Castration

Castration Services for Stallions in Brisbane, Ipswich and Lockyer Valley

If you do not wish to breed your stallion, castration is highly recommended.

Aside from preventing your stallion from breeding, castration may also be helpful in limiting unwanted aggressive behaviours.

However, while castration is a common procedure, there are many complications associated with orchidectomy. Only licensed veterinarians should perform this procedure and follow-up care is crucial to ensure the long-term health of your stallion.

When should my stallion be castrated?

If you do not wish to breed your male horse, he should be castrated to prevent undesirable traits, behavioural problems as well as unwanted horses to the population.

Castration can generally occur as early as 4 months of age provided both testicles have descended and can be palpated by your veterinarian.

It has been shown that stallions that have bred before can develop learned behaviours of aggression and the desire to serve mares even after castration. Therefore, the decision to geld your horse should be made at an early age.

What’s involved in castration?

The surgical procedure of castrating male animals, called orchidectomy, is defined as the removal of the testicles. There are several methods the procedure can be performed, however a standard castration is accomplished by our veterinarians using intravenous sedation and local anaesthesia in a standing position.

The scrotum is then surgically ‘prepped’ and an incision is made over one testicle. Both testicles are accessed via this one incision and entirely removed, with the stump of the spermatic cord on each side remaining inside the horse.

Following castration, those horses not up to date with tetanus vaccination receive a tetanus toxoid booster and all will have antibacterial fly repellent applied to the surgical site.

What are the most common complications?

Post-operative complications can occur but are rare. They include:

Excess swelling
Excess bleeding
Infection

A life-threatening event called eventration can rarely occur post-surgery. This is where a segment of the small intestine descends through the scrotal incision.

While not life-threatening, omental eventration can also occur.

This is where the omentum, a fatty yellow tissue that surrounds some of the abdominal organs, protrudes through the incision.

How long will castration take?

Usually, castration surgery will take 30 minutes to one hour.

Where will castration be performed?

Castration can be performed either at our clinic or in the field.

Will my stallion require any follow-up care?

It is recommended to place your horse in a small yard for 12-24 hours post-surgery to ensure adequate clotting has occurred.

Thereafter, movement and light exercise in a larger paddock is encouraged to promote drainage and reduce swelling

It is advised not to let a mature stallion in with mares immediately following castration. Stallions can store semen in accessory sex glands making it possible for them to impregnate a mare up to 30 days post castration.

Furthermore, it may take up to 6 weeks for residual testosterone to subside, meaning your stallion may still show aggressive or sexual behaviours towards other horses.