Donkey de-balling!

J

JamOnToast

Active Member
Joined
7 December 2014
Messages
30
Visit site
The phone call has been made, Eddie is booked in to have his knackers off thursday!
Anybody else have much experience gelding colt foals who's balls haven't dropped yet? He's 6months old, do they appear after sedation?
 
Does the vet know they haven't dropped yet? Generally they advise waiting until they make an appearance, 6 months isn't that old.
 
In that case I'm surprised they aren't suggesting that you wait for them to drop. They'd need to be close to dropping for them to appear with a sedation, & if they don't it's a much bigger op that generally involves a trip to hospital.
 
Nari said:
In that case I'm surprised they aren't suggesting that you wait for them to drop. They'd need to be close to dropping for them to appear with a sedation, & if they don't it's a much bigger op that generally involves a trip to hospital.
Click to expand...

Donkeys dont usually drop while they are young, they 'hide' them for much longer than horses, but are still fertile and fully functioning before they drop, hence 6months old, they usually drop after sedation at this age, i have recently spoken to a couple of reputable donkey breeders, was just wondering on others experiances!
 
Nari said:
In that case I'm surprised they aren't suggesting that you wait for them to drop. They'd need to be close to dropping for them to appear with a sedation, & if they don't it's a much bigger op that generally involves a trip to hospital.
Click to expand...

This. Castrating donkeys is far more problematic than castrating horses or ponies. They are notorious bleeders, and most vets experienced with castrating them would far rather wait until they have two nice dangly balls to quickly and cleanly nip off, rather than risk poking around looking for ones that might not be ready, and causing unnecessary bleeding with incisions made to try and find the things.

But each to their own and all that.
 
I've only seen them done dropped at 18 months, down due to the extra fat. Quite tricky and takes them a long time to stand again IME. I assume he's going into the hospital or has he been ultra sounded?
 
rara007 said:
I've only seen them done dropped at 18 months, down due to the extra fat. Quite tricky and takes them a long time to stand again IME. I assume he's going into the hospital or has he been ultra sounded?
Click to expand...

I spoke to the vet on the phone, he said he will take a look, and see what he thinks, usually after sedation they relax and appear!
But if they dont then we will wait!
as the foal is running with the mare, being weaned until her milk dries up and then back again, he needs to be done now really!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top