Thickening of urethra in gelding?

[FlashGordon]

Anyone come across this? Specifically substantial thickening of the urethra at the penile connection (so I am told.)

Horse seems to pee in shortish spurts, relatively weak stream, occasional colicky behavior prior to urination which is exacerbated by exercise.

Yes my vet is on the case! But just trying to do some research myself and have found very little online that seems to relate....

[Watermark Farm]

I suggest you track down a vet/surgeon named Tom Yarbrough. He works all over the US. He's amazing with UT stuff and worked on my horse, who had a bladder stone and also a biopsy positive for transitional cell carcinoma. What I found is that UT issues are relatively uncommon. Has this area been biopsied in your horse? I assume you've ruled out bladder and UT stones. Could there possible have been a stone lodged in this area in the past that caused some thickening of the wall?

[FlashGordon]

Thanks for the info WF, I appreciate it. Not much I can find about UT issues on the web.... specifically this one.

Horse had an in-barn work-up last week and all my vet found was that thickening.

We've not exhausted all of our diagnostic options yet so we'll see.... but from what we've done thus far there is no *apparent* cause for the issues he is having.

[DiscoMom]

Sounds similar to what I experienced with Disco. PM sent.

[FlashGordon]

DM, just PM'd you back. Thank you so much for the info.

I know some of the causes and prognosis in smaller animals but can't find much in relation to horses.

I was reluctant to post but figure out of 20,000 posters someone has to have had a similar experience....

[Lori B]

Jingling for Windsor. He continues to be lucky to have you.

[FlashGordon]

Thanks Lori!

He seemed perkier yesterday. Vet said we could haul out and do serious diagnostics but it may not uncover anything more than we already know-- that the urethra is thickened, he's not staying all that well hydrated, renal and digestive systems are not at optimal levels of operation. I hate to even utter the "c" word and REFUSE to do so but know it is on everyone's brain... biopsy of that tissue would tell for sure.

For now we are keeping him comfy and I am pumping him full of fluids and mashes. He was his usual old self last night so that was good.

I'm kind of just hoping this will pass and he will bounce back. He's done it more than once so fingers crossed.

He is a big goober and can't figure out why everyone is fussing over him. When we tranq'd him last week he just kept trying to walk out of the barn. Took every ounce of strength we had to keep him from ambling away. Typical Win. Passive aggressive. ;) But I love him.

[Lori B]

I'm not sure people are thinking the 'c' word as much as kidney / bladder stones???

When I was tested for something that might maybe could have been 'c', my best friend refused to say the 'c' word, and we called it 'chutney' instead.

[cloudyandcallie]

Are you giving him a table spoon of apple cider vinegar each day? It helps with UTI.
And give him grain tea, by using about a gallon of water in a little bucket, dissolving a handful of grain in it, swirlling it around, and then letting him drink it, over and over till you get a lot of water into him.

And you've cleaned his penis and sheath and there is no bean, right?

There has to be some reason for the urethra to thicken. If your vet cannot figure it out, remember that vet schools are actually cheaper than private vets, and have up to date specialists in urology.

[FlashGordon]

LOL Lori chutney is a nice alternative. I guess working at the small animal clinic and seeing a lot of urethral and bladder cancer that presents in a similar manner, I can't help but worry.

Being a grey he has lots of sarcoids and melanomas but of course that doesn't always mean anything.

No stones, no UTI. He is on a low calcium diet now and he is getting turned out, tho no more formal exercise. Honestly who knows why that tissue is thickened or abnormal but it is obviously causing some discomfort. Biopsy would be the next step. I was kinda hoping we'd find a stone, at least it could be removed (my friend just had one taken out of her horse at Cornell last year.)

He's got a lot of things going for him in that he is emptying his bladder and he seems to be hanging in there and staying hydrated. Also think he's put some weight on again this week.

As Mr. FG says he is a tough old bastard so I am not counting him out just yet!!! ;)

Maybe this is all his big ploy to get me to retire him for good! So he can spend all day standing in front of his fan, wooing the ladies, and eating grass... Pasture Maintenance Engineer that he is....