Gingernags
Well-Known Member
I've had issues with getting my colt gelded and I need some advice on whether to get a second opinion as to if this is just "one of those things" or if mistakes have been made (very costly ones!)
Is there a vet on here who would answer some questions for me?
- Thread starter Gingernags
- Start date
TGM
Well-Known Member
Star on here is a vet - why not PM her?
Gingernags
Well-Known Member
I'm being polite and asking first, not taking advantage... must be a first for me not jumping in with both feet firmly in gob!!!
stranger1612
Well-Known Member
What are your questions?
Gingernags
Well-Known Member
Okey dokey... apologies if there are a lot!
Is there generally best practice you are taught for a standing castration? I had read that if a colt tucks one testicle behind the other, best practice is to do the more difficult one first?
Is there a particular placement and length of incision recommended to make draining and healing from the inside out more likely? ie is a short incision asking for trouble?
Is is usual for a colt to strart to come round halfway through the second and more difficult testicle being removed resulting in further sedation?
If some dark and shiny tissue was protruding through one incision effectively blocking it from draining and the vet said they'd nicked the end of a muscle - should this be remedied at the time?
If there was severe swelling still present after 2 weeks and the incision had healed up so nothing was draining - are antibiotics effective enough or should the incisions have been re-opened?
And if a further 2 weeks on swelling was still present, fluid (sticky old blood etc) was covering the back legs and a large blood clot was protruding through the suddenly re-opened incision (re-opened by the gunk not by intervention other than being washed in mild hibiscrub solution) which contained a piece of "tissue" what would you think had happend and what would you do?
Really sorry for it being so long! Its just I've always had fillies so this is new to me, and its been a disaster - need to know if its "one of those things" or if mistakes have been made that I need to address with my vets.
At the end of the day (ooh, Jeremy Kyle eat your heart out!) I'm not doing this to get out of a mega-bill, but my 9 month old has been through an awful time and I want to know if things should have been done better or differently and if its fair to pay what I'm being charged for. Which I will if its all how it should be.
Thanks!
Is there generally best practice you are taught for a standing castration? I had read that if a colt tucks one testicle behind the other, best practice is to do the more difficult one first?
Is there a particular placement and length of incision recommended to make draining and healing from the inside out more likely? ie is a short incision asking for trouble?
Is is usual for a colt to strart to come round halfway through the second and more difficult testicle being removed resulting in further sedation?
If some dark and shiny tissue was protruding through one incision effectively blocking it from draining and the vet said they'd nicked the end of a muscle - should this be remedied at the time?
If there was severe swelling still present after 2 weeks and the incision had healed up so nothing was draining - are antibiotics effective enough or should the incisions have been re-opened?
And if a further 2 weeks on swelling was still present, fluid (sticky old blood etc) was covering the back legs and a large blood clot was protruding through the suddenly re-opened incision (re-opened by the gunk not by intervention other than being washed in mild hibiscrub solution) which contained a piece of "tissue" what would you think had happend and what would you do?
Really sorry for it being so long! Its just I've always had fillies so this is new to me, and its been a disaster - need to know if its "one of those things" or if mistakes have been made that I need to address with my vets.
At the end of the day (ooh, Jeremy Kyle eat your heart out!) I'm not doing this to get out of a mega-bill, but my 9 month old has been through an awful time and I want to know if things should have been done better or differently and if its fair to pay what I'm being charged for. Which I will if its all how it should be.
Thanks!
Lucy_Nottingham
Well-Known Member
Im not sure about best practice for tucking one behind the other etc.... (although honestly cant blame him for trying to him them! hehe)
Not sure about particular length I think its kind of whatever the vet feels is sufficient.... some vets prefer to do smaller incisions for smaller scarring (as some clients prefer smaller scars! you can spey a great dane bitch through keyhole surgery, but its not recommended!)
No the animal should not start coming round, however how can you tell that he did can I check? as shivers, slight twitching etc is actually normal in deeply sedated horses.
