Undescended testicle in prospective horse

[chrisley]

My prospective three year old flew through his vetting with flying colors with the exception of having one undescended testicle. I’m waiting for a call back from my vet, but in the meantime my thinking is to try and locate the testicle via ultrasound and proceed if it’s in the inguinal canal (odds are it will be).

But if it can’t be found or is deep in the abdomen, requiring proper surgery, would you proceed with the sale? I’m worried about recovery times and risk, not the financial cost per se. It just seems like a lot to purchase, insure and then immediately put him on a table and cut him open!

Has anyone had this done?

 

[ihatework]

I’d try and negotiate a deposit on the horse but the sellers get the surgery done with the balance to pay when the horse is ready to leave.

 

[nutjob]

I would be asking myself why the current owner has not done the right thing and had this dealt with already. At least they should have told you before you went ahead with the vetting, then if it wasn't something you wanted to take on you could have saved that cost.

A friend had a missing testicle removed but her horse was supposedly a gelding. The missing testicle was small and difficult to locate so the surgery was expensive and the recovery time was a few months but it was successful in the end.

 

[ihatework]

I would be asking myself why the current owner has not done the right thing and had this dealt with already. At least they should have told you before you went ahead with the vetting, then if it wasn't something you wanted to take on you could have saved that cost.

A friend had a missing testicle removed but her horse was supposedly a gelding. The missing testicle was small and difficult to locate so the surgery was expensive and the recovery time was a few months but it was successful in the end.

I’m giggling at your name, very relevant to this post!!!

 

[Asha]

Im assuming that he was advertised as a colt , so you would have known he needed castration ?

One of mine had an undescended testicle, so had the op. I have to say his recovery was the best recovery out of any of my others. He had to have box rest for a week to 10 days, but handled it well. The swelling was minimal and no dripping blood. I was initially concerned about him having a GA but all in all great op and it wouldnt worry me too much to go down that route again. It cost approx £700 as opposed to £250

ETA : he was born with an inguinal hernia, so we where always aware this could the case

 

[Fransurrey]

I would say negotiate the price accordingly and go ahead if he's otherwise perfect for you.

 

[QuantockHills]

mine had the op before I bought him as a 3 year old. never caused him any problems and he's fab!

 

[Roxylola]

While this is better than the usual form of trip trap on the bridge...
How many horses does the OP have? What about the move to America? Is this 3 year old for the riding school teen who wants to do low level dressage on the international para horse?
Interesting post history - just saying...

 

[chrisley]

While this is better than the usual form of trip trap on the bridge...
How many horses does the OP have? What about the move to America? Is this 3 year old for the riding school teen who wants to do low level dressage on the international para horse?
Interesting post history - just saying...

I think you’re confusing me and another poster. I’m the one moving to America, and currently have one Spanish horse and maybe a Luso (the horse in question on this thread) on the way. The mother looking at a para horse for her teen is someone else.

 

[chrisley]

I would be asking myself why the current owner has not done the right thing and had this dealt with already. At least they should have told you before you went ahead with the vetting, then if it wasn't something you wanted to take on you could have saved that cost.

A friend had a missing testicle removed but her horse was supposedly a gelding. The missing testicle was small and difficult to locate so the surgery was expensive and the recovery time was a few months but it was successful in the end.

He’s a Luso colt based in Portugal, and I’m buying straight from the breeder. It’s common to leave colts intact there so I don’t think he even knew it hadn’t descended, and I don’t think he would do the surgery beforehand and let me buy after either. He doesn’t see the need to geld at all!

 

[ihatework]

He’s a Luso colt based in Portugal, and I’m buying straight from the breeder. It’s common to leave colts intact there so I don’t think he even knew it hadn’t descended, and I don’t think he would do the surgery beforehand and let me buy after either. He doesn’t see the need to geld at all!

That makes sense for that type of horse.
If you really like him then it’s just a risk you need to be aware of. I assume you have piro tested him!!

 

[chrisley]

Im assuming that he was advertised as a colt , so you would have known he needed castration ?

One of mine had an undescended testicle, so had the op. I have to say his recovery was the best recovery out of any of my others. He had to have box rest for a week to 10 days, but handled it well. The swelling was minimal and no dripping blood. I was initially concerned about him having a GA but all in all great op and it wouldnt worry me too much to go down that route again. It cost approx £700 as opposed to £250

ETA : he was born with an inguinal hernia, so we where always aware this could the case

I assume it was inguinal then? I’m inclined to take on an inguinal procedure but not so much an abdominal one!

 

[chrisley]

That makes sense for that type of horse.
If you really like him then it’s just a risk you need to be aware of. I assume you have piro tested him!!

Oh yes, that was the first thing I did! He’s properly negative (as in full negative, not hovering below the positive line). I’m about €1,000 deep in vetting this horse so far and it would cost me that much again to get started on a new one but not keen on major surgery.

 

[chrisley]

The seller’s vet is going to come out and fish around to try to find it.

It’s almost absurd I thought my lesson was to piro test before vetting, but apparently it’s also to check for a matching pair of balls before spending $$$ on the piro test!

 

[Equi]

Hope they find it without having to go too deep!

 

[Roxylola]

The seller’s vet is going to come out and fish around to try to find it.

It’s almost absurd I thought my lesson was to piro test before vetting, but apparently it’s also to check for a matching pair of balls before spending $$$ on the piro test!

I think you’re confusing me and another poster. I’m the one moving to America, and currently have one Spanish horse and maybe a Luso (the horse in question on this thread) on the way. The mother looking at a para horse for her teen is someone else.

