equine Flashcards
Emasculators
most commonly the Serra emasculator
Key – remember NUT to NUT
Scapel blades and handles
Long artery forceps
Mayo scissors
Scrubs and gloves
Standing without primary closure for horse castration
In most horses with two descended testes, I would select a standing approach, without primary closure. Foals and those breeds susceptible to inguinal hernia – standardbreds, drats, andalusians, Tennessee walking horses and American saddlebreds– warrant further discussion. This option should not be selected if the horse’s temperament is unsuitable
Spermatic cord
comprises those structures within the vaginal tunic coursing from the vaginal ring to the testis/epididymis:
Ductus deferens
Testicular artery
Pampiniform plexus
Standing open approach for orse castration
Craniocaudal incision through the ventral scrotum 3-5cm away from and parralel to the median raphe (through the local!)
Deepen the incision without deviation from the parasagittal plane until then vaginal sac is entered.
The testis is withdrawn from the vaginal tunic and a finger is passed through the mesorchium so that the spermatic vessels and ductus deferens are cranial to this division, and the vaginal tunic caudal.
The emasculator is then applied across the cranial part, perpendicular to the blood vessels.
REMEMBER NUT TO NUT!
Time 1-4mins
Check for bleeding (spermatic vessels) before emasculating the caudal portion containing the vaginal tunic. Close to the edges of the incision to minimise protruding tissue.
Postoperative considerations and systemic analgesia for horse castration
Postoperative exercise is advised – be mindful!
Under BEVA Primary care guidelines administer NSAIDs immediately before and for 3 days afterwards.
Return to work after 7-10days
Give a 2-week fertility window to be on the safe side
Takes 8 weeks for masculine behaviour to subside post castration
Postoperative exercise facilitates incisional drainage, which reduces infection in open castrations (Wilson 2002). For my patients, I recommend no free exercise on the day of castration, in the hope that some small amount of swelling of the inguinal region will occur to reduce eventration risks, and then turn out consistent with, or proportionally greater than, the immediate preoperative management routine, thereater. If the horse is normally stabled, I would advise 30 minutes of exercise twice daily on a walker or walked in hand. Horses should go back into work seven to 10 days following surgery.
differences between doney and horses
thermoregulation
difficult to visuise jugular- head raised neck straight
no im in pecs
anglar body- dont confuse for muscle loss
differences in feet- pedal bone sits lower
ingular approach in castration when over 4 years
form close bonds- let remain with friends- mournign behaviour! let see dead friend, monitoru for illness
more likley to freeze and fight than flight in horses
more stoic- dull donkey is emergency
more well dooer- food goes a long way, often hge fat in this country- straw and nutrient poor hay
metabolise drugs differently- nsaids need more doses ect
different parameters and reference ranges
What drug protocol could you use if you decide to perform a field GA?
What do you need to consider?
minor procedures
castration, sacrcoid removals ect
Total Intreveneous Anesthesia- TIVA
extra boluses of ketamine to maintain anesthesia
check the feild- stones, watercourses, batteries, holes, slopes, type of fence (barbed wire)- anything that could injusre horse as it goes down
draw up all drugs and palce iv cannula- get all equipment ready
fit horse with padded head collar
have help and a plan
administer drugs and induce anesthesia
position horse- if horse in lateratl, bottom forelimb forward, hind limbs parallel
ACP- wait 30-45 mins
detomidien IV- wait 5 mins, check heart rate (> 20 BPM), chek for adiquate sedation
diazepam/ katamine iv for induction
ketamine iv top ups every 8-15 mins or triple drip (GGE, Ketamine, Alpha 20
add 1/4 doese detomidine after 4/5 doses i using katamine alone
with ketamine continue to give top ups of alpha 2
considerations relate specifically to castration surgery in the donkey
- If the donkey is less than two years old and both testicles have descended, closed castration
using the scrotal approach should be used. - If the donkey is over four years old or over 150kg and the testicles large and well developed,
the inguinal approach is strongly recommended in order to reduce post-operative
complications. Inguinal castration is best performed in a dedicated equine operating
environment. - If the donkey is between two and four years old and under 150kg, a decision should be made
based on the size of the testicles. In most cases the scrotal approach will be appropriate.
castration in mature stallions
stallions castrated after maturity (six years old or older), especially those that have bred mares, may continue to possess stallion-like behavior, which could include the development of an erection and an attempt to mount and breed mares in estrus.
a closed castration is preferable. This technique involves using sutures in order to seal off the blood vessels supplying the testicles and it also seals off the vaginal tunic covering the testicle.
This should minimise the
risk of post-operative herniation,
which can be a significant risk
in larger, older horses. However,
this procedure takes longer and
ideally needs to be performed in
a sterile operating theatre which
makes it more expensive.
castration in horses with Inguinal/intra-abdominal testicles
testicles retained in the abdomen
are usually removed by laparoscopy (keyhole surgery) under standing sedatio
Fred’ is not well handled, he has only recently arrived at the RSPCA.
From appearance he has two descended testicles. You don’t have an accurate weight for Fred so you need to estimate…
Outline your approach to castration of this case; including restraint, procedure and any drug doses.
small stall, restrain ( some surces suggest having a calm horse present?)
