NSFW... help! Does this gelding's privates look normal??

[whitewolfe001]

There’s been a lot of weird iffy stuff going on with my gelding as of late, but, that would be a novel so I’ll (try to!) keep this specific: I would like to know if his privates look normal to you.

He had a bunch of weird yellowy discharge on his sheath the other day, with some dribbles of it on his legs. Also all his legs were super stocked up and he just hasn’t been looking very bright so it was time to call the vet.

By the time the vet got there the discharge was gone. She cleaned his sheath and said it wasn’t really that dirty, removed a very small bean. Said it didn’t look infected. Bloodwork came back sort of inconclusive… WBC and RBC a little off, she said he thinks he is fighting something but doesn’t know what. Offered to start doxy for all of his overall weirdness as of late (also been coughing, lethargic, grumpy) or wait 48 hours, I opted to wait. (He’s been costing me a fortune, and just to think things over, rack my brain about everything.) He doesn’t have a fever.

But does this pink spot on his, er, tip, look normal? I have never noticed it before. But then again, I maybe never looked that close at him until the discharge was happening. I noticed it before the vet cleaned his sheath.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/jn7739090i2cbpm/2016-04-26%2018.00.41.jpg?dl=0

[whitewolfe001]

I also noticed he’s been letting down more than normal, walking around with it 1/4 down which is unusual. Also today he peed in the arena while I was briefly handwalking him which he has NEVER done before. He has always held it until he gets in his stall even if he has a lot built up. It was a normal amount of pee and normal color though.

If he does have some sort of sheath or urinary tract infection, will doxy knock that out also?

[ThreeWishes]

Completely normal. That is his urethra.

[csaper58]

If he is not better in a day or two, I would catch some urine for analysis.

[whitewolfe001]

Thanks. I figured the vet would have said something, but again, I just never looked that close I guess.

Any idea what the discharge could mean? The vet’s official response to the pic below was “Gross!”, lol

https://www.dropbox.com/s/gecuougsm6ztcau/2016-04-25%2010.23.14.jpg?dl=0

[ThreeWishes]

Not sure on the discharge. But the pic with the pink spot is his urethra.
If he is eating and drinking with no temperature, I would probably just wait and see. Take a urine sample if you are very worried.

[whitewolfe001]

ugh… idk, it just seems something is NQR the last few weeks, not just the last few days. Just so many little odd things that by themselves would not be cause for concern, but all at once?

He’s been coughing (never did that before), letting down more, eating but not nearly as enthusiastic about hay as usual, looking poorly, not as bright… bucking at canter undersaddle and on the lunge (called saddle fitter… it’s out for reflocking now)…suddenly very stocked up on all legs, never stocked up before… the sheath discharge… his temp is within normal range but usually he always checks out at 99 (I do it every once in a while to have a baseline) and it’s been 99.6 a couple times in the last week.

Idk if I will possibly be able to catch urine. He is normally so private, he won’t pee with anyone nearby. If he’s hanging out a bit he sucks it up as soon as I get up close to look.

I’m feeling I will just take the vet’s offer to start doxy, idk what else to do.

[enterata]

You might want to worm him with Quest Plus. Tapeworms can cause stocking up and sheath swelling. I recently had some similar tjings going on with my boy. Not quite as severe as yours but some swelling in sheath area for no reason, even had vet look at it. Did some internet slouthing and came across a vet in Canada who has done extensive trials on worm. I followed her protocol with excellent success.

I was doubtful but when I contacted her, she assured me it was safe. I did the Panacur Power pack, waited 10 days, gave Quest, waited 2 weeks and gave Quest Plus. About a week after Quest Plus, boom! All swelling and pot belly gone.

[Dutchmare433]

Another gross question, but how does the discharge smell? We had a gelding come in for training, he dropped one day, it was clear that he needed to be cleaned, got to it in a few days, and OMG, if that wasn’t the worst thing I have ever smelled. I was gagging the entire time. He was actually diagnosed with a yeast infection. Apparently it’s not unheard of and you can have an array of different colored discharge. He was easily treated with monistat from the drug store for I think 7 or 10 days.