castration

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lily1

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Help advice needed!
Last year my anglo arab mare gave birth to a colt foal, he has grown well and just lately he has become a bit "colty" so I booked him in to be gelded.
Last week off to the vets we go only for them to ring me and say he only has 1 testicle the other one could be retained.
They gave me the choice of a rig operation or to leave him and see if the testicle drops down.
so I Opted for the rig op because ive got mares and he is climbing fences to get to them, he went today and was put under GA and disappointly the vet was unable to find the retained testicle.
my options.
1. take him to Rossdales for a laparoscopy
2. remove the present testicle and have him blood tested in due course to see if testosterone is still present
3. PTS
the first option is going to be costly and my insurance doesnt cover any of it.
in advance thank you for any advice you may have.
my mind is in a whirl!
 
The cheapest option, particularly if your vet is fairly convinced there's nothing else in there, may be to have him hemi-castrated and then do hcg stimulation test. If he's a true cryptorchid i.e. No other testicle present, that's great, if not you can then make the decision regarding further surgery at that point.

I am not aware how much Rossdales charge for laparoscopic rig surgery, but I would shop around a bit if cost is a consideration; I have heard of practices charging as little as £500.
 
Might be worth talking to the RVC if money is a consideration, they do deals on castration for their students to practice castration (not as bad as it sounds as all under supervision) and might do something to give them experience? Not sure if they will but worth a chat perhaps? (although can't fault Rossdales and it would be my choice of venue for any surgery)
 
I had a livery last year that had only dropped one at rising 4, his owner had purchased him as a "stallion" but due to change of circumstances needed to geld him, that is when she found out:eek: He was gelded, just the one then blood tested, the cheapest option and for yours probably the way to go, he was not a rig so no need for further surgery.
 
Rossdales cant give me a definate price as surgery could take longer depending on where the testicle is.
My heart says go ahead with the removal of the testicle thats present and then have him blood tested but a couple of years ago I lost a youngster with sinus cancer that cost me £7500 and he still had to be PTS the mental anguish of something going wrong this time is playing heavily on my mind.
Hes still at the vets and they want to operate in the morning so Ive got tonight to make a decision.
 
I bought a yearling Colt 15 years ago with the intention of keeping him as a stallion, at three years old he still had not dropped the second testicle. He went into my local vet hospital and was operated on. They removed the testicle, my vet said he could not find the second one and thought it could either not be there at all or so small it could not be detected. The testicle he removed was rather large.

Four months later the second one was felt in the groin so the vet came out and re gelded him in the yard. He was not a Cryptorchid, just unfortunate not to have dropped the second one.

I am suprised that the vet did not remove the one testicle. I would have him gelded and then blood tested
 
Thanks paulineh ive rung the vets and they are going to operate in the morning to remove the testicle. fingers vrossed luck is on my little fellas side.
 
Update....
George had his testicle removed this morning and I picked him up earlier on hes very bright and looks ok & very pleased to see his equine friends.
I certainly feel alot happier tonight.
 
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