The LAw

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The Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 was put in place to regulate the treatment of animals. Only veterinary surgeons may legally diagnose, prescribe, advise on the basis of a diagnosis.

 

An Equine Hygienist can not diagnose or recommend treatment for any medical condition be it an infection, thrush, warts and cancers etc.  If they do, should anything go wrong you will have no protection (insurance or law).  A reputable hygienist will provide you with a report of any abnormalities found, however minor, for you to discuss with your vet.

THE IMPORTANCE OF SHEATH CLEANING

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• Male domestic horses can not self clean as they do in the wild so its important for their comfort and welfare that horse owners take responsibility for their hygiene care

• To remove beans before they get too large, uncomfortable to remove and before they cause issues with urinating

• Smegma build up on the penis and in the sheath can cause discomfort, swelling and sometimes infection making it uncomfortable for the horse to drop his penis to urinate.   

• A dirty / smelly sheath, can attract flies and cause Flystrike (maggots)

• Lesions caused by squamous cell carcinoma can also lead to flystrike

• ​Smegma build up is widely recognized by vets as a potential carcinogen (cause of penile cancer)

• Only once the sheath and penis is fully cleaned is it possible to health check.  Penile cancers are not uncommon so its important your horse is checked regularly for any abnormalities

WHAT IS A BEAN?

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Beans are a build up of dirt, dust, grime, urine, sweat, dead skin cells that mix with smegma. They're found in the tip of the penis that collect in a pocket called the urethral fossa next to the urethra.

 

Over time as more smegma collects it becomes larger, hardens and compacts creating a hard clay like bean which can place pressure on the urethra and cause pain and issues urinating.

 

Beans are not easily visible unless you know what to look and feel for so its important you have your horses checked annually by a professional sheath cleaner or your vet and from a young age so they remain small and easy to remove. If left, large beans can be uncomfortable to remove and your horse may need sedating.

HOW BIG DO BEANS GET?

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It varies.  They can be anything from finger nail to golf ball in terms of size.  The image above illustrates typical beans compared to a £1 coin

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Mare beans are much smaller, roughly the size of a pumpkin seed but they can still cause considerable irritation.