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Discussion on castration gone ugly..
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Member:
Dres
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Posted on Monday, Oct 9, 2006 - 9:53 am:
we had some troubles here this week... Colt was castrated... it went bad after 24 hours... strange i know... he became a bleeder..? it was nasty... his black legs were total blood ... a vein somehow opened and was pulsing blood out ... I thought he would bleed to death... vet assured he would not ...but the vet was concerned, when he called in for back up.... and of course a Sunday ..
got the bleeding to stop .. he is in a stall with mom now... no activity... he is so swollen ... but i guess i would rather that then him bleeding like a stuffed... well like a bleeder...
So i separate he and mom at night so mom can lay down for a bit.. we put the stalls back together, so no longer a big foaling stall... when i went out at 4 am to put them back together , mare was dripping milk all over , and colt was , well ANGRY HUNGRY... now remember this is a tall colt and he could be weaned now... funny to see him attack mom and nurse ... size and all...
In the long run , i am glad i had not weaned him yet.. he needs mom now for comfort and to help keep him quiet...
Got to say if i did not have bad horse luck , i would not have ANY luck at all..
On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots..
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Member:
Hwood
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Posted on Monday, Oct 9, 2006 - 10:09 am:
OUCH. Poor fellow. How awful for you and for both horses, Ann. So glad you were able to get the bleeding under control. I have heard of instances in which vets waited too long before getting concerned.
Never having raised foals, it would seem to me, from your experience, that it is better to castrate before weaning . . . as long as the castration is done soon enough.
Years ago, I was hired to train a horse whose brother was his dad . . .
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Member:
Warwick
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Posted on Monday, Oct 9, 2006 - 12:35 pm:
Scary story, Ann. Glad to hear he's doing better now. Know exactly what you mean about luck...
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Member:
Boomer
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Posted on Monday, Oct 9, 2006 - 1:31 pm:
I'm glad things are back on track for you. I would have been scared to death. Blood makes me panic for whatever reason.
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Member:
Cbuck894
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Posted on Monday, Oct 9, 2006 - 2:07 pm:
Wow Ann,
It's a good thing you were checking on him often. Hope he comes through it OK. How old is the colt? We usually wait until they are 16 months old to geld. Knock on wood we haven't had any problems so far! The last one had a bit of excessive swelling but that was due to lack of exercise in bad weather. Once we got him back out to run around he was fine.
Did your vet give you any idea as to what caused the bleeding to start after 24 hours of no problems?
As for the bad luck, boy can I relate! Hopefully 2007 will be better for all of us that have had such rotten luck in 2006! Good luck with your little guy.
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Member:
Banthony
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Posted on Monday, Oct 9, 2006 - 3:13 pm:
So good that your little guy has stabilized, Ann.
I talked to several vets after a friend of mine's mustang stallion had terrible problems after castration and ended up having to be put down. What they kept telling me was that even though it is a common and routine surgery, it is still quite a serious surgery. And should be thought of with that in mind.
Both vets told me that they had seen terrible, unforeseen complications happen occasionally over the years.
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Member:
Christel
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Posted on Monday, Oct 9, 2006 - 3:21 pm:
Ann, sorry to hear, but glad its going to be ok.
Wonder if the phase of the moon had anything to do with the bleeding? We were full a couple of nites ago.
While I never plan things according to the moon I have known of others that do. Just curious.
Chris
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Member:
Dres
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Posted on Monday, Oct 9, 2006 - 3:29 pm:
Carol, no the vet did not have any answers why.. stuff happens and well it happens here a lot
I have now had two colts that were castrated, been lucky I guess in having mostly fillies foal out, anyway the other colt became infected, go figure.. that was serval years ago..
He is doing fine, maybe a little unhappy being stuck in a stall with a now grumpy mom, BUT he is eating/ drinking and moving around in his little box.. the swelling looks painful and huge.. Vet called and said leave it be, with my history, she would rather I do nothing with him today and tomorrow hand walk him.. OH yes HAND WALK a 5 month old colt that has been in a stall that is over 500 pounds full of energy... EASY FOR HER TO SAY... 
On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots..
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Member:
Dres
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Posted on Monday, Oct 9, 2006 - 3:40 pm:
Chris, I had intended on doing this, this past weekend according to the Farmers Almanac, but my vets husband fell off a hay truck and broke both his elbows..YIKES.. So she came when she could.. I hope to wean him on the 28th.. again Farmers Almanac timing..
Dr. O do you hold much stock in the Farmers Almanac timing for these kind of things..???
On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots..
