HELP?!?!?!?! Gelding without full course of vaccinations?

[mrsjcmking]

I recently bought a little rescue colt pony. I want to get him gelded as the yard he is on wont let him graze whilst he is entire as they don't want him to cover any mares in nearby fields.

However I don't know if he's ever been vaccinated (no record of it in his passport) and i've been told the vet wont geld until he's had his full course, and they only geld in the autumn which means I have to wait until next year. I don't really want to keep him stabled for a year, but I am struggling to find him anywhere that he can graze without risking him get frisky (he's a mean little jumper!)

What can I do? He hates being stuck in as it is and I want him out on grazing so i can fatten him up a bit. I've only recently moved him onto this yard so feel a bit weird just upping and leaving, and I also have nowhere to go.

What would you do?

 

[PennyJ]

I'd phone up a few vets and see what they have to say, from what you've written it sounds a bit like what someone's told you rather than professional opinion. I believe they can geld at any time of year, spring being preferred before the flies get up.

With regards to vaccinations, no they do not have to have had the full course before they are gelded, the vaccinations for equine influenza have no relevance whatsoever to his nuts being chopped off. Tetanus of course is relevant.

 

[cptrayes]

What would you do?

Get another vet. They can geld him and give him tetanus anti-toxin at the same time which will cover him completely. There is no problem with this, your vet is being a bit dumb. The anti-toxin is not the same as the normal injection, by the way, and you should go ahead with his tetanus jabs. The flu element is up to you and nothing whatsoever to prevent a gelding operation. Neither is the time of year, I have had one done in March and known them done throughout the summer.