Swelling after Castration - How Long

[sheltoneb]

How long does a horse typically stay swollen after being gelded? It has been 2 weeks since the procedure was done, but he is still large. The swelling is more back towards the incisions, however there is some swelling towards the front. FYI, there was a complication and the horse had to be packed with gauze for a day following the procedure. He is being cold hosed and worked multiple times a day. He is also being turned out. If it makes a difference, I am in Texas and it has been hot (80s).

I asked the vet and he said as long as the horse is comfortable and is making progress, not to worry.

[walkinthewalk]

Well “not to worry” isn’t what my vet said but the circumstances and swelling may be different.

My colt’s problem was that he would not exercise himself. It ended up the vet had to open the ins inion and drain the area. None of that was pretty ----- none of it.

i hope that isn’t the case with your colt:)

[goodhors]

Are you seeing any drainage between hosing times? How old is the horse? How bad are flies and bugs chewing gum on him? You really need some bit of drainage to get swelling down. Has Vet seen horse since gelding or just diagnosed from your reports? If horse is moving a lot in his several daily works, staying swollen, he needs to see the Vet again.

We do three works daily after gelding on both young or older animals. Ours are usually at least a full year old before being gelded. Free lunging for 30 minutes each session to keep swelling down, drainage happening. Cold hosing is only on legs, don’t want to remove helpful scabs on the scrotal tissue, to cause bleeding.

[sheltoneb]

The horse is 4 1/2 years old. The vet has seen him multiple times but I am not familiar with the vet. The last time the vet saw him was Tuesday. The bugs are out, but I have not seen a lot of them by the openings

He was not under my care until yesterday and not close enough to visit daily, but I was going to visit as time allowed. I am cold hosing the seath for 20 minutes but from the front. I follow up by lunging at the trot for 30 minutes.

Going forward he will be cold hosed and lunged 2 X per day. He is being turned out over night by himself.

I will take a picture tomorrow.

[Bluey]

It depends on what the swelling is if you have to worry or not.

If there is swelling from a fluid pocket, draining is generally the best.
If it is from swollen tissues, what you are doing and time is all you can do.

To determine what the problem is, your vet will know best, generally a close examination is one way to do that and if it is a fluid pocket, draining it.

[Lord_Helpus]

In addition to what you are doing, I would be taking his temp 2x/day. Infection shows up by a rise in temperature first.

Q: Was this a standing castration or was the horse laid out and castrated (and sewn up)? In my experience, there is a higher incidence of problems when the area is sewn up.

I had one with this problem. The vet had to open him up again and then the horse was on antibiotics for a month after. When I got the bill, I called the name vet in the partnership, told him what had happened
and he cut the bill in 1/2.

[invinoveritas]

Maybe the packing caused the incision to heal before all the fluid had drained out. My BO’s horse was cold hosed from the beginning and had a lot of drainage which kept the swelling down. Keep giving the horse his antibiotics and cold hose often.

As long as the swelling does not increase, maybe all is OK. However if the swelling is hard there may be scar tissue. Make sure that the swelling does not hinder urination.
I’d ask the vet to open up the incision a little so things can drain out if it doesn’t resolve in a few days. All this hot weather is not good for open wounds.

[Palm_Beach]

Agree with Lord Helpus - monitor his temperature.

[findeight]

I would speak to the vet personally if you are authorized to get the info and/or own the horse, don’t understand not being familiar with the treating vet. Is this somebody else’s horse? Are you being paid to manage his care? Did he just arrive at the property?

4 1/2 is a little older then usual and might slow down recovery beyond the usual week to 10 days and he’s not that far from that right now, but they shouldn’t have random swellings-meaning pockets of fluid, away from the incision site. It could indicate infection which is why it’s very important you take his temperature. If something is brewing, it’s not going away by itself.

Were antibiotics given for at least a few days after the surgery? If so, which ones? If this does not reduce in the next few days, maybe by the middle of next week, Id be having the vet take another look and I would be there to talk to him/her.

[sheltona01]

I can help with some of the questions. The OP is my sister. She just bought this horse. He came from Mexico within the last 6 months to be sold. Because the place she bought him from has more experience with castration and it was negotiated in the purchase that they would handle it hence the other vet. Because of the complication, the attending vet saw him the day after the procedure and a couple of days after that with a check up last week. She just brought him back to her stable on Wed. and will now be under her direct care. This is the first time dealing with castration and apparently it is the main worry about the procedure that happens in about 2.5% of horses. I know he is not a huge fan of people messing with the area even before this.

[Color_of_Light]

I’d be worrying about infection. Does he seem painful when he moves? Is the wound closed up, crusty or draining? What’s his temp?

[trubandloki]

Disclaimer, I have never had a horse castrated.

