equine castration

Question 1

why do we castrate horses?

Answer 1

• control breeding
• behaviour modification
• management (can turn out with mares)
• medical reasons (cryptorchidism)

Question 2

when is castration performed?

Answer 2

when both testes are descended
- 6m-2yrs

Question 3

options for castration in horses

Answer 3

• field or hospital
• standing or GA
• 3 surgical techniques
  
  • open, semi-closed, closed

Question 4

open castration technique

Answer 4

vaginal tunic incised and left open
- used for standing, field castration
- unsuitable for older, previously used for breeding horses, or donkeys

Question 5

semi-closed castration technique

Answer 5

vaginal tunic incised then sutured
- hospital setting under GA

Question 6

closed castration technique

Answer 6

vaginal tunic sutured proximal to testis before incision
- hospital setting under GA

Question 7

field vs hospital

Answer 7

• dependent on facilities of practice and yard
• transport of the horse
• technique used

Question 8

standing vs GA

Answer 8

• size of horse
• temperament
• cost
• technique used

Question 9

emasculators

Answer 9

• 2 blades: one cuts, the other crushes
• nut to nut (ensures placed correctly)
• take apart to clean (put back right way)

Question 10

scrotal options

Answer 10

• primary closure (sutured)
• second intention (left open)
  
  • field castration
• +/- ablation

Question 11

preparation for standing castration

Answer 11

• sedation
• check for presence of 2 testicles
• scrub scrotum
• local anaesthetic injected into subcutis and testicle
• rescrub area

Question 12

preparation for GA castration in hospital

Answer 12

• dorsal or lateral recumbency
• urinary catheter
• drapes

Question 13

preparation for GA castration in field

Answer 13

• IV catheter always
• safe area for knock down and recovery
• lateral recumbency, HL held up with leadrope

Question 14

what to check before castration

Answer 14

• age of horse
• tetanus status
• any breeding history
• facilities at yard if field surgery
• two testicles descended

Question 15

complications of castration

Answer 15

• swelling
• haemorrhage (during or after)
• infection- chronic staphylococcal infection (associated with ligatures)
• tetanus
• evisceration (prolapse of intestines or omentum through inguinal ring

Question 16

evisceration

Answer 16

prolapse of omentum or intestine through inguinal ring
- omentum less serious, managed through resection
- intestine and emergency
first aid:
- clean towel to support intestine, sedation, lavage, referral to hospital

Question 17

post op monitoring of open castration

Answer 17

bleeding:
- dips= ok for first 12hrs
- can’t count= call straight away
- pulsating= immediate intervention
swelling:
- some expected
- more than orange size/ pre surgery size- call vet
surgical site:
- monitor for anything protruding
sedation:
- monitor appetite and faecal output
- check for colic signs

Question 18

after care for castration

Answer 18

• box rest for 24-48hrs
• in hand walking 2-3 times daily to encourage drainage of swelling
• turnout after 7-10 days
• continue with NSAIDs for pain
• keep away from mares for 2 months
  
  • can still be fertile

Question 19

cryptorchidism

Answer 19

failure of testicular descent
- laparoscopic approach