Sheath cleaning.. to do or not to do....?

Question

after reading someone else sheath cleaning question, alot of you said you've never done it to your geldings..

so how important do you think it is?

for example, my gelding is rather clean about EVERYTHING, and the few times i've seen him drop he wasn't all "gunked up"

sometimes the part that drops before the actual dropping (i'm sorry, i'm trying to keep this "clean" and its not working!) is gunky, but i've been able to peel that stuff off-he doesn't really care.

so how important do you think sheath cleaning actually is?

Answer 1

I think that it is overrated when it comes to geldings that are out in the pasture, the more exercise that they get, the less it seems that they need their sheath cleaned...I still think that, even when stalled, that they don't need their sheath cleaned monthly like some have advised...every 3 months, in my opinion, (if stalled) is adequate.

Answer 2

I think it is important to do twice a year for most geldings and more often for those who tend to get dirty easily in that region, who have a tendency to lay down more often and for those who are exercised and ridden frequently.

For breeding stallions, it is even more important.

According to the strictly equine vets in my area (Central KY) geldings/stallions can have so much smegma built up in the sheath that the p***s either cannot drop down or cannot retract.  If that happens, the horse risks serious damage to the p***s.  Secondly, the "bean" that forms inside the urethra, can build up to the point that it block urination which causes pain and infection.

Owning a horse means taking care of it.  This is one thing your horse cannot do for himself.  He relies on his owner's to do this or have this done.  Sheath cleaning is just part of owning a horse.  If you don't clean the sheath (even the equivalent on the mare), you shouldn't even own a horse....you're being neglectful.

Answer 3

I think it should be based on the horse. Not to clean in a "whole" or just because.  If that makes sense...... If it looks like it should be cleaned, then clean. If it looks  not that dirty or not dirty then pass. But I do clean if yucky. I think it is important if really dirty.

Answer 4

It REALLY depends upon the horse and the circumstances.

I've had geldings most of my life and normally when I'm hosing them off, I'll stick my hand up in there and peel the smegma off and when the water runs clean, so is your horsey's sheath.  

Horses who don't appreciate it at first find out that it's a REAL nice thing to have done when it's REALLY hot, muggy and yucky outside.

I was forced to put all my horses out to pasture a couple of years ago when my late hubby got seriously ill and when they got to come closer to home, one of the first things I did was give them baths, boy did I have a couple of old geldings who couldn't WAIT to have me do their sheaths and they weren't even swollen!  ROFLOL

Answer 5

It does need to be done at least once a year to prevent infection. My gelding has never gotten an infection, but my friends horse has. His sheath was the size of a softball for quite awhile. They can get a build up in the pocket around the tip of their urethra called a bean (it looks like a lima bean and they can really range in size). If it gets big enough, it can cause them pain when they urinate and cause blockage which can cause a bladder infection. Which, if left untreated can eventually lead to kidney and other problems.

Answer 6

I've done it a few times. I find that the horses that are lower to the ground are more gunky than the taller ones, or the more active ones that are always galloping everywhere have more gunk than others in there. We only do it once or twice a year, maximum. It's not my favourite task, but I like having peace of mind that my geldings aren't uncomfortable and are clean in that area.

My dad once worked on a horse that had never had his sheath cleaned before, and the bean was blocking his pee from coming out, and ever since then, he's always insisted on cleaning the sheaths.

All in all, it's not that important to me, but my dad is a vet, and he would just rather we do it "just in case", so we put on the elbow high gloves once in awhile. When I move away from home and start up a business of my own (haha not for awhile longer), I don't think I'll do it to my geldings, unless I own ponies or minis or something.

Answer 7

As I've said before - I think it's a necessary evil.

We refer to it as "doing the nasty" but the boys don't really seem to care.

I can get away with doing Fally's once or twice a year but Harvey is gross - it gets so you can smell it from a couple of feet away ( really unpleasant on a warm day.) So with him it's obviously quite important just from a social point of view....

Answer 8

well i have done it before. i think if it is clean don't clean it. but if it has that gunky stuff on it you should clean it. but you most likely won't have to do if for a little while after you clean it the first time.

well i think it is important to clean it. so that way he won't have any probems later on and you won't have to have the vet come out. or if you want you can have the vet come out and do the cleaning.