This sounds like the type of situation where it might be best to contact your own vet and ask their opinion. Maybe even pay for a vet call, just so you do not have to worry.

[Bluey]

@sheltona01

I can help with some of the questions. The OP is my sister. She just bought this horse. He came from Mexico within the last 6 months to be sold. Because the place she bought him from has more experience with castration and it was negotiated in the purchase that they would handle it hence the other vet. Because of the complication, the attending vet saw him the day after the procedure and a couple of days after that with a check up last week. She just brought him back to her stable on Wed. and will now be under her direct care. This is the first time dealing with castration and apparently it is the main worry about the procedure that happens in about 2.5% of horses. I know he is not a huge fan of people messing with the area even before this.

You may also consider that if the problem was a herniation, that is a whole different problem to tend to and any swelling needs to be attended to quickly.

No one here can say, not knowing why there is swelling there and what the problem was.

[findeight]

I think I’d bring in your own vet next week. Good to get a record started on him anyway, good thing for your vet to be familiar with any horse you get as soon as possible after getting it, make sure he’s up to date, teeth are done etc. it shouldn’t be expensive for an initial appointment and look see plus probably some antibiotics. Vet can sedate him if needed. And sis should be there to meet the vet and start an ongoing relationship so you won’t be strangers meeting only in emergencies.

Dealers who handle a lot of horses are usually more minimalist in care then ideal for financial reasons, especially with lower priced horses, you may need to make a little of that up. NBD, no fault implied.

[cloudyandcallie]

My BO’s stud was 9 years old when a very good vet gelded him. He had no complications as we followed the vet’s directions and the horse got his antibiotics. That horse was a big domestic warmblood. Age did not factor into his operation.

I’d call a good vet to come out and examine the horse if I were the OP. And I’d make sure that I was giving the horse antibiotics.

[merrygoround]

I can remember my vet saying that if the edges adhere together,and a pocket of swelling appears, that a gloved hand would do no harm. However if a hernia is suspected, I would get my own vet out yesterday. And if the horse is inclined to amputate your head, I would get the vet out to give him a soothing injection before investigating.

[goodhors]

I would not wait on this, since it has already been two weeks since castration. I would get a Vet looking at horse real quick. You mentioned horse was packed when done, maybe there is a pad or fabric still inside to cause the swelling from infection. We have had stallions done at later ages, 8-9 years, by an expert Vet. They got packed for a day, then everything was removed. Horses had no issues because we followed aftercare directions to the letter. Your daily moving him, hosing have to be helping, but not enough to get swelling down. We hose after working horse to clean drainage off legs, to make horse less fly attractive and prevent hair loss where it scabs up with drips.

Healing on such older horses took longer to finish healing. Vet said older horse gets a bigger hole when gelding so it takes longer to close in healing. We were careful to not let our horse to work hard or exert himself hard until after he was fully healed. We just keep it to a walk or easy jog if possible, keeping him moving during time is the goal, not a true workout.

The time since gelding and still swollen would make me worry. Waiting is probably not going to fix the problem. Vet needs to do an up-close exam, see if there is an interior issue causing problems.

[gumtree]

My comments are based on gelding (TBs) 4-5 to as many as 10+ a year. The vast majority are “long” 2 year olds, some 3-4-5 and one 6.

All are done at our farm. Because we have a great relationship with the New Bolton Center we our “gelding sessions” to be used a a teaching session also. For which we and are clients get a huge price brake. One of their head surgeons does the “work”, teaching assisted by resident vets and a gallery of students.

We used to do “standing” but changed to sedating and laying down on their backs. “laying down” is the preferred method with younger horses and safer with just about all horses. For the last 7+ years or so the Henderson tool has been used.

We never geld unless absolutely necessary in warm buggy times of year.

After the procedure the horse is stalled for 24-48 hours at most. This allows for “things” to “seal up” and it is important to keep the horse as calm as possible to avoid a higher heart rated, higher blood pressure and temperature. Which can hinder clotting and lead to more , longer bleeding episodes. “Dripping” is to be expected. Hind legs covered in blood the next morning is the exception not the norm.

After the stall rest we may give some Bute and turn out. But turn out is usually not the best way to help encourage draining and the healing process. Especially if Bute is not used. The horse is obviously very sore and reluctant to move around much if any. Which is why I far prefer to geld horses that are well under saddle. 15, 20 minutes of trotting and a bit of cantering really helps control swelling, unwanted clotting at the incision sites for most but not all horses.

Prolonged swelling is almost always found with horses that are just turned out. If riding is not an option then long walks should be incorporated with turn out. Long walks meaning a couple of miles.

Even with incorporating the above post surgery methods some horses can and do experience extreme swelling. The scrotal area can look and feel like a large water balloon.The sheath may come into play also and get a “bubble” on the end.

