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Topic:Castration
Castration in horses is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of the testicles, primarily performed to reduce aggressive behavior and prevent breeding. This operation, typically conducted on young male horses, or colts, can be done using various techniques, including open, closed, or laparoscopic methods. The procedure is generally carried out under anesthesia and requires post-operative care to minimize complications such as infection, swelling, or hemorrhage. Castration can influence a horse's physiology and behavior, often resulting in calmer temperaments and easier handling. This page offers a collection of peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the methodologies, physiological impacts, and behavioral changes associated with castration in equines.
Laparoscopic cryptorchidectomy in standing horses. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of using laparoscopy to remove cryptorchid testes from standing horses. Methods: Prospective clinical study. Methods: Eleven client-owned horses ranging in age from 4 months to 2 years. Methods: Abdominal insufflation was initiated and maintained using a 20 F insufflation tube, attached via a stopcock, to the low pressure regulator on a standard carbon dioxide pressure tank. After trocar and laparoscope placement in the ipsilateral flank the testes were identified. Local anesthesia of the structures to be manipulated was administered t...
A pharmacodynamic study of propofol or propofol and ketamine infusions in ponies undergoing surgery. The pharmacodynamics of infusions of propofol alone (group 1) were compared with the pharmacodynamics of infusions of propofol and ketamine together (group 2) in eight ponies undergoing castration. Anaesthesia was induced with detomidine, 20 micrograms kg-1, followed by ketamine, 2.2 mg kg-1. Subsequently, a bolus dose of propofol, 0.5 mg kg-1, was administered intravenously to both groups, and an infusion of propofol was given for an average of 74 minutes to group 1, and an infusion of propofol and ketamine was given for 60 minutes to group 2. The mean (SD) infusion rates of propofol were 0.3...
Laparoscopic methods for castration of equids. To evaluate 2 laparoscopic techniques for castration of horses. Methods: Prospective, randomized trial. Methods: 6 sexually intact male ponies. Methods: Ponies were anesthetized and placed in dorsal recumbency. By means of restricted randomization, 1 testis in each pony was selected to undergo in situ destruction (i.e., vascular cauterization and ligation with the testis left in situ); the other testis was pulled back into the abdomen and removed. Baseline and stimulated testosterone concentrations were determined preoperatively and postoperatively. After euthanasia, the in situ testes were ex...
XX male pseudohermaphroditism in a horse. A pseudohermaphrodite horse with aggressive stallion-like behavior and ambiguous external genitalia was gonadectomized. The hypoplastic gonads removed from the abdomen were confirmed by histologic examination to be testes. Examination of blood and fibroblasts revealed a 64,XX karyotype.
Reproductive emergencies in the stallion. Topics addressed in this article include complications of castration, scrotal and inguinal hernias, torsion of the spermatic cord, traumatic injuries to the external genitalia, and posthumous collection of spermatozoa. A concise overview of the clinical management of emergency cases is provided.
Resistance of castrated male horses to attempted establishment of the carrier state with equine arteritis virus. Twelve geldings all became infected when inoculated intranasally with the KY-84 strain of equine arteritis virus (EAV), a strain previously shown to be capable of establishing the carrier state in the stallion. With the exception of one animal that showed no effects other than pyrexia, all of the geldings developed clinical signs characteristic of equine viral arteritis (EVA). The geldings were febrile for varying periods within the range of 2-10 days after inoculation. Viraemia occurred from day 2 onwards, for periods varying from 9 to at least 19 days. Nasal shedding of virus began 2-4 days ...
Acute effects of perineural administration of sodium hyaluronate on palmar digital neurectomy sites in horses. Biaxial palmar digital neurectomy of all limbs was performed on 6 mixed-breed castrated adult male horses, using a standard guillotine method. Using a Teflon catheter, 20 mg (2 ml) of sodium hyaluronate (group 1), 2 ml of phosphate-buffered saline solution (group 2), or catheter placement with no infusion (group 3) was applied to 4 (group 1) or 2 (groups 2 and 3) of 8 incisions/horse. Treatments were administered after closure of the neurectomy incision, and the catheter was removed. Horses were evaluated daily for 1 week, then weekly over a 9-week period for evidence of lameness, swelling, an...
Equine self-mutilation syndrome (57 cases). Owners who believed they had a horse with self-mutilating behavior were asked to complete a questionnaire to obtain information on the signalment, clinical history, clinical signs, management, and treatment of the condition. Fifty-two owners of 59 horses responded; 2 cases were omitted because an organic cause was determined. Owners also were asked to complete information for unaffected horses on the same farm. Various breeds were affected, and of the 57 horses, 20 were stallions, 31 were geldings, and 6 were mares. Affected horses tended to develop the condition prior to sexual maturity. Clin...
