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Discussion on Horse kicks at penis while being cleaned.
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Member:
Suzeb
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Posted on Monday, Apr 3, 2006 - 3:31 pm:
Hello Dr.O and all,
It is that time of year when things are looking really dirty if you know what I mean  .
My normally sedate gelding who likes to "Hang Out" while being groomed, has suddenly started kicking his hind feet if I touch his penis to remove excess smegma. To elaborate; the hind feet come forward toward his penis or belly, like he does not want me to touch it. Nothing looks swollen or irritated that I can see, but it is a new behaviour that has me a bit puzzled.
Thanks in advance for replies.
Susan B.
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Member:
Erika
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Posted on Monday, Apr 3, 2006 - 5:55 pm:
Try squirting it with baby oil. You can even squirt up inside the sheath if he hasn't DrOpped. Most of the crud will soften up and fall off on it's own.
I think Dr. O said cleaning isn't necessary though unless there is some sort of infection or irritation.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Monday, Apr 3, 2006 - 7:16 pm:
Guilty, we do not regularly clean sheaths around here but we do recommend the regular check for a bean. For more on this see the article.
Unless you see something wrong Susan, assume this is misbehavior. It certainly is a common response of horses without problems and just because this has not be seen in the past does not mean he views this the same as last year.
DrO
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Member:
Muffi
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Posted on Thursday, Apr 6, 2006 - 5:26 pm:
Isn't that Squelching sound when trotting a gelding attributed to an "Unclean" sheath? I was told that once, and is that an issue?
also I heard that Mineral Oil was better than Baby Oil?
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Member:
Erika
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Posted on Thursday, Apr 6, 2006 - 5:44 pm:
Funny, Muffi, but Equus magazine just had an article on castrating horses. They said the sound is from being gelded late, leaving a larger pocket. I dunno, sounds reasonable.
I believe that baby oil and mineral oil are the same thing.
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Member:
Hwood
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Posted on Thursday, Apr 6, 2006 - 5:49 pm:
I think baby oil may be a lighter viscosity and it has scent, which is nice, but I don't know if it may irritate some horses. ???
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Thursday, Apr 6, 2006 - 6:03 pm:
The safest to use is KY jelly, and it does a good job.
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Member:
Erika
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Posted on Thursday, Apr 6, 2006 - 8:02 pm:
I just suggested squirting the oil because she would not have to risk getting kicked. Susan said her horse objects to the cleaning.
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Member:
Canter
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Posted on Thursday, Apr 6, 2006 - 9:38 pm:
I don't think the squelching is due to an unclean sheath...when I had a gelding, he made the noise all the time, even if he was just cleaned.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Friday, Apr 7, 2006 - 7:09 am:
Concerning the sound, actually both points have some true aspects. While not all later geldings make noise, there are some geldings that squoink worse when dirty and some it does not make a difference. I am not sure if it exacerbates the noise or there are 2 different causes to the noise.
When I do a castration I do a modified procedure I think makes them quieter, for more on this see, Care for Horses » Particular Situations & Procedures » Castration in Horses.
DrO
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Member:
Ilona
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Posted on Friday, Apr 7, 2006 - 10:38 am:
So Dr O, what is the verdict, baby oil or mineral oil? Spraying sounds so much more appealing to me, especially for my stud, who is quite protective of his genitalia. It may have something to do with witnessing 3 gelding procedures on other colts in surrounding corrals! He is so sweet and well behaved that I would never consider this for him, besides he's 16. When I re-assure him, he just looks at me with a "yeah, right!" quality
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Member:
Suzeb
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Posted on Friday, Apr 7, 2006 - 10:49 am:
The kicking is not normal behaviour. It is like he is trying to swat at a fly that is on his belly. As for the squelching, we don't hear that. He may have been gelded late but this is only speculation because of his large stallion like jowls.
It seems that in the last couple of years, he is a lot dirtier with smegma buildup. Could this be due to a higher fat diet?
The KY jelly might be the way to go for now. I hope I don't have to sedate to go checking for beans.
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Member:
Annes
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Posted on Friday, Apr 7, 2006 - 11:28 am:
My 4 year old has so much more buildup than my older geldings. His is like tar and much more difficult to remove. On the other two it is very dry and can almost be peeled off. I can always tell when he needs cleaning because he has the tar-like stuff stuck on the inside of his back legs from laying down. None of mine mind being cleaned but the youngest does act a little embarrassed!!
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Friday, Apr 7, 2006 - 7:20 pm:
Our own recommendations are in the article associated with this forum ilona but as long as the KY is rinsed thoroughly either method has merits, though the KY is a bit expensive I would think.
