Cryptorchid colt, laparoscopic vs traditional surgery

[NaturalSelection]

I have a 2yo TB colt, confirmed unilateral cryptorchid by my local vet. Vet palpated Leo under sedation and says he can’t feel the testicle at all.

Local clinic can do traditional abdominal surgery gelding procedure for $1600, says at least 30 days of stall rest recovery.

University Equine Vet Hospital can do laparoscopic, $2000 if the procedure can be performed standing, $3000 if the horse is laid down. University says 60 days of stall rest recovery.

What are the benefits of laparoscopic surgery if the recovery time isn’t any faster than traditional?

[NancyM]

I dunno the answer to your question, but I will say that $1600 from your local clinic is CHEAP for this surgery. Good deal.

[Simkie]

One benefit of laparoscopic surgery is that you’re not managing a large abdominal incision, with the inherent risks that go with that. Scar tissue is never as strong as the native tissue, and bigger incision = bigger trauma.

[trubandloki]

It might be worth asking the University Equine Vet Hospital how long they suggest for stall rest when doing a traditional surgery. This might simply be a case of their base suggestions are different than those that your vet uses.

[SimonSays]

I had a crypt gelding done standing up 6 years ago. Luckily they were able to find it and get it done standing up sedated at home. I think I paid $400- I felt like it as the best bargain ever. I was anticipating having him need to go to a hospital for a $1500-2500 vet bill! And the standing up method which I had never seen before was fantastic. It was quick, hardly any bleeding and for recovery he had almost zero swelling. It was way less traumatic to the area then all other lay down geldings I had seen done before.

[NaturalSelection]

Good recommendation. University clarified that they recommend 3 weeks stall rest, 3 weeks small pen, and then three weeks pasture/turnout before returning to ‘work.’

I was still hoping the laparoscopic procedure would be even less stall rest.

[NancyM]

I had one done standing too. Kinda. A big drafty 3 yr old. It was done for free by my regular vet at the time, because the vet had not done a flank entry cryptorchid gelding before, and was looking for a guinea pig. We did it at home. He got the horse’s side opened up, and reached in there, fished around some, and said, “I don’t believe this!!!”. He said,“It isn’t there.”. He said that he could find the cord that the other rather large nut was hanging on, no problem. But the other cord was either not there, or, actually, it felt like it was already cut, like a nub of the cord left. So he cut the other side as per normal (standing- almost all Colts I’ve had gelded over the last 4 decades have been done standing unless there was a distinct reason to lay them down- which apparently is a surprise to some on this message board???). Since I had bought the colt from the breeders, and they sold him to me as a ridgeling/cryptorchid, I insisted that he had NOT been partially gelded previously by someone else. So we decided that he had been a “monorchid”, removed the one large and obvious nut, and called him a gelding. But it was an odd day. I sold the horse soon afterwards, so can’t comment on his success as a horse. I kept his half brother who I had bought at the same time, who better suited my needs.

[NaturalSelection]

Update!

Leo had traditional surgery at my local clinic yesterday, both testicles were found outside the body cavity. Recovery is now the same as a standard castration, no stall rest, but exercise to help control swelling. Thank goodness!

[SimonSays]

That’s a relief!!