DefinitelyDressage.com

Hey guys

So Albert croaked through what was a dastardly February weather wise and a terrible March (my Jemma got dx’d w/pulmonary hypertension and SARDS....I don’t think there was a glass of wine big enough to keep me sane, but I digress...we are adapting) with a great deal of patience.

I have noticed the last few years he’s more crusty in his sheath. I have been gently cleaning, but he really is bugged. To the point where he goes all three legged and sticks his nose out in relief. I am not too worried about him falling on me, but it’s a weird pose with his leg up like dog getting that good spot scratched.

As an aside our Shopko is going out of biz and had a screaming deal on astroglide silicon gel, which seems to break things up very well, but I worry that he’s so bugged by his sheath.

No bean issue, but very dry. After the cleaning I made sure all the lube was off, because as soon as I was done I started to wonder if I used something wrong.

Ok, so does he need a supplement? More vitamin E? He gets cool calories and LMF Super Supplement. Plus a bit of beet pulp.
They soak everything bc of his dental issue (EOTRH...which it doing well bc I wipe his upper teeth all the time)

Anyhow. Anyone have this issue? Tips? Ideas?
Thanks

I have found flax really helps skin issues if you think its skin related

I've used coconut oil. The kind for eating/cooking that comes in a jar. I apply to the sheath for cleaning to loosen and soften crusty skin. Smells nice and no irritation to the skin since it is edible.

Josette wrote:I've used coconut oil. The kind for eating/cooking that comes in a jar. I apply to the sheath for cleaning to loosen and soften crusty skin. Smells nice and no irritation to the skin since it is edible.

You can get liquid coconut oil in a squirt bottle too. I use it on my horses' tails as part of their beauty regimen.

Does he seem itchy? I had some luck on two occasions last year with feeding spirulina. First horse broke out in hives and looked terrible, but didn't seem bothered, second horse was about to rub her mane and tail out. A little spirulina (like 1.5 T?) in the grain helped both out quite a bit. Found it cheapest at nuts.com. Now I keep a pound of it on hand in case of another itchy/allergic horse. In fact, now that I'm typing this, I might start giving it to Annabelle since she has started her cycle of what seems to be seasonal allergies.

I just use baby oil, and I don't rinse it off unless the ground is very dusty. Farrier always comments on my horse's shiny clean junk

Xanthoria wrote:I just use baby oil, and I don't rinse it off unless the ground is very dusty. Farrier always comments on my horse's shiny clean junk

LOL!!

But seriously, I know lot of folks who have had success with squirting oil of some kind on the junk to keep it lubricated. That can help with some self cleaning and also keep things from getting too dry and crusty.

I will say that if you go with baby oil, make sure to get unscented....some horses are apparently more sensitive than babies. Go figure.

Truth. More sensitive than babies!

Benatus,

Thank you for voicing what MY horse is doing!

You are not alone ... and I am reading the replies with great interest. I am going to try the coconut oil suggestion.

Nancy

How old is he?

My gelding loved getting his sheath cleaned! It was almost embarrassing as he got older I did notice a bit more white debris attached, almost like flaky skin, it looked like his penis was shedding. Never seemed to bother him so I just picked it off

I believe Benatus’ horse is 17. Mine is 24. And yes, it looks like flakey, dried skin, Hayburner. No farrier compliments for us!!

Reaction to coconut oil. Vet suggested mineral oil. Shall report in due course.

wow - I thought the coconut oil would be such a mild product. Let us know how the mineral oil works on him. Always good to know of other options.

MMMMmmmm......perhaps I will text the coconut oil on a different part of my guys body before I put it on their sheaths. Thanks for letting us know you guy had a reaction I wouldn't have given it a second thought. Like Josette I would just think it would be so mild.

Reporting back. I bought and applied light mineral oil (apparently, there is a "heavy" version) - seems to be doing the trick without ummmm inflaming anything. So, I am now seeing if my farrier will finally give US compliments on the shiny, young-looking ummmmm "stick"!!