DrO
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Member:
Ilona
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Posted on Friday, Apr 7, 2006 - 10:35 pm:
Thanx Dr. O
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Member:
Suzeb
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Posted on Saturday, Apr 8, 2006 - 6:30 pm:
We have some new symptoms:
A little swelling at the urethra opening and what looks like ring around the penis up towards the scrotum.
Seems to be sensitive to the touch, although not hot and pulsing or swollen except in above mentioned areas. Couldn't find a bean.
I could go out and get a picture of this if it will pass your censors.
Since my guy does like to relax in this way, I am familiar with what is normal and isn't.
Any ideas? and thanks in advance  .
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Sunday, Apr 9, 2006 - 8:29 am:
If you can get good pictures post them, also I would take the horses temp and see if there is any difficulty urinating.
DrO
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Sunday, Apr 9, 2006 - 10:02 am:
Hi Susan,
Best wishes to you and Laser...btw...Brave needs to be tranqed to get his done...I just have the vet do it the same time he gets his teeth floated.
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Member:
Suzeb
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Posted on Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006 - 12:00 am:
I have some pictures here and I must say my horse thought I was 3 clowns short of a circus  .
His temperature was 37.4 celsius.
Right side near scrotum;
Left side near scrotum;
Left side showing swelling at the tip;
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Member:
Suzeb
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Posted on Thursday, Apr 13, 2006 - 9:33 am:
Vet was out on Tuesday to have a look at Mr.Horse.
She did agree that things looked a little puffy, but could find no evidence of a bean. I have watched him urinate and he does not extend himself to do so. Is this normal?
The color of urine seems OK but comes out a little darker at the end of the stream. He extends himself after he is finished and does the slapping against his belly.
The swelling is not looking any worse and he is not kicking as much with me picking off the excess smegma.
Do you think he might have some sort of urinary tract infection?
Thanks
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Friday, Apr 14, 2006 - 7:13 am:
It all looks pretty normal to me Susan. The ring at the top is where the the sheath on the inside of the prepuce forms a fornix that then reflects onto the penis and then attaches to the shaft. The ring is that attachment.
DrO
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Member:
Tangoh
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Posted on Monday, Apr 17, 2006 - 4:27 pm:
Whew! Glad you thought it looked normal Dr. O., because if it didn't, then all my geldings are in trouble..'cause it sure looks normal to me too.
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Member:
Suzeb
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Posted on Friday, Apr 21, 2006 - 11:22 pm:
OK....I am glad that everything looks normal and I am happy to report that nothing is swelling up.
I do have one more question though...Is it normal for him to urinate with his penis in or fully extended?
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Monday, Apr 24, 2006 - 10:44 am:
You see both but most distend somewhat. For those that don't and have a smelly greasy sheath we tend to recommend the occasional flush of light mineral oil for cleaning. Whatever it takes to keep it from smelling like urine.
DrO
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Member:
Suzeb
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Posted on Friday, Apr 28, 2006 - 3:03 pm:
Thank you very much Dr.O  .
We have a nice clean penis. Used warm water and some KY jelly to loosen the smegma buildup in side the sheath.
It is peculiar though; he tolerated a cold hose rinse in that area ?? without kicking or swatting.
This cold hose rinse was for flushing out another wound and 'While I had the hose out' things kind of migrated towards that area.
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Member:
Vboese
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Posted on Saturday, Aug 5, 2006 - 8:24 pm:
Hello,
I have the same exact looking problem! I know Dr. O said it looked normal, but my gelding too likes to 'hang out' and it certainly looks more swollen than normal. His sheath swells and is really hard, usually in the morning when I let him out of his stall. I was wondering if it was a reaction to bugs since it has never been this swollen. I gave him a good cleaning this morning and I found a huge bean the size of a walnut. I am wondering if this would cause the swelling? The pics you posted look exactly like the issue I am having, which like you, is not normal for him.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Monday, Aug 7, 2006 - 9:48 am:
Steve you should read all the posts above before posting, your issue with a bean has already addressed.
DrO
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Member:
shanson
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Posted on Monday, Aug 11, 2008 - 4:50 pm:
Revisiting this thread... Dr. O, you say in this thread that KY is OK to use as long as you thoroughly rinse. I heard recently that KY is a good choice for cleaning because it does NOT have to be rinsed off...assertion was that it's safe to leave on. Your thoughts?
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Monday, Aug 11, 2008 - 10:35 pm:
Dried methylcellulose is kinda gritty.
DrO
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