Castration in stallion

CASTRATION IN STALLION

Synonym:Emasculation or Gelding or Cutting or Neutralising

Indications

  • To make the horse docile and for easy management
  • Malignant disease or tumor or irreparable injury to the testis
  • Scrotal hernia

Age

  • It is performed at one year of age but it can be done at any age. Rarely the testicles may not be descended into the scrotum before one year.

Anaesthesia

  • General anaesthesia or sedation with chloral hydras combined with local anaesthesia.

Site

  • Ventral aspect of scrotum. While incising avoid scrotal veins.

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Methods of castration

Closed method of castration

  • Restrain the stallion
  • Hold the spermatic cord firmly by holding the neck of the scrotum.
  • The Burdizzo castrator is inserted and the sides were crushed separately.
  • Unlike in bulls, the crushing is done in one place only.

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Open method of castration

Open uncovered method

  • Secure the animal in lateral recumbency.
  • Prepare the site aseptically.
  • It is better to remove the testis which is nearer to the ground in the casting position of the stallion.
  • Hold the testis firmly against the skin of the scrotum.
  • Incise at antero-posteriorly to expose the testicle.
  • Separate the anterior vascular bundle and posterior bundle of the spermatic cord.
  • The anterior bundle contains spermatic artery and spermatic vein. Anterior bundle is more vascular.
  • The posterior bundle contains lymphatics, tunica vaginalis, internal cremaster muscle and vas deferens. The posterior bundle is less vascular.
  • Severe the posterior bundle without any haemostatic pressure as high as possible.
  • Ligate the anterior vascular bundle at the highest point accessible.
  • Incise below the ligated point to remove the testis.
  • Instead of ligating and cutting any one of the following method can also be performed
    • Using emasculator:
      • Crush the anterior bundle for half a minute.
      • Release it and again crush completely.
    • Using ecraseur
    • By torsion
    • By castration clamps
    • By thermocautery
  • During castration in stallion, remove as much of tunica vaginalis as possible. Otherwise hydrocele or water shed may develop due to collection of blood or exudates in its cavity.
  • The spermatic cord also should be severed as far as possible to prevent the development of scirrhous cord.

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Open covered method

  • This method is preferred stallions affected with scrotal hernia.
  • Here the incision is limited to skin, subcutis. The testis is exposed with its covering with tunica vaginalis.
  • Spermatic cord is severed after ligating outside its covering.

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Post operative care

A prophylactic dose of anti-tetanus serum should be given to the horse before or immediately after operation.

Post operative complications after castration in stallions

  • The complete asepsis should be followed in stallions during castration. Otherwise the following complications may occur.
  • Injuries may occur during casting – Fracture of vertebral column, tibia etc.
  • Hemorrhage – Primary, reactionary or secondary
  • Prolapse of bowel or omentum
  • Extensive swelling or edema involving the scrotum and its surrounding tissues
  • Malignant edema
  • Peritonitis
  • Tetanus
  • Abscess formation in the spermatic cord
  • Gangrene
  • Abscess formation in the sub lumbar lymph glands
  • Scirrous cord

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Last modified: Tuesday, 12 June 2012, 4:16 AM