Answer 9

Sheath cleaning is important to do periodically... at least twice a year. It's not that bad, but not pleasant of course. And if it really grosses you out or if your horse is bad about it, then have your vet do it.

Answer 10

Hehe i am the one who asked the question in the first place :D anyways i just assume it is important cause i hear people talking about it as part of the neccissary care for a gelding. i am going to do it just cause as a responsible horse owner, whenever he drops, it does seem really gunked up as you said. It probably just depends on the individual horses health.

Answer 11

I've never done it, have had geldings my whole life.  I understand they can get infected if they retain gunk, but I have never had a gelding get infected or need vet care as a result of not cleaning them.  So I don't think it is important for the gelding I own now.

However, if I had experienced a horse getting infected and requiring vet care, it would probably be a priority for me.  It is more a think of personal preference and experience.

Also, if I owned a show horse and was intent on keeping my horse spotless, I would probably clean his sheath, too.  I've just never seen the need for it, with the type of horses I own.

Answer 12

I tend to subscribe to the philosophy of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."  I've never cleaned sheaths and never had a problem.  It is natural for some oils and whatnot to be in there and if you remove those oils too much, the body will just over-produce them to make up for it and then your problem snowballs.  If your horse is having a problem, then I say sure, go for it.  But if he's not, let it be.  In fact, I've even had vets tell me that.  I think it is becoming a more common practice to just let it be.

I think checking for beans every year or two is a good idea as that's where the problem really arises, but removing all the smegma is unnecessary.  If it gets to be too much, it is designed to just fall off when they drop.  The bean accumulation is the only thing that can't really be taken care of on its own.

But I think the argument is similar to arguments about shoes...some people think horses NEED shoes, others think there are only certain situations when they are necessary and otherwise prefer to go without them.  The sheath cleaning argument is very similar in nature.

Answer 13

If you show, I recommend it because it does make a sound if not cleaned. Otherwise, unless it gets gunked up, you should be fine without. Talk to your vet, and ask how much they charge(if it's cheap, consider it more)

Answer 14

my guy is shocking with his sheath cleaning, i just have to dive between his legs and rip whatever i can off...that sounded violent and dirty...sorry I don't think it's that important never heard of serious complications from unclean sheath

Answer 15

If I owned geldings or stallions, I'd definetely do it.  At the very least, I'd check for beans, as those can cause problems and pain.  You might not *want* to, but I think that in most cases you really ought to.

Answer 16

Since I worked on a breeding farm and had to do stallions each time before they were bred I think it is important.

The gunk you see on the part is not the real issue. It is the "bean" that can build up in the pouch above the uthretha tube that the horse pees through. If the bean gets to large it can cause the tube to be constricted and it can become painful or impossible for the horse to pass urine.

This can be very serious.

So at least once a year you should check for a bean or have your vet do it when you have the teeth floated. Most horses tend to drop the part when they are sedated.

Answer 17

I have had geldings in my life forever & it is just something that was done, generally once a year when they got their summer bath.

I don't think it hurts anything, but, like putting your hands on every other part of the horse to check for abnormalities, sores, sorness, etc. this gives you the opportunity to check there also.  Besides, some geldings & studs do get gunky & stinky.

Answer 18

i think it is important for the horse's comfort. i just adopted an arab gelding from the rescue, and he hadn't had his cleaned for a few years. i cleaned him a few weeks ago and i got a bean about the size of a golf ball out of the 'pocket' just above the opening of the urethra. i didnt notice his hind end restriction before, but after i cleaned him out, he was a lot more free-moving through his hind end. also, i noticed that he urinates longer and doesnt 'squirt'. so i think its important, if not for hygeine, than for the horse's comfort.

Answer 19

I get both my gelding's sheaths cleaned every, oh, I don't know, every 6 months?

I get them cleaned whenever I get their teeth floated, I just do it to be safe! :D

Answer 20

I think it depends on the environment the horse is in. If hes in a clean area, well taken care of, etc...it maybe should be done a couple times in his life.

If you notice a bad smell, or when he drops its really gunky and looks just....dirty...you might want to clean him. Even just cleaning his p***s when it drops will help a little bit.

Also if you see him having trouble urinating, it could be because he has a blockage in the tip of his p***s that needs to be removed. There is a little 'pocket' right inside the opening that can get build up.

As long as he doesn't seem to be having problems, it doesn't need to be done...it's not like they do it in the wild.