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Post by Jenni on Jan 23, 2016 14:57:25 GMT -5
I noticed that Twister has a swelling on the left side of his sheath. It's about golf ball sized, tender and little hot. I noticed at noon today when I was filling water tanks. This week has been a busy week so I haven't seen the horses in the daylight much so I can't say for sure when the swelling started. He doesn't seem off in any other way. I posted this on a facebook advice site and everyone says it is a bean. My understanding was that a "bean" was in the thingy. This is a swelling in just one side of his sheath. He started to drop a little after I was messing with it and his thingy looks absolutely normal. I have owned mostly mares in my life so am not as familiar with gelding issues. I am not against trying to clean him myself if that is what is needed. I also have antibiotics on hand that I could give him if that might help. What do you guys think?   |
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Post by Kit on Jan 23, 2016 16:59:21 GMT -5
I'd try cleaning it first.
Could be a bug bite that will go down in a couple days.
If the swelling gets worse, or seems to be bothering him, then I'd call the vet.
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Post by Jenni on Jan 23, 2016 17:54:11 GMT -5
No bugs here Kit - It was below zero most of the week!
I may have solved the mystery though. Sunday -Wed we had temps high below zero with wind chills way below zero. The wind was coming from a direction which gave the boys no wind break so I put blankets on Twister and Spider. Wed morning the snap on Twister's leg strap was broken on the same side as he has the swelling. I'm guessing he got tangled up some how in it until the snap gave way - the strap is elastic so I'm envisioning it giving him a pop in the privates when it let loose. That could sting a little and give you a little swelling don't you think? I'll keep an eye on him but at our temps he's basically icing it just walking around.
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Post by ride4fun on Jan 23, 2016 18:07:55 GMT -5
Yup, the elastic strap could have bruised the area a bit too before the snap broke although if the blanket wasn't off to one side he may have just caught the strap in a branch and then gotten popped when the snap broke. It seems to me like something that can be watched and if swelling doesn't increase at least left until monday or if swelling is going down, just watched until its back to normal. They can get swollen in the sheath area from grime and have their thingy be fine but the lopsidedness doesn't match with that kind of general irritation.
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Post by Kit on Jan 24, 2016 0:31:06 GMT -5
No bugs here Kit - It was below zero most of the week! I may have solved the mystery though. Sunday -Wed we had temps high below zero with wind chills way below zero. The wind was coming from a direction which gave the boys no wind break so I put blankets on Twister and Spider. Wed morning the snap on Twister's leg strap was broken on the same side as he has the swelling. I'm guessing he got tangled up some how in it until the snap gave way - the strap is elastic so I'm envisioning it giving him a pop in the privates when it let loose. That could sting a little and give you a little swelling don't you think? I'll keep an eye on him but at our temps he's basically icing it just walking around. OH OUCH!!! Yes, that could have done it. Poor guy! Yeah, below 0, probably no bugs. |
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Post by Idaho Linda on Jan 24, 2016 12:15:46 GMT -5
If you do decide to clean him out, the original Go Jo works better than any of the "speciality" products. And the smell is non-existant. To rinse, put about 8 inches of surgical tubing on a large irrigation syringe. The Go Jo also works great on mare udders--and rinsing just involves a sponge.
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Post by Jenni on Jan 24, 2016 18:46:56 GMT -5
I rode him this afternoon and he didn't seem to be bothered by it. Swelling seemed to have gone down after riding. He also fulled dropped and peed normally while I watched so I think he'll be just fine. With our cold weather I will hold of on any cleaning procedures until it warms up - I'm sure he will thank me for that.
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Post by Idaho Linda on Jan 24, 2016 20:14:10 GMT -5
Everyone will be more pleased when it warms up. Remember, though, this is Twister. He isn't a Marine. It is okay to use warm water  |
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Post by Marci on Jan 26, 2016 16:18:08 GMT -5
Oh yeah, those snaps and elastic can really cause trouble. Mine broke and I thought heck why not use a bungie cord? Well it worked but poor Shadow when she got up got stung so badly she bucked from one end of the arena to the other kicking that fence like it had done it. I took them off and replaced it with regular straps then.
Kerrys arab mare Luna just recently got her strap in the front somehow tangled around her front leg, it was broke and the leg was cut so not sure how. But it was like the webbing sliced up into her the flesh on her knee. Thankfully not hurting her joint. But she is stall bound right now until it heals.
I deiced this year to only blanket Shadow if its raining and the wind is blowing. As it is the wind blows the rain into her shelter but otherwise she is fine. And you guys good news....our trees are budding out and some are starting to bloom. The frogs are singing and the horses (not only Shadow but Lady too) have started to get serous about shedding out. We just might get an early spring.
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Post by snelson on Jan 30, 2016 11:30:19 GMT -5
A gelding at the other barn had sheath swelling each and every winter. Can't remember what she gave him every day to help with the swelling but the vet could never find any sort of reason.
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Post by Yip on Feb 5, 2016 22:32:59 GMT -5
Youch! Poor guy!
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