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Member:
Canter
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Posted on Monday, Oct 9, 2006 - 4:25 pm:
Just wanted to add my best wishes for your colt, Ann...and I hope the rest of the year goes better for you!
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Monday, Oct 9, 2006 - 6:00 pm:
Sorry to hear about your problems. No Ann, I castrate pretty much anytime and over the years have had one horse that had to be reseen for bleeding. But I do have some older clients that schedule according to the Almanac.
DrO
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Member:
Twhgait
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Posted on Monday, Oct 9, 2006 - 7:37 pm:
Ann, I so totally emphathize with you! I think I've had just about everything that can go wrong, go wrong here too! I know very little about "uncomplicated recoveries", LOL! I'm glad to see you can hold onto your great sense of humor thru it; that's so much better then me
Good luck with your little guy, and wear a helmet tomorrow!
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Member:
Dres
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Posted on Monday, Oct 9, 2006 - 8:21 pm:
Helmet good idea.. he has already tried to take off my husbands eye brow.. sent him to ER last month..
Thursday, day before CASTRATION DAY, he reared up and kicked mom on the side cheek , she swelled up and could not eat.. Castration day vet looked at her and said.. EITHER she will pull out of this OK.. or she has a fractured root or cheek bone.. LOVELY.
Helmet will be on..
On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots..
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Member:
Paardex
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Posted on Tuesday, Oct 10, 2006 - 2:49 am:
I intended to ask[just out of curiosity ] why you all castrated so early. We usually do not castrate before 2 years and preferably at three[if castrated at all].My questions are answered by all of these adventures Next year on the Bushy creek vacation I will wear padded riding clothes and two helmets.
Jos
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Member:
Cheryl
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Posted on Tuesday, Oct 10, 2006 - 7:40 am:
Jos - I guess I'll have to turn the question around - why would you not castrate? Out of a thousand colt foals - maybe one - would be of sufficient quality to breed - maybe. Since procreation is instinctual leaving a colt intact that is not going to be used for breeding by necessity would condemn him to a life of isolation, frustration and often needless injury. One person I know in Kentucky didn't geld anything - period - even the grade horses she produced. I saw more horrendous injuries in the 14 months we lived there than I had seen in all my years involved with horses - hate to admit it but that's over 50 years. It was strictly a macho problem and extraordinarily prevalent in the area. In my opinion any horse that does not meet really stringent breeding qualifications should be gelded and the sooner the better.
Cheryl
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New Member:
Ella
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Posted on Tuesday, Oct 10, 2006 - 7:44 am:
Everyone tells me that troubles come in cycles but if that is the case the cycles have been very long for me. Everything seems to happen to my horses!
It sounds as though you have had the same luck. Hopefully it will cycle away from us in the not too distant future. I have had about a decade of it!
Ella
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Member:
Sureed
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Posted on Tuesday, Oct 10, 2006 - 8:02 am:
Ann,
So sorry to hear about your colt. I hope he continues his recovery smoothly. Sounds like time for another Margarita. My treat.
Suzanne
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Member:
Paardex
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Posted on Tuesday, Oct 10, 2006 - 8:13 am:
Cheryl,especially with dressage horses a 'stallionlook does well they live in groups of agemates surrounded by water or electricity. As long as they havent gone away from the place they were born they never gave me any difficulty they know the mares and stay 'foals' needless to say a mare not in foal is kept out of their way.
The quality is always such they go to the big stallion show as 2,5 year old if they are gelded before that time question is always'what's the matter with him?' Even after that I have had very happy stallions always with a pony friend.They exactly know the difference between 'breeding' and 'working'.One of the good things is as they are castrated as adults is they always go to a clinic for an operation and every surprise is more easy to nip in the bud. Hope to have informed you I asked just out of curiosity things are different over here.
Jos
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Member:
Christel
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Posted on Tuesday, Oct 10, 2006 - 10:12 am:
Jos, I geld my colts in the winter of their yearling year. The flies are not a problem in the winter and also because as a yearling the colt could breed. I keep my young horses pastured together and dont have 'stallion facilities'- the main reason I geld at that age- sure dont need yearling fillies 'in foal' or a colt hurting himself trying to get to the older ladies. It is just easier for me to geld them as yearlings before they realize they have been allowed to keep the family jewels and would want to share them with the girls.
Chris
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Member:
Dres
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Posted on Tuesday, Oct 10, 2006 - 10:14 am:
Jos, unless the colt is possible stud material, we normally do it before the first year.. Suppose to be less complications then an adult horse..
