How often should a horse’s sheath be cleaned?

Most horses should have a thorough sheath cleaning every 6-12 months. A thorough cleaning will also allow you to examine the sheath and member for any signs of neoplasia such as sarcoids, melanomas, and squamous cell carcinoma, habronemiasis or infections.

How do you know when your horse needs a sheath cleaned?

Look at your gelding’€™s member when he lets it down to urinate; if there’s a buildup of dried flakes and scaly material all over its surface, he probably needs to be cleaned. Sometimes a painful sheath and member will cause a horse to show signs of colic if he needs to urinate but can’€™t.

How do you get the beans out of a horse’s sheath?

I simply use KY Jelly, a water-based lubricant, and vinyl gloves — never latex gloves. I will often lubricate the sheath first and leave it for a bit while I treat another horse, and then by the time I have come back to it, the beans will have loosened up and they are easier to remove.

What happens if you don’t clean a horse’s sheath?

Not only is sheath cleaning unnecessary, it can often be harmful. The traditional method of poking a hose up into the sheath and scrubbing it and the member with sponges and antibacterial soap removes the natural protective covering and healthy bacteria population, potentially causing microabrasions and sores.

Can I use coconut oil to clean my horses sheath?

CAUTION: Remember if using just Thieves Oil to dilute at least 80:20 with lots of vegetable or coconut oil! For maintenance, clean the sheath once per month and make sure the horse gets plenty of clean water and hay.