| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Louise17 |
Posted - 13 Jan 2010 : 8:59:45 PM
Quite a few weeks ago my 18 year old gelding got a swollen sheath. I had the vet out twice which resulted in antibiotics, bute, sheath clean, and blood tests. The blood tests came back ok, but his sheath is still swollen. A couple of days ago he had developed a swollen belly. I have looked on internet and think it is pitted edema?? When I press on it, it stays in where my fingers have been (all I can describe is like memory foam). He is in his stable at night but out during the day. Because of the snow he is not moving around an awful lot as I am putting piles of hay out for him. I have tried to put various piles of hay out so it encourages him to move around a little more than if I had put it all in a haynet in one place. I will ring the vet tomorrow but I wondered if anyone had come across this before and what caused it? |
| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| amanda |
Posted - 15 Jan 2010 : 4:20:04 PM
Had the same issue and also filled legs. If his legs fill too would suggest bandaging. I've also had some success with global herbs old age
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| Louise17 |
Posted - 15 Jan 2010 : 07:59:53 AM
Thank you everyone for your replies. I feel a bit better knowing it is probably due to him not moving around as much. I gave him some epsom salts last night and his fluid on his belly is slightly less this morning. It was right behind where his girth goes yesterday and has moved back a little this morning. I will be shopping today for apple juice and I have put his hay out i a long line rather than in piles. Will see how he gets on. I'm keeping my finger well and truly crossed he is soon much better. |
| Jumanji |
Posted - 14 Jan 2010 : 9:04:18 PM
Hi ,ive got 4 old(18-21yrs) geldings in, not been out for 23 days and they all have very swollen sheaths, interesting tho ,have 2 young geldings and their sheaths are fine.Purely fluid retention and once they go out(some day soon ,i hope)all will be back to normal. Things just dont work as well when we get old... |
| Spangle |
Posted - 14 Jan 2010 : 8:35:21 PM
I have a friend who describes exactly the same as you! Thought to be caused by less movement due to weather. Regarding encouraging drinking- you could also try some sloppy sugar beet or there is a new product on the market called horse quencher http://www.horsequencher.co.uk/that might help get more fluid through your boy. |
| ACGODFREY |
Posted - 14 Jan 2010 : 7:21:39 PM
My boy had a similar thing when he was about 7. He had various investigations and problem resolved itself once he had more turnout and feed was changed. He was on livery and was getting fed a too high protein diet and very rich haylage. He lives out 24/7 these days and never gets any high protein feed and is fine. |
| Claire |
Posted - 14 Jan 2010 : 12:23:12 PM
Hi my gelding had a swollen belly and hindlegs a couple of winters ago but seemed fine otherwise, it receded after turnout. The vet did every test known to man because she was convinced he had a virus but we never found anything wrong with him!
He is absolutely fine now and has never had another episode!, however I bought rubber matting that spring and his legs did have a tendency to fill when stabled and they never have since- not sure if this just chance but just glad it has stopped!
Hope your boy is better soon |
| Pasha |
Posted - 14 Jan 2010 : 11:15:16 AM
You could also try adding apple joice, warm water, apples (for bobbing) to his water to make him drink more and wetting the hay to try and flush the fluid out? |
| Louise17 |
Posted - 14 Jan 2010 : 11:00:01 AM
Thank you so much for your reassurance. I have spoken to the vet this morning and she suggested bran mash and epsom salts or another revisit. I think I will try putting his hay out as Pasha suggests and try the cold tea, apple juice or epsom salts in the hope that may help him to improve. I will wait a little while longer before getting vet out again. With the weather as it is and it being so icy its just impossible to take him out even for a walk so will have to persevere a little and keep my fingers crossed that he soon gets better. Thank you very much everyone |
| Eeyore |
Posted - 14 Jan 2010 : 10:24:27 AM
My grey boy had something similar a few months ago. It wasn't extremely swollen, just a patch in front of his sheath. Luckily my vet was due out for something else so examined it while he was there.
