question about castration??

jackessex

jackessex

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hi all my yearling is due to be castrated on tues,and i am a little concerned as he has to be starved from 6pm the night before and op is being done at 10am the next day i understand that vet is doing it under GA (mild one)but im worrying about him :( its a very long time for a horse not to eat anything hes norm out 24/7 i am also concerned about the colic risks when he goes back out??or am i being silly please put my mind at rest!!
 
Cortez said:
Castrations are not usually done under a general for horses under 3; why is your horse being done this way?
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Yes, this is my question also. 16hours seems excessive to starve the horse, no food after midnight is what we are told if we have to starve anything for a blood test etc (Although GA may well be different of course)
 
Re the starvation time that is completely normal for GA, I've been told anything from midday to 8pm before when op being done the following morning. Horses that are scoped are also usually starved for similar length of time

Just ensure your horses bed isn't edible like straw. When he comes round and has fully recovered from the GA just offer a small haynet in his stable so he can pick at that so wont be starving and gorge on the grass when he goes back out
 
hi apparently it is a very mild ga and thats the way both vets at my paractice do it,they dont knock them right out it will prob still be done standing,thats what i have been told anyway.
Thankyou maxine1985 that puts my mind at rest a little :)
 
Still no reason why it cant be done with sedation standing up, it seems most vets will not do it this way anymore, my 4 year old was done with sedation standing up with no problems personally I would not put a horse through a GA unless it was the only option be it mild or not.
 
I don't understand what a mild general anaesthetic is? I thought if you have a general it knocks you out i.e. renders you unconscious (for want of a better word) If this is the case then the horse would not be able to stand, anymore than I could under a general. I am genuinely interested in learning more about this, fascinating.
 
Unless his nuts have not dropped properly I cannot see why a GA is needed.

All that should happen is IV standing sedation in a clean box or paddock. Handler on his head, bucket of warm water and 20 minutes later you will be the owner of a gelding with a glazed look on his face and a jab of antibiotics in the IV. Leave him out to wander about and help prevent swelling.
 
If he's being castrated standing then it is not a general anaesthetic, it is sedation. He would not normally need to be starved beforehand, just not fed afterwards until he was completely "round" from the drugs (usually a couple of hours: this is so he doesn't choke). Honestly, I'd either have a word with your vets, or go to another practise as this doesn't sound like normal practice.
 
I suppose it depends on where you are. My 10 month old was put completely out in the field before being trussed up like a chicken when he was castrated. It was really difficult to see, because he went down like a sack of spuds. Both testices had been palpated prior to the operation, but I'm not sure if my vet thought he might have trouble locating one which is why he was put out completely.
 
Yes, 20 + years ago in the US this is how castrations were routinely done (may still be), but even that isn't a GA, and they don't need to be starved beforehand.
 
The starving doesnt sound right in my opinion .. Went with a friend to have her youngster gelded, he was treated no different before not told to starve etc and was completely knocked out rather than just sedated. Was at the vets clinic for a few hours to recover but then loaded up and came home and was the usual needs to be out and moving to stop swelling advice. For a "complicated" gelding it was very straight forward!

Eta - this was earlier this year, so recent!
 
We geld an average of 6 each year with GA - in the field. It is a mild GA (only lasts 10-20 minutes) and have never had to withhold feed - and never had a complication. IMHO - and my vet's - it is safer for everyone, cleaner, less risk in the event of a complication. The oldest stallion we've done this way was a 17hh 6yo - no problem at all.

We harrow and top a suitable field at least 6 weeks before ops - to ensure it is as 'clean' as possible. Colts are left out afterwards and never had an infection - and only one or two who have swollen up more than normal (but cold hosing got that down in under 48 hours.)
 
Some vets now will only do knock down (general) castrations for various reasons.
Often shetlands or small ponies are done general as they are so low down
 
ok thankyou all for your replies now i am confused lol,i am going to phone the vet that is due to be doing it tomorrow as im really not happy with starving him for all that time and the fact that they have asked me to stable him when he is used to being out with his mate,he will fret and hes a lovely trusting boy i dont want to stress him for no reason,i may phone round a few vets and get some other opinions.Re the size thing he is about 13.2 at mo so not tiny.
 
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