Equine castration – special scenarios
Standing equine castration
Watch this explanation of standing castration (9:53 min) – see on youtube
Did you identify the error in her explanation? Hint: It was the part about the function of the epididymis. What part of the gonad actually produces testosterone? And she gave her drugs after the fact; they are much more effective preop.
Exercises
Now work through this exercise for more on standing castrations:
Level B
Key Takeaways
Evaluate your patient. Will he be safe if he feels pain or something funny? If he isn’t safe without pain, abort the plan and offer a recumbent castration.
Stay close to the horse and with your handler on the same side
Give your preop medications (NSAID +/- antibiotic) PREOP.
Do not use xylazine alone as your sedation. Xylazine+butorphanol or detomidine +butorphanol would be much safer.
Block the spermatic cords and the skin with lidocaine.
If complications (hemorrhage, evisceration), you will want to lie him down. Be prepared for that possibility.
Resources
Video compilation– no video is perfect!