Susan, My husband and I call it the ''SH*T CYCLE'' and we are having a very hard time getting out of it too.. Seems if it can go wrong it will here.. A few times we thought we might have a foot out the door, but .. only to be pulled right back into the ringer once again
Suz, I will take you up on that drink!~
Tommy is alert and very perky this AM , Husband and I hand walked him for 10 mins in the dark, * with helmets on* actually he was very well behaved all things considered.. I hope to let him out in the paddock later today for a short turnout with hay on the ground.. Swelling is about the same so I believe this is good news
On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots..
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Tuesday, Oct 10, 2006 - 11:40 am:
And I thought I was the only one that has those "bad luck" cycles! I guess everyone does. I hope yours is soon over.
I also geld in the winter due to fly problems. Normally it all goes very smoothly. We keep the colt where he will move around, but keep an eye on him. We've been lucky, I guess. The worst we've had is some swelling. My cousin in TX had a colt gelded. It was done out in the field. They found the colt dead the next morning; it had bled to death. So, evidently this happens from time to time. I think in some cases the testicles are harder to get at, which might be the problem. Good thing you kept a good eye on this guy!
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Member:
Vickiann
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Posted on Tuesday, Oct 10, 2006 - 12:30 pm:
My gray Arab was nearly 3 when gelded (before I got him). He developed infection that had to be lanced, and he also had to have the hand-walking for exercise. I guess it is not too hard to understand why he is more than militant about sheath cleaning, even at 15-years of age!
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New Member:
Mcbizz
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Posted on Tuesday, Oct 10, 2006 - 3:46 pm:
Hello! My first post on this site...
I have two geldings, McMurphy (pictured with me on my profile) my BLM mustang, I raised from a foal, orphaned in S. Nevada at one month. He is now 15. He was gelded at six months, per advice from my vet. A very studly youngster and both testicles had DrOpped. All went well with the "backyard" surgery. Castrating early certainly didn't impair his "manly" appearance. He is a very big horse (now 15 years) with a very cresty neck, still quite aggressive with other horses. Great to ride!
My other gelding is a purebred Arabian. Bought him at 4 1/2 yrs. as a cryptorchid, one testicle had not DrOpped. One of my vet's associates did the surgery, with no complications. Bizmarkk is a gentle, very sweet horse, no stallion tendencies. A joy to ride.
Both were gelded in late fall, end of fly season.}}
Two completely different circumstances, but both turned out well for all concerned. I love this site...excellent.
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Member:
Qh4me
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Posted on Tuesday, Oct 10, 2006 - 4:17 pm:
Ann, I hope your little guy keeps getting better.
I hated reading your post, as I have my colt scheduled in at the end of the month, and your story sent chills through me. Touch wood, my last colt had no issues, and come to think of it, I booked it as per the Almanac. Maybe I better get it out and look at my schedule again 
Best of luck with the hand walking. Hope he is soon able to be out and bounding around the pasture again.
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Member:
Corinne
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Posted on Monday, Oct 16, 2006 - 11:36 pm:
Ann,
Haven't had the chance to post much these past two weeks and have been gone to Tulsa for an extended weekend. Good luck with your foal.
I sure hope he comes out of this okay.
How is his mother's cheek? Just curious as my horse has an injury there that might have been from a kick. He hasn't had any problems eating however so I do hope she is okay since she did.
Did you find anything to help with the swelling and the pain for her? If so has the swelling gone down? Can she eat okay now? Just curious. What did the vet say will happen if it was a broken cheek bone?
Hope you have a good luck cycle from here on out.
Take care and I will say a few prayers for good luck for you!
Corinne
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Member:
Dres
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Posted on Tuesday, Oct 17, 2006 - 10:27 am:
an update.. 7 days after surgery, colt was still not wanting to walk much actually dragging his left hind leg, the side the bleeder was on..gave him some bute and the next day, he was walking better and was not dragging.. * told my husband it always is worse before it gets better in ANYTHING *... day 10 he ''tried'' to canter, what a sad sight, and well it broke open the wound and started to bleed, at this point I was not to concern of it starting to bleed out again..after about 3 hours the dripping stopped to a slow 'condensation' type drip.. Now with any other colt I would be cold hosing and making him exercise, but becus I am the 5% barn, he will just have to heal very slowly and take more time then most..
Corinne, My mare is eating fine now without bute, most of the swelling has gone down but for one spot, and that is hard to touch.. Vet said if it was a fracture there is not much to do unless there is a chip , if its a fractured root of a tooth time will tell, I am guessing an abscess will form and then I will have to treat it.. FINGERS CROSSED I don't need anymore of this 'stuff'
On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them spots..
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Member:
Cpacer
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Posted on Wednesday, Oct 18, 2006 - 7:31 am:
Poor babies, I wish you all luck and good healing!
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