Vet recc’d Monistat for gelding’s itchy sheath.
Well I put it in and it must have burnt or irritated it more ( which apparently can be a side effect of using this for yeast)
Next day it was SWOLLEN. Vet is not in office as she moonlights work at a emergency center and closed in weekends.
I figure I should NOT putting any more monistat, but what else can cause an itchy sheath?
There is no discharge or bad smell, it is kinda dry/flakey in there.
When is the last time it was cleaned? I would rinse with cold water, give it a good cleaning and make sure no ticks with the warm weather. Check for cuts, injuries to the penis or foreign objects in the sheath.
Any change in turnout or movement?? Cushings? Sometimes that will cause swelling.
His itchy sheath has become a chronic thing, I probably cleaned it about 3 months ago, thinking it would help.
I clean it with personal lubricants like KY jelly. I try not to clean it too often to disrupt the microflora.
He was tested for cushings and IR a couple months ago as well and all normal.
No ticks or any other injuries
Turnout is the same, but it has been more muddy but may be moving less.
the swelling is definitely related to applying the monistat.
Did you use the 7 day Monistat or the one day? One day is strong stuff. It burns like a mother f($&@$)).
Might need to try something a bit more gentle if you think it’s a yeast issue.
Try https://www.chewy.com/happy-horse-medicated-2-chlorhexidine/dp/225175 (anti microbial)
Monostat is an anti fungal.
Might just be the extra thorough cleansing? I created a swollen penis on my horse with baby oil once. I thought it was the baby oil, but in hindsight it might have just been abrasion from being super clean.
Are you sure sheath is itchy on the inside and it’s not sweet itch?
I might be able to help, as I have a gelding with the nastiest, itchiest sheath I’ve ever encountered. I’ve had it cultured and was keeping it squeaky clean but he was still miserable.
I figured out that it itched when it was moist up there, so any type of cream made it worse. I now give him a dusting or Lotrimin powder pretty much ever day, just the first “compartment” of the sheath. It does the trick. I only need to go all the way back for a thorough cleaning and bean removal ever three to four months, then dry it out with some old tube socks, then back to our powder routine.
Best wishes getting your boy comfortable.
It is the 7 day I believe ( it came with a large tube of miconazole and 7 applicator tubes, I just use a squirt of the miconazole on a glove and applied inside.
It is definitely itch up inside the sheath ( not on the penis itself but the dwelling)
He does not drop to pee.
He does get sweet itch but it is not like the gnat bites at all as those will get oozy and itchy and crust up on the outside of his sheath area.
I have rinsed the sheath with some diluted chlorhexidine solution.
A bit off the track here. My “perfect horse” drops after we ride so I can keep his penis reasonably clean with a wet cloth and he lets me remove the bean. Is there something I can use, sheath cleaner or a human product maybe, that doesn’t have to be rinsed thoroughly? He doesn’t hang forever. I can’t do a regular cleaning myself because I would have to do it one-handed.
I found that any Monostat topical product sets my lady bits on fire! Unfortunately, I get a lot of yeast infections when I have to take antibiotics for Lyme. The OB/Gyn has me tell other doctors to prescribe Diflucan along with any course of antibiotics. It’s taken orally and knocks yeast out quick. No idea if it is/can be used in horses but worth asking.
Thank you everyone for your replies!
He rarely drops except sometimes when doing stretches, but it is not he actualy penis that is itchy, it is inside the “dwelling” lol
It seems more dry and flaky up there where he is itching and feels slightly rough but can try the lotrimin powder.
He usually has no bean only "clay like " material further up in his pouch which I keep on top of. But it is not itchy there.
”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹I will also try anti-microbials which I believe me using the diluted chlorhexidine would help with.
Years ago when I had to do that for a yeasty pony sheath, my vet said to make sure to get the kind that didn’t contain alcohol. I have no idea if you can still find that but he said the ones with alcohol will burn the mess out of them
What about something like desitin ointment to coat n sooth the itch and help keep dirt off it and it dry underneath? And is there some kind of probiotic you can put him on to help with yeast in general? Or like ACV in his water, aloe vera juice in his food? Idk if those really help just throwing out suggestions lol.
Yes, you can use plain KY jelly. Non-irritating & if you miss rinsing a bit off, it is very benign. I’ve used this for many years on recommendation of my vet, he does not recommend any of the sheath cleaning products because they can cause burning if you don’t rinse completely.
KY jelly
Thanks, KY it is!
How about a bit of a chuckle…
One sunny Saturday morning just before I was leaving for the barn, my good friend the BO called, could I go the store and get some stuff for yeast infections. I didn’t know anything about them and neither did she, and they weren’t a one-dose type product back then. Why do you need this? She took an SMZ because she thought she had a cold of some sort. She weighed around 140 so one horse pill should be okay, 1 tab/100 lbs. Killed off everything good or bad in her entire body. I also bought her several gigantic containers of yogurt and told her to start eating. The plain unsweetened container was for “topical” application. :winkgrin:
Silver sulfadiazine. I have a gelding who’s had a chronic yeast infection. My vet mixes this stuff up . I think it’s two different things and it really helps. I’m thinking that the Lotrimin powder might be cheaper though, if it works.
Did the vet check him before recommending the Monistat? If he is dry and flaky, try a soothing, non scented lotion or cream- maybe 0.5 percent hydrocortisone with aloe. Stop the chlorhexidine which is drying.Yeast usually causes a red, somewhat oozy rash wherever it is, and does not grow where the environment is dry. Dermatology wisdom regarding rashes says “if it is dry, wet it and if it is wet, dry it” :winkgrin:
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