castration methods across species SDL

Question 1

what are the 2 categories of castration techniques

Answer 1

• bloodless castration
• surgical castration

Question 2

name 2 types of bloodless castration

Answer 2

burdizzo
- used to crush spermatic cord, preventing bloodflow in the testicular artery
- testicle atrophies within scrotum but scrotum remains

elastrator
- rubber rings stretched over the whole scrotum
- important to ensure both testicles are below band before releasing
- prevents blood flow to the testicles and scrotum which atrophy and eventually slough

Question 3

what are the 3 types of surgical castration

Answer 3

• open : the parietal vaginal tunic is incised, testicle exposed and removed
• closed : the parietal vaginal tunic is left intact, a ligature is placed around the vaginal tunic and spermatic cord and the testicle is removed with the tunic surrounding it
• semi-closed/modified : the parietal vaginal tunic is incised, the testicle exposed and removed then the tunic is sutured closed

Question 4

which species are emasculators used in most commonlty

Answer 4

calves, lambs, piglets, goats
both crushes and cuts

Question 5

which castration technique is most commonly used in cattle

Answer 5

• banding (must be within first week of life)
• surgical castration (twisting for haemostasis)
• burdizzo

Question 6

which castration technique is most commonly used in sheep

Answer 6

• banding/burdizzo (less often than banding)
• surgical (rare, hemostasis by twisting

banding must be done 1st week of life

Question 7

which castration technique is most commonly used in goats

Answer 7

• banding/burdizzo (must be within first week of life)
• surgical (twisting for hemostasis)

Question 8

which castration technique is most commonly used in pigs

Answer 8

open surgical

few commercial pigs are castrated as slaughtered before sexual maturity

Question 9

which castration technique is most commonly used in camelids

Answer 9

open surgical with ligatures

Question 10

which castration technique is most commonly used in horses

Answer 10

• open/closed/semi-closed surgical
• emasculators

Question 11

which castration technique is most commonly used in dogs

Answer 11

• semi-closed, open or closed surgical using ligatures for hemostasis

Question 12

which castration technique is most commonly used in cats

Answer 12

open surgical with ligatures or tying to provide hemostasis

Question 13

which castration technique is most commonly used in rabbits

Answer 13

closed ot modified surgical using ligatures

Question 14

which castration technique is most commonly used in guinea pigs

Answer 14

closed ot modified surgical using ligatures

Question 15

which castration technique is most commonly used in ferrets

Answer 15

open ot closed surgical using ligatures

Question 16

what are the legislations surrounding castration techniques

Answer 16

• animal welfare act 2006 (mutilation and duty of care)
• Cattle: Castration of calves over 2 months of age must be carried out with the use of anesthetics.
• Sheep: Castration of lambs over 3 months of age must be carried out with the use of anesthetics.
• Pigs: Castration of pigs over 7 days of age must be carried out with the use of anesthetics and under veterinary supervision.
• Goats: Castration must be done using anesthetics if the animal is over 2 months old.
• veterinary surgeons act (surgical castration = suregon required)
• banding must be done within first week of life
• horses must be vaccinated against tetanus ot given tetanus antitoxin

Question 17

at what age are common domestic species castrated

Answer 17

• cow : few days - 12 months
• sheep: few days - 6 months
• goat : few days - 6 months
• pig few days of age
• horse : 6months to 2.5 years
• dog : 6-9 months old
• cat : 6 months, no younger than 12 weeks