ARABIAN!!!)so I am trying to keep positive. What is your experience with laser surgery on squamous cell carcinoma . . . anyone?
Holly

Posted on Saturday, Jul 6, 2002 - 10:20 pm:

Chris ~ I am SO sorry to hear about your little mare. I lost a beloved horse in April myself, so I know how you're feeling right now. Holly is right - try to focus on the good times. I know it's hard now, but it does get a little easier as time goes by.

I'll have all of your horses in my thoughts while we wait for the various outcomes. Holly, I've not known of anyone that has used laser surgery on a horse, but from what I know of human medicine, it seems like an excellent idea.

Keep us posted, everyone!

Suzy and Indy

Posted on Sunday, Jul 7, 2002 - 7:08 am:

Thank you all for your kind words; it helps.

Dr. O,
Will get cultures done both aerobic and anaerobic and think of how to present that to our vet.
I know that she is well aware of predispostion of this boy to carcinoma since she mentioned that to us once before when we had a problem.

Posted on Sunday, Jul 7, 2002 - 8:13 am:

My condolences Chris,
Though a culture is in order also get a biopsy. SCC will have secondary bacterial infections but unless they can see some tissue or at least some cells the diagnosis will be mixed. We have an article on SCC in the skin disease section.
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Jul 7, 2002 - 11:51 pm:

TY Dr O. Have culturettes here; doing both cultures plus a scraping for pap ourselves. Are going to our vet with 2 other horses in am. Will be talking to her about a biopsy (or we will be going elsewhere.) Refuse to lose our boy to something we can treat.

Thank you again. Ann

PS Our lovely lady is running with the wind, I'm sure.

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 10, 2002 - 6:21 am:

Due to confusion of these two discussions I have pulled Rhondas discussion out of here and it is now at, Care for Horses: Disease Prevention and Health Care: Sheath Cleaning in Horses: Blood on the penis.
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 10, 2002 - 10:55 pm:

Dr O.,
Spoke with our vet about a biopsy; she said she saw nothing to biopsy----has examined him several times.
Also mentioned that we had cultured the area--said we would probably find a Klebsiella.

Culture did show a Klebsiella and a Serracia---sensitive to the gent and amikacin which we are using in a saline wash daily. Pap showed only inflammatory cells; no atypical or cancerous seen---examined by a pathologist.

Are making an appointment with an equine specialist and taking cultures and sensitivities.
If he tells us this is not curable will be back begging for help.

Thank you for your advice and help.

Ann
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