Preservation of ejaculated and epididymal stallion spermatozoa by cooling and freezing. The suitability of ejaculated and epididymal stallion spermatozoa for cooled storage (5 degrees C) and cryopreservation was examined in 5 ejaculates from each of 6 stallions and in spermatozoa recovered from the cauda epididymidis after castration of these stallions. The percentage of progressively motile spermatozoa, examined by subjective estimation (cooled samples) or by computerized analysis (frozen-thawed samples), was used as parameter. In ejaculated semen samples containing 5 and 25% seminal plasma in a skim milk glucose extender, the lower amount of seminal plasma supported spermatozoa...
Serum levels of testosterone and oestrogens in normal and infertile stallions. The serum concentrations of testosterone and oestrogens were determined in stallions classified as geldings, normal (according to age) or infertile (azoospermic). There were significant differences in testosterone and oestrogen levels between the groups. Normal concentrations of testosterone and total oestrogens were attained after 16 months of age. Castrated and immature horses ( 4 years). The results suggest that serum levels of testosterone and total oestrogens may provide a sensitive index of the endocrine function of the testis in male horses.
Ultrasonographic and quantitative histologic assessment of sequelae to testicular biopsy in stallions. A sample of testicular parenchymal tissue, approximately 2 x 7 x 7 mm, was aseptically removed from 1 testis in each of 9 stallions on day 0. Slight to moderate hemorrhage from the tunica albuginea was observed in 8 stallions, but bleeding from the parenchyma was detected in only 2 stallions. Stallions were castrated 27 days later. Normal development of granulation tissue was evident at the biopsy site, but hematomas were not observed. In situ measurement of the widths of the right and left testes, total scrotal width, and evaluation of testicular echogenicity during ultrasonography were varia...
Standing urogenital surgery. Caslick's, episioplasty, urethroplasty, cervical, and rectovestibular laceration repair are, by preference, performed in the standing patient. Normal castration is performed routinely uneventfully in the standing patient. The duration of the procedures and the ease with which they are accomplished in a standing horse of normal temperament make general anesthesia unnecessary. More invasive procedures, such as removal of urinary bladder calculi in male horses or removal of a neoplastic ovary in a mare, can be accomplished in a standing patient but serious consideration should be given to the use...
Ultrasonographic detection of chronic epididymitis in a stallion. Clinical signs of chronic epididymitis in a stallion included recurrent signs of inguinal pain--retraction of the right testis into the inguinal area, resentment of palpation of the right testis, and right-sided scrotal swelling. The tail of the right epididymis was firm and seemed to be adhered to the testis. The tail of the left epididymis felt firmer than normal. Ultrasonographically, the diameter of the head of the epididymis was considered larger than normal, was hyperechoic in relation to the right testis, and had an irregular border. Several bright 1- to 5-mm-diameter echogenic areas th...
Assessment of an immunoturbidimetric method for measuring equine serum haptoglobin concentrations. Serum haptoglobin was measured by immunoturbidity in Thoroughbreds stabled in three Newmarket yards for nine months. The mean serum haptoglobin value for horses housed in Stable 1 was 1.43 +/- 0.68 g/litre, similar to values in grazing adult ponies. The mean monthly haptoglobin values remained constant. For horses in Stable 2 there was an increase in serum haptoglobin values in June and July whereas, in Stable 3, the increases early in the training season were associated with an increase in serum viral titres. In equine serum, haptoglobin values estimated in g/litre by immunoturbidimetry were ...
A preliminary study of immunological castration in colts. This study tested the effectiveness of a conjugated GnRH vaccine for stimulating antibody production, suppressing testosterone secretion and depressing testicular development in yearling colts. Two colts were allocated to each of three groups, (1) control, (2) subcutaneous and (3) intramuscular vaccinations. Two injections of the vaccine were given 11 weeks apart. Liveweight gain was not affected by vaccination but plasma testosterone concentrations in the treated colts were suppressed and their antibody titres to GnRH were greater than 1:1000. Testicular development in the treated colts also ...
Evaluation of measures taken by ultrasonography and caliper to estimate testicular volume and predict daily sperm output in the stallion. The semen of 26 stallions, 2-20 years of age, was collected once a day for 7 consecutive days to determine daily sperm output (DSO). After the last collection, 17 stallions were castrated. Testicular volume was estimated using two methods. Length, width, height, of each testis were measured by caliper. Length, width, height, cross-sectional area and circumference at the widest point of the testis were measured by ultrasonography. Both caliper and ultrasound measurements were first made in the live animal, and again in vitro. There were no differences in these measurements because of method or ...
