a problem with his personal bits ......

[show_jumper]

hi.
i have a stallion with a lump in his testicle. the vet has scanned it twice now - the first time, he told me it was a fluid lump on the outside of the testicle, that had not broken the inner testicle wall - and was not sure how it could occur (he has had no chance to bash them, leaping around or anything) and it measured 4 x 1 cms. then two weeks later he returned and scanned again and it was 5 x 1 cms!!! he said that although the scan machine shows there is no tear in the wall - it feels like there is a hole when you press down on the lump (which is true). however, he doesn't want to take a smaple because of the risk of infection, so cannot find out exactly what it is.
he has recommended castration, but i really think this is a huge risk for a 7 year old 17 hand stallion when they dont know what it is?

do you have any suggstions - or know where i can track down a testicle specialist??
thanks.

 

[GTs]

Take him to a hospital - many vets go with an easy solutions, it seems he is doing this.

 

[ciderminx]

how long has he had this lump?

 

[show_jumper]

he has had it for about 5/6 weeks now - defiately wasn't there before - just appeard! very strange!!

 

[Happy Horse]

I would ask for referral to an equine hospital where they can run the necessary tests in clinical conditions.

 

[S_N]

Get thee a referal!! Your lad may well need gelding, so be prepared for this, but then again he might not! Gelding him should not be a problem - Catherston Dougal was gelded aged 8 (possibly 9 - can't quite remember now) and he is fine! I have known a few stallions that have had to be gelded for varying reasons and as long as it's done properly, then there is no problem with the procedure.

 

[sallyf]

The biggest risk from gelding an older stallion comes when they have covered alot of mares as the blood vessels become more enlarged so more risk of bleeding and leaving a gap big enough in the inaugral canal for a piece of gut to get through.
If he has never covered it probably wont be as bad , but be prepared for a general anesthetic.

 

[show_jumper]

thanks for the advice - will look to get a referal! i do worry about the anesthetic, but thats always a worry. the thing is - he has the potential to be a top top jumping horse - and to keep him entire would have been lovely. how much does it cost to have a semen sample taken and frozen - just incase he does go top - at least i can produce one of his sproglets!!!!
argh - how frustrating!!!! thanks for the advice so far! much appreciated!

 

[GTs]

Anesthetic is only a very very small risk - I have seen a number of horses put on the table, only one tried to keep sleeping (he failed - we managed to wake him up)!

Infact when my horse was operated on, the risk of Anesthetic was not even mentioned.

 

[Happy Horse]

We operated on plenty of older horses including a 10 year old PSG dressage horse. He was fine. There is always a risk with any anaesthetic but well worth taking if it is going to save the horse.

 

[Weezy]

I had my entire gelded at 7 without any probs (and yes he had a general), my other jumping horse was older than that when he was gelded (again, via general)

Personally it sounds like a cyst, but I would certainly get a referal and get it looked into properly under sedation - better to be safe than sorry, especially as he is such a good prospect!

Please let us know how you get on x

 

[henryhorn]

I don't really have any suggestions re the lump, but I can tell you how a stallion gelded at 9 copes. the actual wound healing is fine, but the mental thing takes a lot longer. The horse we bought very cheaply was due to his stallion like behaviour 6 months after the op, it took a further 18 months before he happily grazed with others, and still he is noisy and takes a little gang of mares off by himself.
I think it's your post I have answered re semen collection, it sounds as if whatever is growing needs to come off, as that increase is quite a lot in a short time.