Swelling and bleeding post gelding?

[Gingernags]

Finn had his snippety snip - fuzzy plums no more - just over 10 days ago (just over 9 months old). He had a lot of post snip swelling, a LOT, though the photo I took and sent to the vet, they said its normal for some to have that much swelling, as did some other breeders - so I carried on with the bute and antibiotics he was given.

The sheath swelling which looked awful and sore had gone on Sunday though the bit behind, where his fuzzies used to be, is still very swollen and nasty looking.

Anyway he's had a bit of new blood on his back legs twice now, and the sheath is swelling again and the cuts are looking very angry. I've not touched anything and left well alone except fly spray applied VERY carefully around his back legs, not anywhere on painful bits.

I'm thinking infection? I can easily give the vets a ring but this is our first colt and therefore gelding (always bred fillies before) so I don't know what to expect as "normal" before hassling the vets if its nothing?

He's still stuffing his food and seems perky enough and bites your bum or legs if you are rude enough to bend over and look at his bits so he's OK generally.

Otherwise if people think not really bad enough for vet/anti b's, I have teramycin spray, iodine spray, chlorahexidine powder, hibiscrub - so could bathe/spray/powder as necessary if he doesn't kill me in the process

Advice please!?

 

[Lucy_Nottingham]

Ok, swelling is totally normal, think of it this way, if your just got chopped off your body would be like WTF?!!!!! the swelling is body fluid with lots of nice WBC, antibodies etc in there to prevent infection.

If the blood is ALOT then that is a problem, but if it is NOT coming out when you look at it on a regular basis then its not a problem its if it is....... no pouring, but a continuous stream/tricle of blood that is bad, drips here and there are normal, there is, after all a big hole where its do-dads used to be!

Ensure there is no dirt of nasty hay/shavings etc there, I am guessing the vet didnt stitch up afterwards, so left the wound open to drain (Which is correct!) if this is the case then it should be fine as if anything had got in it has an exit route!

Just keep an eye on it, if its remains for much longer, or gets BIGGER then call the vet.

If you can touch it (GENTLY!) see if there is any heat around the area (not directly on it as I highly doubt he would enjoy that) if it feels abnormally warm, then again call the vets just to be on the safe side

If there is any nasty stuff round the area,luke warm/cool water just wipe it off, maybe with a tiniest bit of hibi in.... nothing too strong as that open wound goes into the abdominal cavity, so will sting like a mo-fo!

Hope this helps, he is a very handsome boy!

 

[Gingernags]

Hmmm. Its the fact the swelling on the sheath came back that is worrying me. The bit behind I'd have expected to stay swollen longer, as thats where the cuts are and where the nasty work was done and the bleeding was... but for the sheath to go down as expected, them come back sounds like infection spreading rather than swelling receding?

Why did I know boy bits would be difficult???

 

[Darkly_Dreaming_Dex]

My cob was very swollen- like a cow udder- and took days to stop dripping

The sheath is the lowest point so gravity will cause any excess fluid to pool there. What would worry me more is the cuts looking angry. IMO i would rather call the vet out and be told i was an overanxious owner than risk the foal's health.
FWIW My vet advises taking the temperature regularly if you suspect infection. If you get a rise then its definately time for antibiotics

 

[Gingernags]

Taking his temp eh? That could be fun... hates his ears being touched and not sure he'll appreciate any action at t'other end, we can but try!!!

Might have a chat with the vet anyway then, see what they think.

 

[Lucy_Nottingham]

all you can do is ask

as DDD said, they might jsut say ur an anxious owner, but better safe than sorry!!!

Id say boy bits are awkward, but Im a big gelding person m'self, cant be dealing with seasons and all that mlarky! hehe

 

[GreedyGuts]

10 days post gelding things should be going down and healing up. Sounds like your boy has an infection going on in there. Get the vet out and they will probably open the wound up again and get any mank out and put him on some antibiotics.

The infection is unlikely to make him systemically ill, but unless it gets sorted out now then it may result in scirrhous cord, where the infection becomes deep seated and remains in the scrotum until the affected tissue is removed.