Let's Go Down a Hermaphrodite or Possible Phimosis Dianosis Rabbit Hole. Vet Opinions and Experiences Blessedly Welcome!

[carman_liz]

I am going hard on google with pony’s issue now that he is having chronic infections, sue me, I am worried and grasping at straws and random possibilities…because the fact that he only has a thumb sized urethra, if that is what it officially is, behind a super small opening way up in his sheath…is so darn random.

Phimosis. Phimosis is defined as the inability of a horse to protrude its penis from the sheath . The causes may be congenital or acquired. Acquired conditions usually result from neoplasia of the penis or prepuce, adhesions between the penis and prepuce or constriction of the preputial orifice

So what happens if this is not caught early on in foal and yearlinghood and left untreated?? If the gelding is out and only brought in for routine trims and some grooming would they be in pain, would the penis deteriorate and go away and leave only an urethra/ureter? Wouldn’t there be a horrible smell and other indicators early on in their life?

After talking to vet’s in Canada and PA, who have done studies and reports on hermaphrodite horses, don’t laugh I even found a couple threads on it on here… I am wondering if my weirdo is possibly hermaphroditic, or chromosomally different for lack of a better term…or could it be he had un noticed phimosis and the actual penis went away?

Yes long shot…no peanut gallery comments needed please… I am trying to come up with possibilities for his weirdness while I wait on internal work up costs to be sent to me.
So before thinking of getting chromosome testing or doing insane amounts of testing, ultrasounds and xrays, has anyone seen true untreated phimosis, in any animal?? And if so what were they left with or how was their quality of life?

[SLW]

A friends draft cross gelding developed cancer up inside his sheath which prevented him from being able to drop to urinate.

That is my only experience with it. Good luck with your guy.

[barnesthenoble]

I don’t have any experience with phimosis, but I can’t possibly see how an organ (a penis and urethra) could deteriorate and disappear like described and not be noticed. It’s not like an atrophied muscle, and even if it were, there would be remnants/SOMETHING palpable. There would be massive infection, swelling, discomfort etc. I simply don’t think the animal would survive. It would go septic.

Hermaphrodism is a possibility. However, this sounds more to me like some sort of birth defect/once in a lifetime kind of issue. Sometimes stuff just doesn’t come together quite right.

I’m sorry you’re dealing with this on your pony, and wish you luck! Chronic mystery stuff can be so hard emotionally and financially.

[carman_liz]

He for sure is a conundrum! Grooming him last night, I felt the bump on his left side between his sheath and leg. Vet thinks it could be scarring from gelding, but it felt softer that scar tissue to me and he is always looking at his left side. Not a good thing and another mystery to try to unravel and worry about, if it could be cancer… no, just no. Swollen Lymphnode maybe?

[cayuse]

Have the ever done an ultrasound or scoped up in his sheath? It’s just a thought, IDK what they can do for imaging up inside there, but it would be interesting. Could he go on long term prophylactic antibiotic therapy to prevent recurring infections? Just another thought .
Sending more jingles for the little fella.

[Paint_Party]

If his sheath has never been really inspected, I’d think he could be sedated and laid down at your place so the vet could do a thorough hands-on exam. He could palpate the lump at the same time. I wouldn’t think that would cost a fortune and might be an insightful first step.

[carman_liz]

I have never heard of the long term antobiotics, how do they work and what kind?

[carman_liz]

You can feel what is there with your fingers. He handles being pushed and prodded on well. Thinking the lump needs an eye kept on it and biopsied if it grows anymore. Waiting on cornell testing to come back, then send everything to UT and talk to them about internal diagnostics at this point. He akso is getting another excede shot tonight on top of the uniprim. My poor lil pony…

[cayuse]

I don’t know what they might use. When I was a “people” nurse way back in the day I took care of lots of older women who would get repeat UTI’s no matter what we did to prevent them. If I am remembering correctly, a couple of them ended up on a low dose of antibiotics every day forever to keep another uti from developing. This was about 20 plus years ago so I can’t remember the specifics. Now with the worry about antibiotic resistant bugs, I suppose things could be different. It’s probably not the best idea but I thought I’d toss it out there.

[carman_liz]

Hey at this point with him any idea is better than no idea so thank you!!! I appreciate it and I’m going to ask the vet about it!

[2tempe]

A different problem from your pony, but my horse was put on a long course of Metronidazole for colitis some years back. It started out at 2x per day, 10 pills each dose. for a week and then a slow tapering from there for an additional 6 weeks. Though the dosing was a pain for the staff, it was done at the boarding facility where I keep him. No shots, IM or IV.
Not sure any similar thing would help the pony as I’m not a vet, but the idea of long term is certainly not unheard of.

[carman_liz]

He is here at home with me, so he gets breakfast, lunch, dinner as it is haha. He has his own little spot in my mudroom for his feed n supps so lots of dosing would be easy. Thank you for the suggestion I am going to make a list of things to mention to my vet today!