Final Exam - Equine Castration

Question 1

what is the most common surgery done in equine practice? what is the most common cause of malpractice claims in equine practice?

Answer 1

equine castration!!!!

equine castrations - either with complications or communication issues

Question 2

what are the 3 main techniques used for castrating horses?

Answer 2

standing

field castration with general anesthesia

surgical suite castrations under general anesthesia

closed vs. open vs. modified

Question 3

what are the general steps of doing a closed castration on a horse?

Answer 3

incision of the scrotal skin, tunica dartos, & scrotal fascia

parietal tunic left intact

entire spermatic cord emasculated together (cremaster muscle included in emasculation in small testicles)

Question 4

what is the process of performing an open castration on a horse?

Answer 4

parietal tunic is opened

vessels & cord are ligated separately

Question 5

what is the process of performing a modified technique of castration?

Answer 5

small window is cut into the parietal tunic so that vessels can be ligated separately

Question 6

what should you check when using emasculators for a castration?

Answer 6

make sure they are assembled correctly - want nut to nut with the cutting side on the cord & the crushing side on the vessels

apply them perpendicular to the cord & don’t do it under too much tension or you will shear the artery

too small or too big of testicles will cause you issues

Question 7

what are the advantages of doing a standing castration? what are the disadvantages?

Answer 7

advantages - no general anesthesia needed & it is quick

disadvantages - safety is a concern, more tension, & it is harder to control bleeding

Question 8

what is the protocol for doing a standing castration?

Answer 8

need to sedate the horse in a quiet area (torb + detomidine)

administer pain meds, tetanus, +/- abx

must have an experienced handler!!!!! twitch horse as needed!!!!!!

scrub the testicles & locally block them

use the closed technique with emasculators only!!!

Question 9

when may you choose to do a standing castration?

Answer 9

racetrack horses

rescue/emaciated horses

Question 10

what are the advantages of doing field castration? what are the disadvantages?

Answer 10

advantages - safer recovery for the horse, better personnel safety, & better access to the surgical site

disadvantages - anesthesia is needed, the procedure is not as sterile, & may have to deal with an inclement environment (weather, children, tractors, etc)

Question 11

what are the advantages of doing a surgical suite castration? what are the disadvantages?

Answer 11

advantages - sterility is great, no bad weather, you have better control of potential complications, & you have assistants

disadvantages - increased cost, general anesthesia is needed, & you have to deal with recovery of the horse (where a lot of things go wrong)

Question 12

what is the protocol for doing a field castration?

Answer 12

sedate the animal in a quiet location & induce with ketamine + midazolam & cover their eyes - get them in lateral or dorsal recumbency

prep the area, locally block it, incise (both at once if dorsal, down testicle first if lateral) & emasculate

aggressively stretch the skin after to help with drainage & to stop bleeding

Question 13

after castrating a horse, how long must they be kept away from mares? why?

Answer 13

30-60 days post-op!

they can still get a girl pregnant for 30-60 days after the castration!!!

Question 14

if doing a field castration on a friesian stallion, what position will you put them in for the procedure? why?

Answer 14

lateral recumbency!!!

risk of myelomalacia if they are put in dorsal recumbency

Question 15

what percentage of horses have complications following castration?

Answer 15

10%!!!

Question 16

what are some complications that occur after castration secondary to edema/swelling?

Answer 16

phimosis, paraphimosis, cellulitis, & dysuria

Question 17

what complications are commonly seen after castrations?

Answer 17

anesthesia, edema/swelling, seroma/hemorrhage, penile trauma, hydrocele

peritonitis, evisceration, lameness, tetanus

Question 18

what is the most common complication seen following castration? when does it peak? how do you counteract this?

Answer 18

swelling!!!

peaks 3-5 days following the procedure

give them anti-inflammatories at the time of the procedure! less swelling!

also, exercise them to help with swelling/drainage

Question 19

what are the big scary complications associated with anesthesia for castration?

Answer 19

fractures!!!!

respiratory compromise, & myelopathy/myelomalacia after dorsal recumbency

Question 20

T/F: older horses are more likely to develop swelling following castration

Answer 20

true

Question 21

T/F: you should do your best to try and do castrations on healthy horses only

Answer 21

true

Question 22

what is the ideal candidate for castration?

Answer 22

healthy, halter broke, & tetanus vaccinated!!!