equine castration Flashcards
why do we castrate horses?
- control breeding
- behaviour modification
- management (can turn out with mares)
- medical reasons (cryptorchidism)
when is castration performed?
when both testes are descended
- 6m-2yrs
options for castration in horses
- field or hospital
- standing or GA
- 3 surgical techniques
- open, semi-closed, closed
open castration technique
vaginal tunic incised and left open
- used for standing, field castration
- unsuitable for older, previously used for breeding horses, or donkeys
semi-closed castration technique
vaginal tunic incised then sutured
- hospital setting under GA
closed castration technique
vaginal tunic sutured proximal to testis before incision
- hospital setting under GA
field vs hospital
- dependent on facilities of practice and yard
- transport of the horse
- technique used
standing vs GA
- size of horse
- temperament
- cost
- technique used
emasculators
- 2 blades: one cuts, the other crushes
- nut to nut (ensures placed correctly)
- take apart to clean (put back right way)
scrotal options
- primary closure (sutured)
- second intention (left open)
- field castration
- +/- ablation
preparation for standing castration
- sedation
- check for presence of 2 testicles
- scrub scrotum
- local anaesthetic injected into subcutis and testicle
- rescrub area
preparation for GA castration in hospital
- dorsal or lateral recumbency
- urinary catheter
- drapes
preparation for GA castration in field
- IV catheter always
- safe area for knock down and recovery
- lateral recumbency, HL held up with leadrope
what to check before castration
- age of horse
- tetanus status
- any breeding history
- facilities at yard if field surgery
- two testicles descended
complications of castration
- swelling
- haemorrhage (during or after)
- infection- chronic staphylococcal infection (associated with ligatures)
- tetanus
- evisceration (prolapse of intestines or omentum through inguinal ring
evisceration
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
post op monitoring of open castration
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
after care for castration
- 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
cryptorchidism
failure of testicular descent
- laparoscopic approach
