Standing castration
- The operation can be performed at home, provided the conditions are suitable.
- A well-lit stable with a clean, deep straw bed is ideal.
- Sedation and local anaesthesia are used.
If the colts are castrated standing, then the entrance to the abdomen can’t be closed, and there is a very small risk that the intestine may come out of the castration incisions. This can be fatal.
It is also not always possible to close off all the blood vessels and, therefore, there is a risk of haemorrhage. This can be fatal if it is profuse and not dealt with promptly.
The skin incisions are left open to aid post-operative drainage.
Castration under general anaesthetic
If the castration is performed at the surgery under a general anaesthetic, then the entrance to the abdomen can be closed and all blood vessels tied off.
This virtually eliminates the risk of the intestine coming through the incision or excessive haemorrhage, but does carry the risk of general anaesthesia.
For further advice on which castration technique is most appropriate for your horse, please speak to one of our vets.
Rig castration
If two testicles can’t be felt in the scrotum and the animal is very young, you could wait a while to see if they appear as they grow.
If you can’t wait or they don’t appear, then the horse is known as a rig and the castration will usually be done under a general anaesthetic.
This may involve an incision into the abdomen to search for the retained testicle(s).
Sometimes, rig castrations may be performed standing or under a general anaesthetic by laparoscopy. This is a form of keyhole surgery.
Post-operation
Colts should be stabled for a few hours immediately post castration to monitor for excessive haemorrhage or anything coming through the incisions.
Some bleeding is to be expected after castration, but you should be able to count the drops of blood, and it should only last for a few hours.
The scrotum will usually swell to a certain degree, but should remain non-painful, and there should be minimal discharge.
If everything appears to be normal the day after surgery, then the horse is usually best turned out. This will help to reduce the post-operative swelling as they move around.
You should contact the practice immediately if you are concerned about the amount of haemorrhage, discharge or swelling, or if anything can be seen coming through either incision.