One for the gelding owners.

[BBP]

An ‘is this normal’ question.

Is it normal for the region of the gelding scar to be quite ‘full’ like in the photo below? I’m sure previous horses haven’t had that much tissue there but sadly I don’t have the other boys to compare to now. No idea if it is completely normal or if his gelding scar is relevant to his gut and hind end issues.

 

[ycbm]

Not normal at all in my experience, sorry BBP

 

[doodle]

Nope not normal.

 

[ihatework]

I’d get a vet check on that

 

[Gloi]

Could be a hernia

 

[Caol Ila]

I’ve never seen that. Not in my current gelding or other ones I’ve owned. That’s n=3.

 

[Barklands]

As others have said I have never seen that, please keep us updated though as I would be interested to know what it’s from!

 

[BBP]

I had a feeling you would all say that.

Little weirdo has all the things. Vet visit it is. Poor little fella.

 

[Boulty]

Nope not normal sorry

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

An ‘is this normal’ question.

Is it normal for the region of the gelding scar to be quite ‘full’ like in the photo below? I’m sure previous horses haven’t had that much tissue there but sadly I don’t have the other boys to compare to now. No idea if it is completely normal or if his gelding scar is relevant to his gut and hind end issues.

View attachment 142526

No I would get the vet asap to check that.

 

[Ratface]

In my opinion, not normal. As above, please consult an equine veterinarian.

 

[Surbie]

Not normal at all. Sorry @BBP

 

[Sandstone1]

While it is not "normal" My gelding is like this. Vet checked it and also scanned the area and found nothing to be concerned about. If I remember correctly it is just fluid. I would get vet to check anyway to be safe but its not necessarily anything to worry about. Mine is just soft with no sign on anything being left behind so to speak! Vet is best person to advise. As I said, in my geldings case while not normal its not necessarily a problem. Good luck, hope its ok!

 

[BBP]

It comes and goes, this morning it looked ‘normal’. I’ll definitely get him vet checked though. I had been wondering if his gelding scar could be affecting him, hence paying more attention lately. Shamefully I can’t say I would know for sure how long it has been like this. Which either means it is just recent, or that I’m really unobservant (given it comes and goes that could be the case).

 

[Lucky Snowball]

I’ve not seen that before. I hope the vet confirms it’s nothing to worry about.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

I owned my colt from 6 months old and watched him being gelded so I know everything was removed. Once healed he sometimes had what appeared to be one testicle and although he was never riggy I had him checked out just for peace of mind. Vet confirmed a hernia which never bothered him so while it’s not common for a gelding to have a filled sac it does happen. Like your gelding some days his was there and other days it wasn’t but worth a check with your vet so you know for sure what it is.

 

[BBP]

I owned my colt from 6 months old and watched him being gelded so I know everything was removed. Once healed he sometimes had what appeared to be one testicle and although he was never riggy I had him checked out just for peace of mind. Vet confirmed a hernia which never bothered him so while it’s not common for a gelding to have a filled sac it does happen. Like your gelding some days his was there and other days it wasn’t but worth a check with your vet so you know for sure what it is.

Interesting thank you. So it does seem like a hernia is a possible then. With the way he moves I can’t be 100% that it doesn’t bother him. I need to pay more attention now to when it is visible and when it isn’t and if he shows a notable difference in movement / behaviour. I’ve got a bit of a monster week work wise so will have to try to cram in a vet visit somewhere.

 

[Dave's Mam]

A young gelding on my livery had similar & it was a hydrocele, a build up of fluid.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

I have had two that had that. With one the new owner wouldn't take my word for it that it was alright, was convinced it still had one ball and had it operated on. As I had told him there was nothing there, knew there wasn't as I had held them while they were clamped. The other owner just ignored it and it was fine.

 

[Nonjumper]

Interesting thank you. So it does seem like a hernia is a possible then. With the way he moves I can’t be 100% that it doesn’t bother him. I need to pay more attention now to when it is visible and when it isn’t and if he shows a notable difference in movement / behaviour. I’ve got a bit of a monster week work wise so will have to try to cram in a vet visit somewhere.

Take videos of him both with and without the swelling as it will be easier to see if there are any differences in his movement.

 

[gunnergundog]

Tom Beech (Osteopathic Vet) is hot on gelding scars. If he has a clinic near you, may be worth a check. What I would say though, is that a large percentage of the geldings he sees appear to have an issue relating to such problems. Coincidence or what?

 

[ycbm]

This has dragged back a distant memory of a friend who was forever being asked why her gelding wasn't wearing a stallion disk. He really looked like he had a decent pair, but it never bothered him.
.

 

[BBP]

Tom Beech (Osteopathic Vet) is hot on gelding scars. If he has a clinic near you, may be worth a check. What I would say though, is that a large percentage of the geldings he sees appear to have an issue relating to such problems. Coincidence or what?

Yeah when you look at some of the traction issues the adhesions can form, it’s surprising we don’t give it more consideration. I think the figure I read was 1 in 3 geldings were negatively affected by their scar in a study. Which is a lot of horses.

I have an excellent osteopath thankfully, as Tom isn’t that easy for me to get to and isn’t super easy to communicate with, although she does admit to being baffled by his hiccups. We thought maybe hind gut acidity affecting diaphragm. But I need to get the vets to confirm no hernia before I get her looking at it.

 

[foxy1]

My sister's gelding had this, it was a small hernia. Repaired as insurance paid (cost about £1500 I believe) and he recovered well in a few weeks
ETA: my own gelding had similar, but his didn't 'come and go' like my sister's gelding. My boy's swelling turned out to be a cyst which was easily removed.

 

[BBP]

My sister's gelding had this, it was a small hernia. Repaired as insurance paid (cost about £1500 I believe) and he recovered well in a few weeks
ETA: my own gelding had similar, but his didn't 'come and go' like my sister's gelding. My boy's swelling turned out to be a cyst which was easily removed.

That’s really helpful, thank you. Looks like my pony purchase budget will instead be a ‘pony puncture repair kit’ budget instead.

 

[Hallo2012]

deffo a hernia not a testicle

 

[Polos Mum]

Is it there consistently or have you just spotted it ?

I have seen the empty 'sack' fill when they get on spring grass - must be fluid as it disappears after a few days. A little like grass glands but in the wrong place. I know one arab that looks like his have grown back for the first week on spring fields

Def worth a vet discussion but could be a range of things.

Even hernia can pop in and out so be prepared for when the vet comes he's sucked it in and they can't spot anything!

 

[BBP]

Is it there consistently or have you just spotted it ?

I have seen the empty 'sack' fill when they get on spring grass - must be fluid as it disappears after a few days. A little like grass glands but in the wrong place. I know one arab that looks like his have grown back for the first week on spring fields

Def worth a vet discussion but could be a range of things.

Even hernia can pop in and out so be prepared for when the vet comes he's sucked it in and they can't spot anything!

Just noticed it over the last few weeks, comes and goes. I’ve sent photos to vets and they will come and scan him, but need a day when there is hopefully something to see!

 

[hellybelly6]

Is it a new finding? My gelding had this all his life and he could retract it, like a ‘real boy’. Everybody thought he was a rig, cut late etc etc. after asking several vets, it turns out to have been a botched gelding, in that the thing inside was his epididymis which had herniated into his empty scrotal sac. However, best have it checked by a vet or send the vet a photo

 

[bubsqueaks]

Just off to check mine .......