Sorry - you can kind of see why I was suspicious, 2 fairly rare and complex vet issues and when I added in the teen dressage rider I got 2+2=5!
Hopefully the stray ball is quickly and easily located

 

[Fransurrey]

He’s a Luso colt based in Portugal, and I’m buying straight from the breeder. It’s common to leave colts intact there so I don’t think he even knew it hadn’t descended, and I don’t think he would do the surgery beforehand and let me buy after either. He doesn’t see the need to geld at all!

Would the vendor be open to having the surgery done there and you paying costs and livery before transporting him? Just wondering if it would be a) cheaper and b) easier to deal with post-operatively due to the drier climate.

 

[chrisley]

Would the vendor be open to having the surgery done there and you paying costs and livery before transporting him? Just wondering if it would be a) cheaper and b) easier to deal with post-operatively due to the drier climate.

Yes, if we were to go ahead then the surgery would be performed there and the breeder would do the aftercare. I think it would be nicer for the horse to recover in a familiar environment for one, but also he’d need to be gelded before he came to my yard anyway.

 

[chrisley]

Sorry - you can kind of see why I was suspicious, 2 fairly rare and complex vet issues and when I added in the teen dressage rider I got 2+2=5!
Hopefully the stray ball is quickly and easily located

It’s definitely an unfortunate combo, although thankfully both horses are otherwise fit and well! Piro is very common on the continent too, especially in southern Spain, but no one tests for it in the UK, it’s only a problem if you’re moving to the US or Canada (maybe other places too but not that I’m aware of).

 

[Polos Mum]

my 3 y/o would 'suck' one of his in out of handling access when you started to poke him !

I'd seen both when he didn't know I was looking - so I knew both were there - but if I tried to feel - one would disappear!

He had to have a tonne of sedation to 'drop' it when the vet came - hopefully yours is just shy and he can be easily encouraged to share it.

Presumably the vetting was a vet that is local to the seller - I would also speak to your vet (that would have to perform the procedure) to get a full idea of costs and potential risks both short and longer term.

 

[teddy_]

Are you able to keep him entire for a while?

I had a little stallion where one testicle didn’t drop until he was about five.

 

[chrisley]

my 3 y/o would 'suck' one of his in out of handling access when you started to poke him !

I'd seen both when he didn't know I was looking - so I knew both were there - but if I tried to feel - one would disappear!

He had to have a tonne of sedation to 'drop' it when the vet came - hopefully yours is just shy and he can be easily encouraged to share it.

Presumably the vetting was a vet that is local to the seller - I would also speak to your vet (that would have to perform the procedure) to get a full idea of costs and potential risks both short and longer term.

I really hope this is what he’s doing. Just a shy one

Still waiting from a call from my vet but likely won’t happen now until tomorrow. It’s mostly the risk I’m worried about in the case of major surgery, although it sounds like the overwhelming odds are that it’ll just be in the canal which can be performed in situ, so to speak. Apparently the local vet is taking an ultrasound machine out tomorrow.

He’ll be done locally in any case.

 

[chrisley]

Are you able to keep him entire for a while?

I had a little stallion where one testicle didn’t drop until he was about five.

Theoretically yes, but he’d have to be kept in an inconvenient place (not nice for me) and separate from other horses (not nice for him). Plus it may never come down in the end.

 

[teddy_]

Theoretically yes, but he’d have to be kept in an inconvenient place (not nice for me) and separate from other horses (not nice for him). Plus it may never come down in the end.

Fair enough. I know it’s hard finding anywhere that’s able or willing to accommodate colts and stallions in a way that works for both parties.

Just a thought .

 

[chrisley]

Fair enough. I know it’s hard finding anywhere that’s able or willing to accommodate colts and stallions in a way that works for both parties.

Just a thought .

I do sometimes wish I lived in lovely Portugal where geldings are the rarity! No one bats an eyelid at stallions there.

 

[teddy_]

I do sometimes wish I lived in lovely Portugal where geldings are the rarity! No one bats an eyelid at stallions there.

I know, it’s such a shame that people seem to work themselves into a frenzy over here with stallions.

I totally understand covering stallions can be more difficult to manage, but mine was kept and treated like a normal horse and quelle surprise - he behaved like one!

 

[tda]

Was just doing some filing and saw this vet bill from earlier this year, 20 month old colt only had one testicle presenting.
The cost for surgery was £1737.04, it went well, the testicle was in the tube? so they didnt have to go any further.

 

[chrisley]

Oof, that’s quite steep @tda! How was his recovery?

 

[chrisley]

The vet found the offending testicle via ultrasound and I’m told it’s barely outside the scrotum, not even fully into the inguinal canal. However a lot is being lost in translation so I’m waiting for the full report to arrive, but it sounds optimistic.

 

[SpotsandBays]

Fingers crossed for you!
Mine was a lot younger when I had him gelded but it’s a funny story:
I had the vet out initially after I bought him to vaccinate and also to talk about gelding, only one testi was visible so he said to wait - I was sure I’d seen two but thats fine. A couple of months later I booked a gelding visit and yet again vet could only see one so mentioned we might need surgery. Im baffled as I had definitely seen (and felt!) two. Vets giving me a weird side eye as if I’m mental. I wait again, and start taking photos of my horses balls and sending them over to the other vet as proof I’m not a nutter. He agrees there is definitely two but they only both pop out when it’s warmed up later in the day rather than the morning, so we book in again, slightly later appointment. About an hour before the vet is due I rug him up so he’s nice and warm, the second balls drops out. Vet arrives, rushes straight into the stable and grabs them both. Other vet then gets him sedated etc and vet 1 does not let go until they’re just about to start the procedure