CASTRATION? Standing or not??

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TFS

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just out of interest really what do you prefer standing castration or not?? iv had both done and can see the pros and cons of both just wondered what ur forts are
 
We always do them knocked out - vet prefers it and so do I. Apart from any of the good veterinary reasons for doing it that way, in my experience it DOES have a beneficial effect on the behaviour of a colt who has got to the stage where he NEEDS gelding. He wakes up - says: "Oy - that hurt - how did she do THAT!" and treats you with a LOT more respect ever after!
 
What are the veterinary reasons for doing a GA castration against a standing?! unless the horse is a criptorchid, or very difficult, I can't see why you would use GA (although I may have the wrong end of the stick here!)
 
i feel that standings have the force of gravity helping it drain better personally, but i do have a bad experience of GA castration as a colt of mine had a prolapse 4times but that could be sheer bad luck
 
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What are the veterinary reasons for doing a GA castration against a standing?! unless the horse is a criptorchid, or very difficult, I can't see why you would use GA (although I may have the wrong end of the stick here!)

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Safety - for all concerned!
Easier to see exactly what's where.
Easier to deal quickly and efficiently with a bleed or a prolapse.
Easier to irrigate the area thoroughly to avoid infection problems later.

And a few more I've forgotten!
 
i agree with the safety issue if a colt is particularly naughty or against being castrated to GA him but not sure if i would use it again unless i had to.
 
just found this thought it may be relevant

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There is now a new methodology that is not yet approved but that is being tested for effectiveness. It involves the application of a clamp to the testicular cord which is then attached to a power drill. The goal is to spin the clamp until the cord is severed. While this may seem a bit odd, it has been shown that the blood vessels are being sealed off and that there is less swelling following the procedure.


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GA is safer for the vet yes, but much more risky for the horse. 1/100 horses will die under GA, a further number will break a leg in recovery. In comparison, the risks of standing castration are minimal. If it performed at the veterinary surgery, then a prolapse can still be dealt with. And finally, if the testicular artery is severed without haemostasis, then the horse has got little chance wherever he is (the testicular artery is a direct branch of the aorta)

But...Thats just my opinion and everyone is entitled to make their own decision, with help from their own vet
 
I like the sound of the power drill method! It sounds similar to the method commonly used in cattle - instead of using emasculators (which is for horses) you simply twist and twist the spermatic cord until it breaks, by which time the testicular artery has been crushed.
 
Unless there was a good reason I would not have a colt castrated under a GA, it's unecessary and a much bigger ordeal for them.
Ours have a sedative then local injected into the area, our vet is superb at castrating neatly and swiftly and they heal fast and touch wood without any problems.
Giving a horse a GA means not only do you have the risk of inuring itself when coming round, but the anaesthetic remains in the body for up to a month as in humans. Ask anyone who's had an op, they often feel wobbly and weird for weeks!
 
Standing, though the yearling had to be done under GA has he had a retained testi. Not sure horses equate "He wakes up - says: "Oy - that hurt - how did she do THAT!" I am not convienced animals think like that. My vet has a different view as he believes it is better for the colt to be done standing helps with the healing process, for one thing gets them moving around a lot quicker. The only ones I have kown over the years being done under GA are those like my yearling, with a retained testi.
 
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GA is safer for the vet yes, but much more risky for the horse. 1/100 horses will die under GA, a further number will break a leg in recovery.



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Yes - but that figure involves the whole gamut of equine operations - young horses/old horses/extremely ill horses/horses having lengthy surgery/horses lying on their backs for surgery etc. etc. etc. AND it involves - I believe - horses operated on in hospital with knock-down box and recovery room which, IMHO, INCREASES the risks. I've been involved in a couple of hundred equine operations under GA in field conditions - not ONE casualty or near to it! And those ops included a few high risk ones. Horses break their legs coming out of GA because they're let up too soon or left to get up in a recovery room where they panic! It's far safer in the field.
 
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I have to say I'm amazed that for a routine castration, there are people who would choose GA over standing.

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Why? My very experienced equine vet won't do them standing - another vet in the practice prefers them standing - but I prefer MY vet and I'm happy with his reasons - and his skills!
 
Personally I prefer to do them standing on younger horses as it drains better, etc. and if done properly then is less stressful than a GA (plus my vet is very good at standing castrations). However that said, I prefer having older stallions gelded under GA as if they are fully developed then the chances of something going wrong are so much higher as there is a lot more to remove/a larger blood flow, etc.
 
Having known a colt break his leg whilst going down for castrating I would be wary of having another with a GA, although the vet did get a well placed, NOT, kick whilst doing a standing one last year
 
I've never heard of it done with the horse standing up... It's been 6-7 years now, but my little stud colt was given something to make him very sleepy and he just quietly laid down. I helped the vet and we didn't have to give him O2 or anything. His eyes were open so I put a towel over his face so After it was over, he woke up (with a somewhat tender hiney -- I imagine) and after a few minutes, he stood back up and was pretty much his normal old self.
 
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It's far safer in the field.

[/ QUOTE ] That's where we did it and the patient was fine. One funny thing -- my vet referred to the operation as "Brain Surgery".
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Hi Janet!

I've noticed your posts previously. They are always so knowledgeable. Are you a vet, possibly?

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That's kind of you - most people just call me a know-it-all!
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And no - not a vet - but WAS a nurse for a while, and a doctor's daughter, and have been looking after horses for a bit over 50 years now and always taken a keen interest in the vet side of things so I've learned a bit over the years (and still manage to learn something new most days!)

And I've got a fabulous vet (been my vet for 20 years now) who is always MORE than happy to discuss any case in detail - which helps a hell of a lot!
 
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