Id think they had nicked the cremastor muscle (I think this is the right one...... please any other vets correct me if wrong) and I think that this is not the end of the world....... but I couldn't say for sure... However, it would have to be really, REALLY tight to stop drainage completely....
Was it a closed or open castration? if an opencastration had healed up in 2 weeks and was swollen, I think (what we have been taught) is that the horse should be walked out regularly to try to open it up to allow more drainage to occur....... but not sure if all vets would agree
Wth regards to the newly opened wound due to pressure build up behind it, it sounds like a haematoma has formed and burst out.......... but I would get the vet out to have another look, as hernias of the intestines CAN occur (not saying has here, just saying is possible) but the vet will be able to check and decide what to do etc........ or at least give some antibiotics etc to help clear up any infection that may have occured there.
I am only a vet STUDENT so just trying to explain what you are saying form what I have learnt (supposedly
so far!) I am sure other vets may have different opinions etc........
Hope this helps a bit! Hope your boy gets better soon!
Not sure about particular length I think its kind of whatever the vet feels is sufficient.... some vets prefer to do smaller incisions for smaller scarring (as some clients prefer smaller scars! you can spey a great dane bitch through keyhole surgery, but its not recommended!)
No the animal should not start coming round, however how can you tell that he did can I check? as shivers, slight twitching etc is actually normal in deeply sedated horses.
Id think they had nicked the cremastor muscle (I think this is the right one...... please any other vets correct me if wrong) and I think that this is not the end of the world....... but I couldn't say for sure... However, it would have to be really, REALLY tight to stop drainage completely....
Was it a closed or open castration? if an opencastration had healed up in 2 weeks and was swollen, I think (what we have been taught) is that the horse should be walked out regularly to try to open it up to allow more drainage to occur....... but not sure if all vets would agree
Wth regards to the newly opened wound due to pressure build up behind it, it sounds like a haematoma has formed and burst out.......... but I would get the vet out to have another look, as hernias of the intestines CAN occur (not saying has here, just saying is possible) but the vet will be able to check and decide what to do etc........ or at least give some antibiotics etc to help clear up any infection that may have occured there.
I am only a vet STUDENT so just trying to explain what you are saying form what I have learnt (supposedly
Hope this helps a bit! Hope your boy gets better soon!
star
Well-Known Member
it's quite normal for them to start coming out of sedation during a castrate depending on how long it's taking and how much dope they had. as a vet student i was often being sent to top-up the IV sedation whilst vet carried on with job in hand.
other than that, i am not an equine vet and haven't actually ever castrated a horse (one of the few species i haven't) so i'm probably not the best person to answer the other questions.
other than that, i am not an equine vet and haven't actually ever castrated a horse (one of the few species i haven't) so i'm probably not the best person to answer the other questions.
Lucy_Nottingham
Well-Known Member
o goody! got that to look forward to next year then!
Gingernags
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
No the animal should not start coming round, however how can you tell that he did can I check? as shivers, slight twitching etc is actually normal in deeply sedated horses.
[/ QUOTE ]
He started jumping around! (I was holding him at the time, he was done at the yard, standing, in his stable)
He ended up having full surgery last Monday though is now home and I have a fist sized open wound to clean out daily and its pretty gross, but has to be done!
Have since had a better chat with the senior partner, who said when they opened the area up, there was a large and disgusting smelling abscess - which they've cut out. Stayed at the vets las week on further IM antibiotics and now is home on more antibiotics in feed and on restriced turnout during the day and in at night.
No the animal should not start coming round, however how can you tell that he did can I check? as shivers, slight twitching etc is actually normal in deeply sedated horses.
[/ QUOTE ]
He started jumping around! (I was holding him at the time, he was done at the yard, standing, in his stable)
He ended up having full surgery last Monday though is now home and I have a fist sized open wound to clean out daily and its pretty gross, but has to be done!
Have since had a better chat with the senior partner, who said when they opened the area up, there was a large and disgusting smelling abscess - which they've cut out. Stayed at the vets las week on further IM antibiotics and now is home on more antibiotics in feed and on restriced turnout during the day and in at night.