Laboratory parameters should be normal prior to routine castration.
Other Laboratory Tests
N/A
Imaging
N/A
Other Diagnostic Procedures
N/A
Pathologic Findings
N/A
Treatment⬆⬇
TREATMENT
Castration can be performed standing using local anesthesia or in lateral recumbency under general anesthesia
Standing castration—advantage that recovery is faster and with less risk of injury during anesthetic recovery
Castration using general anesthesia, placing the animal in lateral recumbency, allows for greater safety for the surgeon, better exposure to the surgical site, and much better analgesia
Closed technique (vaginal tunic is not incised) versus open technique (vaginal tunic is opened and the testes are completely exposed)—can be standing or under general anesthesia
Three 30 s scrubs of the scrotal area using povidone–iodine (Betadine) and/or chlorhexidine scrub; 2–3 mL of lidocaine is injected into each testis or spermatic cord, to achieve further analgesia before the last scrub
2 incisions are made over the testes, 1 cm from the midline of the scrotum, and a 3–4 cm strip of skin is removed, exposing the testes
The fascia is stripped away from 1 exteriorized testicle to expose the spermatic cord to the inguinal ring
Closed technique—the emasculators are placed as close to the body wall as possible to remove as much of the cord as possible
Open technique—the tunic over the testis is excised and the testis is exposed. The emasculators are placed closed to the body wall on the artery, vein, and nerve of the exposed cord and are emasculated followed by the exposed tunic, which is emasculated close to the body wall
The other testis is removed using either the closed or open technique
In large stallions, the mesorchium should be separated above the epididymis and the cord separated into the neurovascular and musculofibrous (cremaster muscle, vaginal tunic, and ductus deferens) portions before emasculation
Following emasculation, maintain hold on one side of the stump to keep it in view and observe it for any bleeding. If there is no bleeding from the site, the incision is inspected to ensure that it is open and will drain readily (to avoid serum accumulation)
Remove any loose tags of fascia or fat that protrude from the incision
Spray the area with an antiseptic solution and fly spray
Medications⬆⬇
MEDICATIONS
Drug(s) of Choice
General Anesthesia
Preoperative sedation with xylazine (1.0–1.1 mg/kg IV) with or without butorphanol (0.01–0.02 mg/kg IV)
Induction with ketamine hydrochloride (2.2 mg/kg IV) combined with diazepam (0.03–0.06 mg/kg IV)
Minimum of 20 min of moderate, daily forced exercise BID is essential
The surgical site should be monitored daily for hemorrhage, evisceration, excessive swelling, and/or infection
Cold water therapy/hydrotherapy for 15–20 min daily for 3–5 days
Possible Complications
Minor hemorrhage occurs through the skin, which should stop within 30 min
Treatment for excessive hemorrhage is identification and ligation of bleeding vessels
Excessive preputial/scrotal swelling results from poor drainage from the scrotum
Tranquilization, surgical scrub, and manually opening (stretching) the surgical site will facilitate drainage
Moderate forced exercise is the best means to ensure the surgical site will remain open and draining
Excessive preputial/scrotal swelling may also result from infection. If infected, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory therapy, and drainage of the site are indicated
Evisceration of the abdominal contents is an uncommon occurrence, which can be fatal if left untreated. The horse should be anesthetized and the intestinal contents cleaned and viable intestine replaced. The superficial inguinal ring should be sutured closed
Masculine behavior following castration is a reflection of learned behavior
BASICS
DIAGNOSIS
TREATMENT
MEDICATIONS
FOLLOW-UP
MISCELLANEOUS