Smegma. This word may sound strange and not well known, but it is an important term to know if you own horses. When caring for horses, you will need to learn how to clean them properly, so it is critical to understand what smegma in horses is.
What is Smegma in Horses?
Smegma is a natural substance that is made up of dead skin cells, skin oils, and moisture. It’s a thick pasty material similar in color to sheath skin. It is dark in most geldings and stallions, but it is often reddish in pink-skinned horses.
Both male and female horses can form smegma, and some produce more smegma than others. However, smegma occurs more frequently in male horses.
When a male horse’s penis is drawn up inside the body, it is covered by a sheath, a double fold of skin.
Smegma is caused when sebum combines with dirt and sloughing skin cells. In male horses, the smegma is usually gray or tan, but it can also be black.
Why do horses have smegma
Horses naturally form smegma in order to lubricate their penis. It is also released to help clean the surface of a horse’s penis.
Is smegma dangerous in horses?
The smegma is primarily a lubricant and a natural protective substance of the penis and sheath skin, but it can irritate the sheath and penis if it accumulates excessively. If your horse’s sheath is extremely dirty, a horse bean can form. A bean is a solid mass of smegma that typically develops near the urethral opening at the end of the penis.Â
When the bean becomes too large, it can irritate the skin and cause an infection. If you feel a firm mass at the tip of your horse’s willy, it is most likely a bean that must be manually removed. If your horse’s urination stream is sideways or dribbles, this indicates that they have an accumulation of smegma.
Smegma in female horses
On the other hand, mares have small areas of skin by their genital areas that can fill up with smegma. This is the area that must be cleaned, as it can be a constant source of annoyance to your mare. While smegma accumulation is less common in female horses, it can still occur, so it is critical to check your mares.
If your mare is itchy and rubbing her tail a lot or bucking or kicking out of character, she may have a ‘bean’ that needs to be removed. It depends on the individual mare whether you check her every six months or more frequently. Some mares dislike having their private parts worked on because it involves working in the kick zone. If your mare isn’t calm and trustworthy, don’t try this at home; instead, contact your veterinarian.
Excessive smegma in horses
When dealing with smegma, you can hire a veterinarian or a professional to clean your horse. If you don’t want to call a professional, you can also do it yourself. So roll up your sleeves, put on some gloves, get some very gentle soap, and your bucket of cotton and water. A third option is to do nothing, as most horses are okay with not having their sheath cleaned, but you should still keep an eye on your horses to ensure there are no problems.
If your horse does have a bean, removing it may be painful for them, necessitating sedation. That is when you should seek assistance from your veterinarian.
But don’t be too concerned because there are rarely any serious problems caused by a lack of cleaning of horses’ private parts. The reproductive health of wild horses is the best evidence that horses don’t need to have their sheath cleaned. These horses, whose sheaths had never been cleaned, had conception rates of up to 85 percent.
In comparison, domestic horses with their sheaths cleaned regularly often only have a 70% conception rate. However, it is still a good idea to clean them regularly because a dirty sheath can attract infections and flies, leading to conditions such as summer sores.
Conclusion
Now that you know what smegma is in horses, it is essential you clean your horses to make sure they don’t accumulate too much smegma. Also, check if you’re missing any more severe issues, such as infections, lacerations, or tumors. Check when your horse gets routine vaccinations once or twice a year. At this time, you will be able to look for any abnormalities, aside from smegma. Good luck!
