E q u i n e News From... Fall / Winter 2008 - 2009 P ERRY V ETERINARY C LINIC , P L L C

Thinking about gelding your ?

Why geld Gelding or is standard practice for male that are not being used for breeding purposes. Geldings can be housed with , and they generally have a more stable disposition. Intact tend to display breeding related behaviors such as whinnying, squealing, biting, pushing, striking, and rearing. Occasionally a young can exhibit sexual frustration or self-mutilation tendencies.

What age As long as a or stallion has both descended into the scrotum, it can be gelded. By 1yr of age most colts have both testicles descended (usually occurs around birth). On average geldings are performed between 8-24 months of age, though the age range is from weanlings (5 month of age) to old retired stallions (20+ years of age).

Stallions gelded after sexual maturity (which occurs between 18-24 months) tend to exhibit more secondary sex characteristics such as increased muscle bulk and definition, a thick, cresty neck, and stallion-like behavior. Mature stallions are often more difficult and dangerous to anesthetize and to recover. The testicular blood vessels are very large and are more apt to bleed. This requires the emasculators to be left on longer, extending surgery time, and increasing surgery costs. Older stallions, especially those who have bred mares, may take 4-6 months to lose their stallion-like behavior after surgery. Some permanently retain learned stallion-like behavior after gelding and are referred to as “proud cut.”

Colts gelded before sexual maturity tend to grow taller and stay leaner, because the absence of testosterone delays growth plate closure. Colts gelded before sexual maturity may never develop stallion-like behavior and are usually much easier to handle during surgery and recovery. For these reasons, it is preferable to geld horses at 7-8 months of age if the owner knows that the colt will not be used for breeding purposes.

Time of year Types of surgery Gelding is an elective surgery, so we try to schedule It is up to your veterinarian to decide which type of surgeries during the spring and fall when there is less surgery is best suited for your horse and your facilities. stress on the animals. Summer is usually avoided This decision is best made during a pre-gelding visit and because of the risk of flies infecting the surgery site and exam. the effect of heat stress on the animal. Winter can be a good time to geld horses as long as extremely cold days Lateral Recumbency (laying down) are avoided and appropriate facilities are available to Can be performed on any size/ age colt or stallion perform the surgery. Safer procedure for surgeon Preparation for gelding Easier for small or poorly descended testicles Pre-weaning to pre-gelding related risks By the time the colt is gelded he should be halter Recovery can be dangerous for Vet and handlers broke. The more training the colt has, the easier it will be to handle when gelded. Start desensitizing the colt Standing Surgery at birth, getting him used to being handled around the neck and scrotal areas. Give the colt baths so that he Allows for smaller area for performing surgery is used to water and the hose. Teach the colt to longe Horse doesn’t need to be recovered (less risk of or free longe. Each of these things will make surgery anesthesia related injuries) and aftercare much easier. Procedure reserved only for easy going stallions, with well-descended testicles Preparation for gelding Colt/ Stallion must be tall in stature Pre-gelding vet visit- 1 month prior to gelding Veterinarian is less protected from being kicked Pre-gelding vaccinations- Due to the risk of tetanus that comes with any surgery, all horses are Abdominal surgery required to be vaccinated for tetanus prior to gelding. COLTS WITH NO VACCINATION HISTORY Only method able to remove cryptorchid MUST BE GIVEN A TETANUS-CONTAINING (undescended) retained in the VACCINE AT LEAST 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO GELDING. Procedure restricted to referral hospital with surgical Colts that have never received their primary series facilities of vaccines would typically receive Westnile EWT (Westnile, Eastern & Western encephalitis, & Preparation for gelding tetanus vaccines), Rabies vaccine, and Calvenza 12 hours prior to surgery- (rhino & flu vaccines) at a pre-gelding visit 3-4 Withhold feed. weeks prior to gelding. The day of surgery the Westnile EWT and Calvenza vaccines would be The day of gelding- boostered. If the surgery is to be performed recumbent, then a Pre-gelding exam- Besides updating vaccines, it is clean dry area of at least 50sq feet is preferable important to have your vet examine your horse to for the average 1000lb horse. If a stall is to be make sure both testicles are descended, to listen used, clean straw is best, but an outside, dry to his heart and lungs, to make sure the horse is grass paddock is ideal. The area needs to be free healthy enough for surgery and anesthesia. The from ice, wet concrete, or anything else slippery pre-gelding visit will also give your veterinarian a since horses are unstable on their feet upon chance to look over the facilities in which the recovery. A clean stall should be available to keep gelding procedure will be performed in case any the horse in for the first 12hrs after surgery. special preparations need to be made. If standing surgery is to be performed make sure an Other routine health maintenance procedures- The area with good footing and lighting is available. pre-gelding visit is a good time to do coggins and Have the horse haltered and in the stall when the vet dental work that might need to be done to arrives (horses are often calmer for sedation in minimize stress on the horse the day of surgery. the stall).

