castration mistake?

[Damien]

We recently admitted a colt for castration to a veterinary clinic due to Chryptorchid diagnosis by our vet. The clinic was looking for special cases as they were teaching students how to perform closed surgery techniques using endoscopy so our vet gave us a refferal.

We discussed at great length the possibilities of keeping him entire, the eventualites of the second testicle descending, or the possibilty of encouaging the second testicle to descend. I explained that the colt was purchased as an entire prospect and had been specially selected on the basis of his bloodlines etc etc etc.. I was aware that Chryptorchids are known to pass on the condition as there is a predisposition to the condition being hereditary so was happy to carry on with having him gelded.

The day after being admitted to the clinic I received a call that the surgery had gone well and he was ready to come home, so we off we went to bring our lovely "gelding" back home. However when I arrived the intern nurse informed me that the procedure had gone very well aand was very straight forwards becuase both testicles were present at the time of castration..

I wasn't quite sure what he meant so waited for the case report to be posted.

It read, "Chryptorchid case two year old colt was admitted for castration" on ....

Upon palpatation both testicles were found to be present in the scotal sac and a standard closed procedure was carried out.

Needless to say I'm none to happy, I can't belive that I wasn't called to be informed of the "good news" of their discovery!!

Any thoughts on what I should do?

 

[vicijp]

did your vet not inject the testicle to see if it would drop, prior to referral?

 

[the watcher]

What a nightmare. Was any of the pre operative discussion recorded in letter, in notes or in any other way?

 

[Damien]

did your vet not inject the testicle to see if it would drop, prior to referral?

Nope

What a nightmare. Was any of the pre operative discussion recorded in letter, in notes or in any other way?

The only evidence that I have is in the letter after the castration was carried out:

They stated that the "Chryptorchid" colt named...

speaking with fellow breeders, they agree that the colt was clearly admitted and recognised that he was being admitted for castration as a Chryptorchid case. The feedback that I have received is that they should have out of professional code of conduct alerted me that this was not the case prior to carrying out the castration.

I am fuming, he was specially selected out of dozens of colts viewed, the damline was superb, the sire top class internationally recognised and I even went for the "fashionable bloodlines" element and the "colour" element - black four white stockings, white blaze.. Powerful movement for a jumper, tremendous off the floor uphill canter, big trot and reaching walk. I had him fully x-rayed to confirm that he was free from OCD, had him scoped and sounded for wind, wanted to go the whole hog prior to investing..

He was to be sent to Holland to be presented for Grading prior to presenting him here in the UK.

One of his siblings was Bid £25000 at Addington last year and sold in Holland the following week for 40000 euros. I have never seen another colt advertised for sale since as his progeny are so valauble even through his sires owners. They have a stallion that fits the same criteria to my colt and is being offered for sale at £40000

 

[Daisychain]

What a nightmare for you, but surely the vet new how much you wanted to keep him entire? If he did realise that what the hell did he go ahead for... It really is inexcusable.

 

[vicijp]

Personally, dont think theres a lot you can do.
I think the main problem is with your own vet, who may have misdiagnosed. How long was it between referral and op? The longer the time, the more chance he will have of wriglling out of it. In any case, you only pay for a vets opinion whether it be right or wrong. The best you can hope for is to have all bills cleared.
You cant really blame the vet that did the surgery, for all he knew the horse needed gelding and that was that.
If you can prove that your vet didnt carry out a proper investigation before referring then you could try suing for loss of earnings and suchlike. Be warned it is a very expensive process suing a vet, they are insured to the hilt, will fly anyone in to 'support' their views, and will get out of it with the 'opinion, be it right or wrong' clause.
I can't see how you can blame the surgery unless there was 'very expensive stallion, leave his nuts on if at all possible' stamped on his backside.
It sounds a very bad case of crossed wires, triggered by an incompetent vet.

 

[Anastasia]

What a blow, I think I would feel the same being in that situation!! Like vicijp said though..............it may be a long and expensive process to go down the legal route, as would you not then independent advice to say that he was top stallion material, even though you know yourself?

Its certainly a tough one!! What are the vets concerned saying about it?

 

[Damien]

[ QUOTE ]
What a nightmare for you, but surely the vet new how much you wanted to keep him entire....

[/ QUOTE ]

My vet only provided him with the referall, my conversations were with the surgeon at the clinic! and yes they were made quite aware that if they could offer any solution possible I would give it a go but was informed that it was an absolute NO NO.

I hold the clinic in very high esteem generally, they have saved a number of our horses lives and repaired some pretty nasty wounds legs etc over the years but I cant help feeling bitter over this error.

 

[Damien]

Yes Anastacia we would need to seek an independant assesment but knowing how these things are they don't really need to be "That" independant.... Just had my friends go through a battle with a stolen tractor.. the tractor had been in a shed for 25 years........ and someone loaded it in the middle of the night, the owner then sued my friends for the tractor as a "Vintage" vehicle and the owners supplied the Independant assessor from down South to testify at the court hearing the estimated value of the tractor.

 

[kcgibson]

animals can retract their testicles (i assume horses can too) and therefore when your vet tried to feel for them, they may not have been there. However, as you were only having him castrated due to him being chryporchid, the vets should have contacted you prior to surgery to discuss the possibilities. Although, in their defence, as you said, the condition can be hereditary and therefore for ethical reasons, you should not have bred from him (this is however, your decision to make at the end of the day, the vet can only advise and i believe that the vet should have contacted you before going ahead.)