Vet charged $145 for sedation and sheath cleaning. Is that the norm?
considering that it is something the owner can do his/herself…
:lol:
I am sure a groom/ponyclubber/4Her would do it much cheaper.
That’s pretty darn steep. Was there a farm call charge in there too?
I usually do my own, but I just had my vet them when he did dentals. He charges me $45 per sheath. Sedation runs me $63-$85, depending upon size of horse and tollerance to sedation.
That’s pretty expensive! Have it done when the teeth are done, so the sedation is already factored into the price. My vet charges an extra $35 for the sheath cleaning.
My vet just threw in the sheath cleanings with the dentals - just had to pay $15.00 extra each for some added Ace…I always knew I loved my vets :winkgrin:
[QUOTE=Dutch Lovin’ Dressage Rider;6349329]
That’s pretty darn steep. Was there a farm call charge in there too?
I usually do my own, but I just had my vet them when he did dentals. He charges me $45 per sheath. Sedation runs me $63-$85, depending upon size of horse and tollerance to sedation.[/QUOTE]
45$ + 85$ = 130$. So 145$ is not that much more.
OP, is your horse quite big or need more sedation than usual? Is your horse well behaved? Why do you need the vet to do this? (Not judging! I can do it if needed but some cases I prefer not to do, ex; my friend’s horse has multiple melanomas in his sheath)
Sounds about right to me if that includes sedation and maybe a farm call.
My guy has to be sedated for his sheath cleaning. He’ll kick you otherwise! He’s very private about his ‘manhood’ and doesn’t like to be messed with. I’ve tried it w/o sedation… it ain’t pretty. :lol:
So I have it done once a year as he’s never had a bean and isn’t that dirty anyways. This year, I’m tacking it on to the dental as I will be using my Vet for that for the first time instead of the dentist that came to the old barn. So will only be the sheath charge that is added which I believe was around $40?
Now that I’m at a different barn that doesn’t have a herd health program, I’m trying to clump as many things in a single Vet visit that I can to save on the farm call and/or sedation charges.
The divided call charge was another $15.
Mine has the vet students do it for free when the horses are already sedated for their teeth 
I had the vet out for other things the other day, and she did his sheath for $30, not including sedation (already done for his teeth & xrays) or farm call.
If that’s just for the sheath cleaning, that’s VERY steep. However, if it includes barn call and sedation, it sounds about right. That’s why I have them done twice a year, along with vaccinations and dental, they’re already tranquilized for the teeth…
I thought it was very steep too. This vet does not do teeth. I don’t want to get kicked nor anyone else so I went ahead with it. It was overdue.
He was in another barn and that trainer tried to do it but the water was cold and the horse said No.
I saw an ad in craigslist that somebody would do it inexpensively but I never found the ad again. Sigh.
This particular gelding is not a bad actor. Probably someone with long arms and patience may have been able to do it if there was warm water in the barn. There is not.
That’s what I pay. 35.00 in addition to what I would already pay for teeth which would mean sedation has already been included. Having the vet out exclusively for a sheath cleaning would be rather expensive so I have my vet do it when she comes out for teeth for my gelding.
My vet charges around $40 for sheath cleaning. I have it done at the vaccine clinic so there’s no farm call (20 horses getting done!). I do my own sedation (but I believe he charges $35 for dorm and $15 for ace). My vet and I always laugh when people walk by and see me give the sedation and then watch him clean the sheaths! :):)
I really appreciate our gelding. He drops every time we groom and there is no need to sedate. He is very cooperative!
Holy crap! I charge $10, with $5 added for each major disobedience. My highest total ever was $25 (and I vowed to ever do that horse again… took months for the bruises to fade).
Good lord. I’m in the wrong business.
I did 4 today, by myself, in 20 minutes. Tomorrow I’ll have a holder/helper so I’ll do more - and do the ones that aren’t as easy.
For gosh sakes - its not rocket science. And it doesn’t take water, cold or otherwise. Use Excalibur (of course you rinse with a bit of water, but I use lukewarm, with a small tack sponge.)
Only 1 of mine (of 20) even needs a foot held up (which is a good way to help a horse be still while you clean.) (Of course we’re talking minor protest, not major. Obviously meds needed if a major protest.)
Try it yourself with help someday. It’s really quite simple, and fast, and free.
I have had vets do my horses and it runs me about $90 for everything.
Last weekend when my vet was out for spring shots, I asked him to clean my gelding/check for a bean. He didn’t have a bean, and vet said he was clean. He charged me $2.00 
I do them here EVERY time a gelding is sedated for any reason - dental, or whatever. Never pass up the opportunity while they are drugged. As soon as they are drugged the Excaliber goes in. Then, when the vet is done with their part, I am all gloved up with a bucket of warm water ready.
So, they are get cleaned at least twice a year.