3180 Rte 246 Perry, NY 14530

slots available for equine visits. equine for available slots

vaccines. We have more convenient time time convenient more have We vaccines. Fax: (585) 237-5544 (585) Fax:

Phone: (585) 969-9120 969-9120 (585) Phone: routine work like dental, coggins or or coggins dental, like work routine

To place a farm supply order: order: supply farm a place To This is the best time of year to schedule schedule to year of time best the is This

(585) 969-9115 (585)

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veterinarian during a farm visit. farm a during veterinarian To make an appointment with an an with appointment an make To

Rabies, Westnile EWT and Calvenza by the the by Calvenza and EWT Westnile Rabies,

www.perryvet.com

charge for an exam when a horse is given given is horse a when exam an for charge Perry Vet Clinic are available at: at: available are Clinic Vet Perry

The Perry Veterinary Clinic does not not does Clinic Veterinary Perry The A copy of all newsletters from the the from newsletters all of copy A

from hives to death. to hives from

reaction to anesthetic drugs (why we listen to heart & examine the horse prior to surgery) which can range range can which surgery) to prior horse the examine & heart to listen we (why drugs anesthetic to reaction

radial nerve paralysis (why we provide padding around the head and soft ground to work on), as well as a a as well as on), work to ground soft and head the around padding provide we (why paralysis nerve radial

complications such as aspiration pneumonia (that is why we hold colts off feed before surgery), facial and and facial surgery), before feed off colts hold we why is (that pneumonia aspiration as such complications

though very rare, any horse that undergoes anesthesia is at risk for for risk at is anesthesia undergoes that horse any rare, very though complications- related Anesthesia

need to be reopened by your veterinarian and the horse started on antibiotics. on started horse the and veterinarian your by reopened be to need

hind legs, the horse starts running a fever (>101.9 ºF), or backs off feed then call your vet. The incision may may incision The vet. your call then feed off backs or ºF), (>101.9 fever a running starts horse the legs, hind

20- 30 minutes to re-establish drainage. If the swelling continues to increase and starts to spread down the the down spread to starts and increase to continues swelling the If drainage. re-establish to minutes 30 20-

apply a warm compress to soften any crusts blocking drainage. Immediately follow this with hard exercise for for exercise hard with this follow Immediately drainage. blocking crusts any soften to compress warm a apply

suddenly stops or the swelling seems excessive, then gently wash the incision with warm soapy water and and water soapy warm with incision the wash gently then excessive, seems swelling the or stops suddenly

starts with large amounts of drainage that slowly diminishes until it heals in 2-3weeks. If the drainage drainage the If 2-3weeks. in heals it until diminishes slowly that drainage of amounts large with starts

incision to close and drainage to accumulate. Expect the scrotal sheath to swell. The surgery site normally normally site surgery The swell. to sheath scrotal the Expect accumulate. to drainage and close to incision

this is by far the most common complication. Usually it is a result of insufficient exercise allowing the the allowing exercise insufficient of result a is it Usually complication. common most the far by is this Swelling-