The conclusion was fluid retention.
I keep his bits clean anyway (what fun owning a gelding) and my vet ruled out any sort of infection.
I have changed his bedding though because he was getting bits of his chopped straw stuck in places it really shouldn't have been stuck  I also gave him a mug of cold tea on his feed for a few nights, I know this helps with fluid retention in legs. I'm not sure if the tea worked but his swelling went in under a week.
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| jillandlomond |
Posted - 14 Jan 2010 : 09:46:15 AM
Ditto shfwarrior's reply! My friend's old gelding had the exact same symptoms, this time last year, and it was diagnosed as fluid retention due to not moving around enough. She had been so worried about him, she had him admitted to hospital and spent a fortune on tests.
Hopefully the swelling will disappear when he gets moving properly again. |
| Pasha |
Posted - 14 Jan 2010 : 09:17:48 AM
Louise,
Pasha had a similar thing when he was on boxrest - swollen sheath and a huge swollen lump on his belly. but his legs were fine! He is 22.
As soon as he started going out again it went completely and hasn't returned.... hopefully it will be the same for your boy!
Regarding the hay - when we put out hay, we walk along shaking it out do there are no piles and they have to walk along foraging for it like they would grass - maybe that would help until the weather improves?
Sarah x |
| Louise17 |
Posted - 14 Jan 2010 : 09:06:51 AM
Thank you for your replies. Sonny is on shavings and has been for 2 winters. He is grey.
I am hoping it is with him not moving around so much but just worry as his legs are fine even when he has been in the stable overnight. He is still the same this morning. |
| shfwarrior |
Posted - 14 Jan 2010 : 08:26:09 AM
I think that u will find that this is just fluid retention caused by too much standing and not enough walking. With this weather who can blame them. We put apple juice in the water to encourage them to drink more this helps flush their system, and as much gentle walking as you can manage. It takes a while but it will go down. Its a bit like filled legs from standing in. |
| tillyben1 |
Posted - 14 Jan 2010 : 12:13:40 AM
what bedding is he on and what colour is he ?
only as i remember a lady telling me once about a mare on her yard had a swelled up belly and it was because they were using nedz-bedz i think its called. apparantly it doesnt suit greys.
sorry if this doesnt help hope your boy gets better soon. |
| Louise17 |
Posted - 13 Jan 2010 : 9:41:16 PM
Yes it was danilon. The vet said it was the same as bute but that she did not have any bute in her car so gave me danilon. I have never had this for him before - you think this could be the cause? |
| tillysmum |
Posted - 13 Jan 2010 : 9:31:35 PM
is he on bute or danilon, my fell mare was on danilon a few years ago and she swelled along her belly while she was on the danilon and box rest. when she was allowed excercise the swelling went down. the vet said it was an oedema caused by the danilon. |
| Louise17 |
Posted - 13 Jan 2010 : 9:23:01 PM
Hi Philippa
I know what you mean, he always causes me problems - not like he used to but I am worried about him now. He seems fine on himself though and not unwell but just wish I knew what was causing it.
I hope to see you over next couple of days, providing that roads not too slippy with all the ice |
| Mrs DJ |
Posted - 13 Jan 2010 : 9:16:35 PM
Hi, Louise
Not seen you on here in a while. Sonny still no better, then? 
I think he likes giving you a headache, the old devil! |
| Louise17 |
Posted - 13 Jan 2010 : 9:13:20 PM
Hi - The vet gave him a really good 'clean out' and he doesnt seem to be having problems urinating. The swelling on his belly is the whole of the underside of his belly from behind the girth area to the front of the sheath. |
| geegee |
Posted - 13 Jan 2010 : 9:10:04 PM
Did the vet check for beans? Symptoms are a swollen sheath and can have difficulty urinating. My gelding had one in his urethra. I carefully removed it by lubricating my gloved little finger. You have to be extremeley careful and considerate as it can be painful.
With regards to the oedema, is this situated mid line in front of the sheath? |
