Need some brain storming please?!?! Tricky horsey problem?!?!?

Question

Okay so my gelding has a sheath condition that causes alot of irritation, itchy etc, he requires daily attention & will do for the rest of his life (I've had this thoroughly investigated by vets & specialists). During winter he's ALOT more comfortable than summer & atm in Aus it's winter. I'm wanting to make something to cover his sheath & protect it from flies during summer but can't think of how to do it, design ideas?

Without going into graphic detail, because of his sheath condition that area attracts an obscene amount of flies during summer & causes him ALOT of grief :(

Any sensible thoughts really appreciated please?

Answer 1

Well the medical in me wants graphic detail lol.... but is this an open wound?  

I'm guessing you have tried all the topical ointments to repel flies and not having any luck?

I'm thinking a harness that fits over the top of the rump and comes down over the flank and between the cheeks and hooks into a mesh cover that would hold it up.

You would need a cross piece or 2 on the rump to help hold it up.

The mesh would allow urine to pass through too.

I will think on it, thats my only idea right now.

Answer 2

Mulereiner's suggestion is EXCELLENT!  I'm going to carry it a bit farther though.

I would get a fly sheet (Or 2) and use the 2nd one to cut out a 3' x 4' section of it and sew it onto the first fly sheet on the off side (Right side), at the bottom back part which would cover his flanks.  Then on the left side, I'd attach velco on the bottom of the first fly sheet and the other side of the strip of fly sheet so that it fastens rather snugly to make sure that his sheath is covered and the flies can't get through to it.

I know how thick the flies can get in OZ, BTDT!

Answer 3

I know that you've probably spent thousands trying to eliminate or at least improve on your geldings issue, so here are a couple of more unorthodox methods that wouldn't hurt to try.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Probiotics  this website or others like it may give you some ideas on how to introduce some type of probiotic into his general system.  Another thought that I had surely wouldn't hurt and it could help one heck of a lot.  Diatomaeterous Earth (flour fine) sprinkled on the area and on his whole body would stop not only the flies on him but get some in his feed and it will pass through and affect the reproduction of flies in his pasture as well...you can also sprinkle the DE on the piles and soon, there just won't be as many flies to bother him, sometimes it completely eliminates them...it sure wouldn't hurt to try and it is very inexpensive.  Adding white or apple cider vinegar to his drinking water will change his PH somewhat, making him not so desirable to the flies, plus, sometimes it actually alters conditions similar to this.  White vinegar is more palatable to the horse than the cider vinegar.  (I know that I probably mispelled DE, but you know what I mean.   There is something else that I just thought of....you know those "post race, urine catching containers that they use for geldings?..the ones where they stick on and stay pretty good until you take them off, and that is with them holding the weight of the sample...it's sorta like a giant plastic condom that is attached directly over the end of the sheath and sticks to the belly (belly could be clipped to avoid more irritation)   The end of the condom like container (stays folded up until something is deposited in it, could be either altered with hot ice pick holes (using a hot ice pick will make holes in the plastic that won't tear) allowing the urine to pass through, but not allowing the flies back in (small holes)  I hope that I didn't make this too complicated, but I think that it would protect your gelding from the flies, allow him to relieve himself an be fairly simple to change out when necessary... Good luck.

Answer 4

i agree with Mulereiner; excellent idea! they actually make something like that. not exactly, but it might work. its by cashel, and i think its called "quietride". its a mesh belly guard that has straps that go over the hindquarters. it may be long enough to go over the sheath, but im not sure.

another thing you can try is adding apple cider vinegar to their feed. i've found that apple cider vinegar works a bit better than the regular white. and please, dont add it to their water; if they dont like the taste, they can quickly become dehydrated. its too important to risk. my horse has fly problems, and we give him a quarter cup apple cider vinegar every day with his evening meal, and it makes him less appealing to flies, which helps alot. but make sure, if you give him the apple cider vinegar that its the raw, unfiltered form thatyou get at health food stores. its a bit more expensive but it works alot better than the supermarket variety.

i hope you find something that works for him!

Answer 5

Erg - awkward situation.

Have you considered contacting the people at Boett ? - I think their sweet itch rugs cover that area.