Castration Complications: Stallion

Question 1

What age is optimal for castration of the horse?

Answer 1

6 months - 2 years or Advent of “objectionable sexual behavior”

Question 2

Why is it unethical for a veterinarian to castrate a horse with only one descended/scrotal testicle?

Answer 2

Because then an owner might market that horse as a gelding when it still got the ability to produce testosterone and have stallion-like behavior

Question 3

What are the options when only one testicle is felt?

Answer 3

Sending that horse to a referral center for cryptorchidectomy surgery

Question 4

List the pros of standing routine equine castration:

Question 5

List the pros of standing routine equine castration:

Answer 5

• You don’t have to recover the horse from general anesthesia
• Incisions are always left open so drainage is usually good with these

Question 5

List the cons of standing routine equine castration:

Answer 5

• All the abdominal viscera and abdominal musculature are pushing down and it leaves a longer spermatic cord in the horse after emasculation. The longer cords have been correlated with increased risks of infection.

Question 6

List the cons of recumbent routine equine castration:

Answer 6

• Recovery from anesthesia

Question 7

List the pros of recumbent routine equine castration:

Answer 7

• You can transfix the spermatic cord

Question 8

What is the difference between an “open” and “closed” castration and what are the pros and cons for both?

Answer 8

Open castration = incising through the Vaginal Tunic so that we can directly examine all the contents of the vaginal tunic and spermatic cord

Closed castration = Vaginal tunic has not been incised
- The cremaster muscle is external to the vaginal tunic, and the cremaster will aid in pulling that testicle toward the abdomen, so you may not get as much of the testicle and associated structures out with a closed castration.
- Benefit is that it is a little cleaner

Question 9

What is the purpose of the transfixation ligature placed proximal to the emasculators?

Answer 9

• Will really close down vaginal tunic and stay with the horse after emasculation
• It transfixes and encircles the vaginal tunic and spermatic cord
• Greatly reduces the risk of hemorrhage and evisceration

Question 10

What is the safest way to prevent eventuation or evisceration and hemorrhage?

Answer 10

Closed castration with a transfixation ligature

Question 11

Describe how Serra and Henderson emasculators achieve hemostasis while transecting the spermatic cord

Answer 11

• There are two clamping or crushing blades, and you are crushing the spermatic cord for hemostasis and then cutting

Question 12

What is the most important thing to remember regarding the use of the Serra emasculator?

Answer 12

Orient the instrument so that the wing nut (cutting end) of the instrument is towards the testicle

Question 13

Larger incisions = ________________

Answer 13

better drainage

Question 14

(T/F) The owner must exercise the horse after castration

Answer 14

True, we make them walk for better drainage

Question 15

What is the treatment for post-castration:
Swelling and seroma

Answer 15

• Cold hosing
• Prophylactic antibiotics
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories
• Reopen incisions if closed

Question 16

What is the treatment for post-castration:
Hemorrhage

Answer 16

• Carefully check the cord before release
• All horses will have some hemorrhage
  - Too many drips to count…
• Sedate heavily or reanesthetize
  - Look for bleeder. Pack with gauze roll and suture/clamp scrotum
  - Remove the next day and exercise

Question 17

What is the treatment for post-castration:
Schirrous cord/infection of the spermatic cord

Answer 17

• Difficult to treat
• Must re-emasculate culture, aggressively treat with antibiotics

Question 18

What is the treatment for post-castration:
Eventration

Answer 18

• Some breeds are more predisposed to this
  - Older horses
  - Draft horses, Tennessee walkers, standardbreds, and warmbloods with a lot of draft in them
• Transfixation ligature reduces risk
• Refer to a surgical facility for external inguinal ring closure if inguinal rings are quite large