Horses. Fly strike in the sheath of a gelding.?

Question

With over 35 years of full time experience with horses this is a first. One of our geldings has recently had two attacks of fly strike in his sheath. He is 16 years old in very good condition. The poor horse was so uncomfortable, very restless, kicking up at his belly, with a sheath full of maggots eating him alive. He got in to such a state that he then developed colic, luckily mild.Very distressing. It took the vet two visits before discovering the problem as this is aparently very unusual. Has any one come across this? How does it happen? Why at this time of the year, September, when the weather has got colder and there are few flies around? What type of fly does this? What can we do to prevent this? The horse is otherwise healthy, is out in a field during the day, stabled at night and regularly sprayed with a fly spray.

Answer 1

I have had to deal with this myself with a stallion one June. It was on the back of the pastern on a hind leg. Was recommended some thick yellow cream used for sheep with fly strike and it seemed to work. I also don't no how or why but here is some information i have found out for you.

Fly strike is relatively uncommon, but it is on the increase in horses/ponies in this area. We see less than ten cases a year. The most common site is inside a gelding’s sheath. The owner who asked the question has a grey and she was concerned that melanomas inside the sheath may attract the flies. This is certainly possible, although a predisposition to greys is not borne out in my experience of cases: the flies are normally attracted to dried blood/infected wounds/necrotic (dead) tissue.

For example, several days old wounds or thrush in the frog as well as up the sheath. Fly strike of the sheath should be considered in any older horse or pony showing itching, restlessness, out of character behaviour and even colic (kicking belly/swishing tail, but not rolling/sweating or blowing). Veterinary treatment is required. Regular sheath cleaning of an average gelding is not usually necessary. If you must clean up the sheath use a simple soap, not a disinfectant. Frequent cleaning will destroy the normal bacteria. Over-cleaning may lead to us having to use a gelding bacterial sheath broth to repopulate the area with the “good” bacteria.
http://www.equinevetpractice.co.uk/pages/faq.htm

Unfortunatly that is all i can find for you as it appears to be more of a problem to sheep and rabbits

Answer 2

Hmmm not a common thing this! Often the flies are attracted to dried blood or infected tissue - might he have had this? Thrush in the frog is also a possible factor.

Don't go starting regular sheath washing - its not necessary as I'm sure your vet will have told you. Poor old lad - hope he doesn't get it again.

Answer 3

Realy nasty

Try keeping him in during the day and if you can put up an electric fly killer.

One of my friends came down with it and by using a mild salt solution wash every couple of days he was able to get the animal through it, plus the vet gave it a course of steroides

Answer 4

Did you have him evaluated by a vet?

I would worry more about sheath cancer than fly bites with that description.

The fly bites I have seen on sheaths cause swelling but never maggots.

Sheath cancer can turn ugly quickly and best to have a vet look at it when you can.

Answer 5

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