If a steady stream persists for more than ten minutes call your vet. your call minutes ten than more for persists stream steady a If

- Is more common in older stallions, but expect some dripping after every surgery. surgery. every after dripping some expect but stallions, older in common more Is - Bleeding

Complications

sperm will still be present in the ampulla and vas deferens higher up the reproductive tract. reproductive the up higher deferens vas and ampulla the in present be still will sperm

for 4 weeks after surgery. Fertile Fertile surgery. after weeks 4 for mares from separate colts/stallions gelded recently Keep

are used at the veterinarian’s discretion, usually when excessive swelling or discharge occurs. discharge or swelling excessive when usually discretion, veterinarian’s the at used are Antibiotics

legs and area around the wound each day as well. as day each wound the around area and legs

immediately after surgery and continue daily until discharge becomes insignificant. Consider fly spraying the the spraying fly Consider insignificant. becomes discharge until daily continue and surgery after immediately

to help protect this area from scalding as drainage from the surgery site will persist for 2-3 weeks. Start this this Start weeks. 2-3 for persist will site surgery the from drainage as scalding from area this protect help to

(Vaseline / Biozide/ Furazone) on the sparsely-haired skin on the inside thigh and gaskin area area gaskin and thigh inside the on skin sparsely-haired the on Furazone) Biozide/ / (Vaseline ointment Apply

towel or cotton may be sufficient. Over washing can also irritate the skin. the irritate also can washing Over sufficient. be may cotton or towel

easy, and see what the gelding will tolerate. In some cases just blotting or wiping up discharge with a damp damp a with discharge up wiping or blotting just cases some In tolerate. will gelding the what see and easy,

water and soap (Betadine, Chlorohexidine, or dish soap) then rinse, and dry with a towel. Be careful, go go careful, Be towel. a with dry and rinse, then soap) dish or Chlorohexidine, (Betadine, soap and water

the discharge off the scrotal area, tail, and legs each day as long as discharge persists. Use warm warm Use persists. discharge as long as day each legs and tail, area, scrotal the off discharge the clean Gently

directly into the wound, the procedure may be less irritating to the horse. the to irritating less be may procedure the wound, the into directly

after surgery to decrease scrotal swelling if the horse will tolerate it. By spraying water around, but not not but around, water spraying By it. tolerate will horse the if swelling scrotal decrease to surgery after

(run cold water from a garden hose on) the incision daily for 15 minutes during the first few days days few first the during minutes 15 for daily incision the on) hose garden a from water cold (run hose Cold

minutes daily until healing is complete (usually 2-3 weeks after surgery). surgery). after weeks 2-3 (usually complete is healing until daily minutes

daily for three days, then 30 minutes twice a day for 1week, and then once a day for 60 60 for day a once then and 1week, for day a twice minutes 30 then days, three for daily

exercise. The recommendation is that the gelding be exercised for 15 minutes three times times three minutes 15 for exercised be gelding the that is recommendation The exercise.

draining as time goes on. Just turning the gelding out to pasture usually is not enough enough not is usually pasture to out gelding the turning Just on. goes time as draining

gelding, however, more strenuous exercise is needed to keep the incisions open and and open incisions the keep to needed is exercise strenuous more however, gelding,

longeing, poneying, or free exercise. Hand walking is useful the day after for a very stiff stiff very a for after day the useful is walking Hand exercise. free or poneying, longeing,

is critical in keeping the incision draining. This can be accomplished by hand walking, walking, hand by accomplished be can This draining. incision the keeping in critical is Exercise

in clean stall (preferably straw bedding) straw (preferably stall clean in surgery after 12hrs for Confine

Aftercare

Thinking about gelding your horse? horse? your gelding about Thinking (continued from previous page) previous from (continued