The morphology of abdominal and inguinal cryptorchid testes in stallions: a light and electron microscopic study. Eleven unilateral cryptorchid stallions, two to three years old, were castrated at Louisiana State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Five of these cryptorchid cases were abdominal and the rest were inguinal. This study was initiated to document the differences between the abdominal and inguinal equine cryptorchid testes. Specimens were obtained from the abepididymal side of each cryptorchid testes and processed for light and electron microscopic study. The cryptorchid testes were smaller than the scrotal testes, with the abdominal testes being one-fourth the size of the scrotal testes. ...
[Cryptorchism in the horse]. Three different forms of cryptorchidism are differentiated in stallions: inguinal, incomplete and complete abdominal cryptorchidism. Following a description of the anatomy of these various conditions, the diagnostic procedure and subsequent surgical treatment are discussed in detail. Both examination and castration of the cryptorchid stallion should be carried out carefully at all times.
[Anesthesia of horses with xylazine and ketamine. 2. Anesthesia in adult horses]. Xylazine and Ketamine were used for anaesthesia in 250 adult horses. This combination is useful both for induction and maintenance of anaesthesia. The induction with Xylazine and Ketamine has been successful not only with foals but also with high risk patients such as horses with colic. During the maintenance of anaesthesia Xylazine/Ketamine can be used with injectable anaesthetics as well as with volatile anaesthetics at the same time. A form of injection anaesthesia for short-time surgical procedures like castration and wound repair is presented. The maintenance of a Thiobarbiturate/Guaifene...
Visceral prolapse after castration in the horse: a review of 18 cases. During a 10 year period, 18 horses were treated surgically because of visceral prolapse after castration. Surgery was successful in six cases of omental prolapse and in eight out of 12 cases of intestinal prolapse. To minimise the risk of visceral prolapse, the authors prefer half-closed castration, with proper ligation of the parietal vaginal tunic, to open castration. If adequate treatment is started promptly, prognosis in cases of visceral prolapse is favourable.
Testicular growth, hormone concentrations, seminal characteristics and sexual behaviour in stallions. Puberty was studied using 15 colts of Quarter Horse phenotype. Total scrotal width was measured every 8 weeks from 48 to 96 weeks. Blood samples were taken from 8 colts at 8, 16 and 24 weeks and then every 4 weeks until 100 weeks to measure changes in LH, FSH and testosterone concentrations. Seminal collections were attempted monthly from 48 to 64 weeks and every 2 weeks thereafter until puberty resumed every 3rd day from 96 weeks for 15 ejaculates. For all collections, times to erection, mount and ejaculation and seminal characteristics were recorded. Age at puberty was defined as the first e...
Incisional hernias in the horse. Incidence and predisposing factors. Medical records of 210 horses that survived ventral midline celiotomy for at least 4 months were examined and owners were queried to determine factors contributing to incisional hernia formation. The incidence rate of incisional hernias within 4 months was 16%. Factors significantly associated with occurrence of incisional hernias were incisional drainage, closure of the linea alba with chromic gut suture material, previous midline celiotomy, excessive incisional edema, castrated male sex, postoperative leukopenia, and postoperative pain (colic). Factors not significantly associated with occur...
Leiomyoma of the tunica albuginea in a horse. A leiomyoma of the left testicle was found in a 7-year-old Arabian stallion at routine castration. The neoplasm consisted of interlacing bundles of well-differentiated, haphazardly arranged, smooth muscle cells attached superficially to the tunica albuginea.
[Towards a veterinary-professional standard concerning castration in stallions]. Complications following castration are increasingly often regarded as unacceptable by the owners of horses. A veterinary surgeon can only be held responsible for the consequences of his professional procedure when castration is not performed according to the rule (lege artis), i.e. if the surgeon failed to act in accordance with professional veterinary standards. So far, there is no consensus concerning the standard regarding the castration of stallions as various techniques are being used, and as some veterinary surgeons consider complications to be a normal risk in surgery. Visceral prolapse...
Monorchidism in the horse. Six horses with monorchidism, identified at surgery for cryptorchidectomy, are reported. All six presented with a single scrotal testis. Following surgical removal of one testis, they were either hormonally, anatomically or behaviourally determined to be geldings. Three other horses reported in the literature are reviewed. Of these nine cases of monorchidism, eight were thought to be caused by testicular degeneration and one by testicular agenesis. The vaginal process was present in all of the former and absent in the latter. The left side was involved in five of these eight horses. In seven, ...
