Castration methods + breeding soundness exam

Define cryptorchid

• a condition where one or both testicles fail to descend from the abdomen

what is monorchidism

• only one testicle is present

what does unilateral mean?

• only on one side

What does bi lateral mean?

• affecting both sides

what is Haemostasis

• blood clotting

what is orchiectomy

• surgery to remove one or both testicles

what is chemical castration

• temporary implant/vaccination which blocks testosterone production, may be reversible/for a set duration

what is cryptorchidectomy

• removal of a cryptorchid testicle

whata re the 2 categories of castration

• bloodless castration

  • surgical castration

what is bloodless castration?

• skin isn’t cut and relies on the obstruction of the blood supply causing testicular atrophy

what is involved in surgical castration

• spermatic cord is isolated, ligated/crushed and then cut to remove it.

what are the 3 types of surgical castration

1. open

2. closed

3. semi-closed/modified

what are 2 methods of bloodless castration

• rubber rings

  • burdizzo/clamp castration

what is the purpose of rubber rings

• stretched over the entire scrotum and cuts off blood flow to testicles + scrotum → atrophy, eventually dropping off

how does the burdizzo/clamp castration work?

• crushes spermatic cord

• clamped down to crush, preventing blood flow

• testicles should atrophy within the scrotum if done correctly

for burdizzo/clamp castration what is required if the animal is >3mo

• anaesthetic + vet

what is involved in open surgical castration

• parietal vagina tunic is incised

  • testicle exposed + removed following ligation

what is involved in closed surgical castration

• parietal vaginal tunic isn’t incised

• ligature is

what is a closed surgical castration?

• parietal vaginal tunic ISNT incised

• ligature is applied around the vaginal tunic + spermatic cord and is transacted distal to the ligature

what is a semi-closed castration

• vaginal tunic is incised

• testicle exposed + removed by ligation

• parietal tunic is sutured close

how many throws of a suqare knot suture should we do? why

• at least 5

• ‘back up’ sutures in case they break and if we use dissolvable suture material

what are the 4 ways we can cause haemostasis during a castration

1. ligature

2. emasculators

3. twisting

4. autoligation

which species do we use twisting for haemostasis during castration?

• calves

what species to we use autoligation in when castrating?

• tom cats

what is the common castration method for cattle

• open surgical + twisting

• bloodless castration

what is the common castration method for sheep

• bloodless castration

• open surgical castration with twisting

what is the common castration method for goats

• bloodless castration

• surgical by twisting

what is the common castration method for pigs

• open surgical castration

what is the common castration method for horse

• open/closed/semi-closed with emasculators

what is the common castration method for dogs

• semi-closed

• open

• closed

  • with ligatures

what is the common castration method for cats

• modified open or closed

• ligatures or autoligation

what is the common castration method for rabbits

• closed/modified closed surgical

• ligatures

what is the common castration method for guinea pig

• closed or modified closed surgical + ligatures

what is the common castration method for camelids

• open + ligature

what anaesthesia is needed for castrating cattle

• often none if young animals

• sedation needed in older animals

what anaesthesia is needed for castrating sheep

• often none if young

• it should be considered and encouraged however

what anaesthesia is needed for castrating goats

• often none if young

• local anaesthetic should be encouraged

  • sedation if older

what anaesthesia is needed for castrating pigs

• sedation + local anaesthetic

what anaesthesia is needed for castrating horses

• sedation + local/general anaesthetic

what anaesthesia is needed for castrating dogs

• GA

what anaesthesia is needed for castrating cats, rabbits, guinea pigs

• GA

what is the legislation on castrating cattle

• rubber ring only if <7 days old

  • only a veterinary surgeon if >2mo + local anaesthetic

what is the legislation on castratingsheep

• rings only if <7 days

  • vet must castrate using local anaesthetic if >3mo

what is the legislation on castrating goats

• rubber ring only if <7 days

• vet must perform + local anaesthetic if >2mo

what is the legislation on castrating pigs

• prohibited by many red tractor schemes for pig meat

• very rarely performed

what are some notes on analgesia/antibiotics when castrating cattle, sheep and goats

• antibiotics are rarely ued

• used of analgesia should be encouraged

What age should we castrate cattle

• few days up to 12mo

what age should we castrate goats-

• few days up to 6mo

what are some notes on analgesia/antibiotics when castrating horses

• analgesia + antibiotics provided post surgery

what are 3 points on equine castration:

1. age

2. vaccination required

3. how to reduce swelling

1. 6m - 2.5yrs

2. tetanus

3. walked and cold water hosed

what age are dogs that we castrate, is analgesia requried?

• 6-9mo

  • yes

are antibiotics required for dog castration?

• shouldn’t be, as it’s a ‘clean’ surgery

what age do we castrate cats?

• 12 weeks - 6 months

are antibiotics needed for cat castration?

• shouldn’t be, as it’s a ‘clean’ surgery

what is important to note about the surgical site once finished with rabbits

• they will chew the stitches unless they’re ‘hidden’

what age do we castrate guinea pigs?

• 3-8 mo

what analegesia and antibiotics are required for guinea pigs?

• analgesia usually required

  • antibiotics shouldn’t be needed as it’s a clean surgery

how many surgical clamping techniques are there?

• 3

what is the first surgical clamping technique?

• no clamping, just ligate

when do we simply ligate and not clamp?

• if we have friable structures, where the weight of the clamp may tear tissue

what is involved in the ram MOT according to the AHDB?

check:

1. toes - locomotion, legs and feet

2. teeth

3. testicles

4. tone (BCS)

5. treat

when should we perform a pre-breeding soundness exam

• 6-12 weeks pre-mating

what BCS do we want our lambs?

• 3.5-4

what energy are we aiming for and what mineral should we avoid in high amounts?

• 12.5MJ ME/kg/DM

• magnesium

what should we check reproductively in the ram?

• penis for growths, adhesions, deviation or loss of urethral processes at the tip

• scrotal hernias

• testicles

• scrotal circumference

what are we looking for on the testicle on examination of the ram?

• size: small, bid, same size?

• texture - firm, springy, equal, heavy, smooth, freely movable

• if either are enlarged

what should the scrotal circumference be for:

1. mature lamb

2. shearlings

3. ram lambs

1. 34-38 + cm

2. >30cm

3. >28cm

how does the mediastinum appear on ultrasound?

• more hyperechoic

how does the testicular parenchyma appear on ultrasound?

• homogenous and medium echogenicity

what is echogenic stippling

• hyperechoic dots that appear on the screen during ultrasonography

what don’t we want to feel on palpation of testes?

• excess squishyness

• hard lumps/bumps