Mustang Cruz - castration surgery - Part Two

5-30-09 Mustang Cruz, 3 year old stud, being castrated. WARNING: not for the squeamish. This is the second part of the video that shows him sedated and being layed down and prepped. This is the actual surgical part. Incision and "emasulator" (the tool used to crush the cord) and removal of both testicles. This is not stitched up, but left open post op to allow for drainage as it heals from the inside out.

The surgery was flawless. However, castrating adult horses has a higher result of post op complications because of the increased blood supply after puberty. That blood supply needs to find another place to go. Of no fault of the vets, Cruz did develop an infection 10 days following the surgery. He had a high fever and it threatened to go systemic and was very dangerous for a while. After lengthy treatment for another 4 weeks, antibiotics, betadine scrubs and keeping the wound open to drain, lunging to increase blood flow, etc, we were able to prevent him from having to undergo the entire surgery again for a D&C. He's a trooper, considering that he was barely handlable going into needing all of this treatment.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• horse
• mustang
• gentling
• castration
• gelding
• surgery
• vet

[barbhorses]

It is very common for horses of this breed to generally be well mannered and sensible even if they are stallions or not handled very much. Mares are more standoffish than males and do much better when handled as fillies. Cruz does look like a Sampson bloodlined horse though. I would bet that was one of his grandsires. I own two of this breed and I wouldn't want another breed of horse. Sadly, they are nearly extinct.

[barbhorses]

His good behavior isn't surprising for his breed (specifically the Spanish type Sulphur horses, not mustangs in general). I do think that Cruz makes a nicer gelding than stallion, especially being that you don't know his pedigree (Cruz came from a "puppy mill" type situation as the Spanish type Sulphur horses are the very last of the Spanish horses of Old California. They were found just 40 miles from the Old Spanish Trail in South West Utah and are historically connected to the Spanish of CA.)

[whisperkodiak]

@vicpumpkin My knowledge of castrations/neuters is that the testicles are considered to be "external" and do not require sterile environments. I worked at a vet clinic for a while and they did not go sterile for cat neuters.

[elvisfan20]

Ouch!

[DrPepperandOreos]

@vicpumpkin

That I've seen, they basically do it just about anywhere. There's some vids where they have them outside on the grass.

[vicpumpkin]

I don't know too much about this kind of operation, but it doesn't look like it's taking place in a very sterile or clean environment. I mean, it doesn't have to be the nicest facility in the world, but it doesn't look like they've bothered to clean the stall at all. Is this common?