castration Flashcards
bull testicle anatomy
- where is head of epididymus
- vaginal tunic layers
- spermatic cord
- muscle
- Paired testes of ruminants hang vertically
o Head of epididymis dorsal
<><> - Vaginal tunic
o 2 layers:
> Visceral layer which is tightly adhered to tunica albuginea of testicle
> Parietal layer is a continuous layer of the parietal peritoneum, goes through internal inguinal ring. This is the layer that you will incise when doing an open castration.
<><> - Spermatic cord: testicular artery and vein, lymphatics, nerves, ductus deferens
<><> - Cremaster muscle > a slip of the internal abdominal oblique muscle
castration indications, age considerations
- Improve meat quality
- Make males more manageable
- Remove abnormal characteristics
- Desired age therefore depends on owner expectations, use of animal and facilities
<><><> - If younger:
o Easier to restrain, less risk of incisional complications, decreased aggressive behaviour after surgery - If older:
o Some owners believe is better meat quality
o Better weight gain
Studies are not conclusive on the extent to which weight gain is altered
castration techniques, options:
- Pharmacological
o Immunization against GnRH
o Insertion of an estrogen implant
- Pharmacological
- Surgical
- Bloodless castration
Pre-castration considerations
o Regardless of technique, tetanus prophylaxis should be administered
§ By colostral protection, tetanus antitoxin 250-500IU, or
§ 2 doses of tetanus toxoid (1st one 3-4 weeks before procedure)
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* Check both testicles in scrotum
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* Antibiotics – if older animal, unclean environment, questionable sterility during surgery
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* analgesia:
> NSAIDs: ketoprofen, meloxicam
> Local anesthesia: in each testicle, for both young and old
> Caudal epidural anesthesia: for older calves, and adults
> Sedation: Xylazine, Ketamine “stun”: (subanesthetic xylazine & ketamine, maybe butorphanol)
surgical castration for animals less than 150kg
- Grasp distal portion of scrotum and pull distally
- This will displace testicles proximally
- Distal third of scrotum excised to expose the testes
- Traction applied to each testicle individually and spermatic cord is freed from surrounding fascia by a stripping technique displacing the fascia proximally
- Cord is then ligated, emasculated and transected
- leave open, heal by second intention
what do emasculators do? how to use them?
- Emasculators cut and crush
- in place for between 2-5 minutes for the crushing action to provide adequate hemostasis
- Nut to nut (cutting side next to testicle)
how to use newberry knife? when appropriate?
for calves
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Approach testes by vertical incision with Newberry knife
* Newberry knife is placed in middle of scrotum and pulled distally rapidly
* Makes cranial and caudal flaps in the skin
* Testes excised usual
older animals surgical castration technique
o Distal scrotum removed or parallel incisions on either side of raphe
o Usually done as a closed castration removing vaginal tunic en bloc
o can also do modified open technique for larger testicles
bloodless castration mechanism, methods and when to use them
- Castration without a surgical incision - creates ischemia of the testicle with subsequent atrophy and necrosis
<><><><> - Elastrator band – used in young animals > Lambs and goats, calves less than 4 weeks old
> Use analgesia!
<><> - Calicrate bander, 200-400kg
<><> - Henderson castrating tool
o Large mature males
o Scrotum is opened with blade
§ Tool is attached to the spermatic cord
§ Electric drill placed on handle of cord and rotated
§ Twisting is very efficient in preventing excessive bleeding
<><> - Burdizzo emasculator
- Lambs and young calves (less than
3 months) - Testes atrophy, not slough
post-operative monitoring and complications for castration, and what to do
- Monitor for: hemorrhage, swelling, infection (heat, pain, swelling, discharge, elevated temperature, depression, decreased appetite)
o If infection develops, open wound to allow drainage
o If hemorrhage, packing of wound, make need to re -ligate