All this is almost always due to the incisions closing up before “things” inside have not clotted properly. The vet comes out, cleans and opens things up to drain. Large “liver” looking blood clots can be found and are removed also.Most of the time this only has to be done once. It is not a difficult thing to learn and saves a lot of money if done by the caretaker. I always like for a vet to check things out the first time to make sure there isn’t something more serious going on.

As others have said take temp twice a day until the swelling is in the normal range of “norm”. Checking for an possible infection is pretty easy by performing a simple “sniff test”. If I have to explain this I suggest working with a vet.

Given the fact you acquired the horse after it was gelded I would get your vet to check things out. I would only use a vet that is very well versed in post gelding not one that has only dealt with the odd horse and the rest of their “knowledge” is from a class room. The vast majority of horses that people have and or vets work with were gelded long before.

Swelling found in the area you have described is not unusual 2 weeks post. As long as it not “water balloon size”. But I think I would get your vet to check things out in the near future. Worth the cost for piece of mind. The vets I have worked with far prefer riding over lunging. I agree having done both. No worries about the horse bucking. They may give a little buck at first but they figure out pretty quickly it is much less painful to just WTC.

We never “pack” and I don’t remember having to do so post surgery.

“there is a higher incidence of problems when the area is sewn up.”

A horse gelded and “sewn up” should always be done in a clinic not at the farm. It requires a high level of “bio-security” to eliminate any chance of contaminates being “sealed in”. It also increases the cost considerably, The cost of a “farm gelding” should a couple of hundred at best. When done in a clinic $1,500 to $2,000++. A “clinic session” is usually recommended for much older horses, horses that were used for stud duty.

Being a guy gelding is not something I look forward to participating in. I apologize before and after. Unless he was a total SOB. In that case I remind him that; I told you if you didn’t straighten up and fly right what would happen sooner rather than later.

[Bluey]

We started about 15 feral horses every summer.
Most were males and stallions and as soon as we felt the vet could work around them safely they were gelded.
The vet would give them a shot in the indoor arena, we put scotch hobbles around their neck, then they laid down, we tied a leg up and in a few minutes it was done.

They were from 4 to somewhere around 8 or 9 years old, best we could tell.
No one was ever packed or sewn, they drained a little for a couple days and really didn’t swell that much.

The vet had us start back to riding lightly in a day or two for a bit, then increase slowly how much until they were healed.
We washed them down well every day, some more than once a day.
We never had any trouble at all with those horses.

We did have one colt a breeder sent for us to start that would not quit bleeding more than he should.
I remember that night going thru several pharmacies to try to find enough Vitamin K to give him to slow that down, which it did.
The vet was worried that he needed to lay him down again and go find that bleeder to pinch it.
He also didn’t hardly swell, guess that all that draining and bleeding helped kept inflammation at bay?

With the story of this horse and the time it has been significantly swollen, I too would have a vet at least see what you have there, in case it is something that needs to be taken care of right now.

[Manni01]

@gumtree

My comments are based on gelding (TBs) 4-5 to as many as 10+ a year. The vast majority are “long” 2 year olds, some 3-4-5 and one 6.

All are done at our farm. Because we have a great relationship with the New Bolton Center we our “gelding sessions” to be used a a teaching session also. For which we and are clients get a huge price brake. One of their head surgeons does the “work”, teaching assisted by resident vets and a gallery of students.

We used to do “standing” but changed to sedating and laying down on their backs. “laying down” is the preferred method with younger horses and safer with just about all horses. For the last 7+ years or so the Henderson tool has been used.

We never geld unless absolutely necessary in warm buggy times of year.

After the procedure the horse is stalled for 24-48 hours at most. This allows for “things” to “seal up” and it is important to keep the horse as calm as possible to avoid a higher heart rated, higher blood pressure and temperature. Which can hinder clotting and lead to more , longer bleeding episodes. “Dripping” is to be expected. Hind legs covered in blood the next morning is the exception not the norm.

After the stall rest we may give some Bute and turn out. But turn out is usually not the best way to help encourage draining and the healing process. Especially if Bute is not used. The horse is obviously very sore and reluctant to move around much if any. Which is why I far prefer to geld horses that are well under saddle. 15, 20 minutes of trotting and a bit of cantering really helps control swelling, unwanted clotting at the incision sites for most but not all horses.

Prolonged swelling is almost always found with horses that are just turned out. If riding is not an option then long walks should be incorporated with turn out. Long walks meaning a couple of miles.

Even with incorporating the above post surgery methods some horses can and do experience extreme swelling. The scrotal area can look and feel like a large water balloon.The sheath may come into play also and get a “bubble” on the end.

All this is almost always due to the incisions closing up before “things” inside have not clotted properly. The vet comes out, cleans and opens things up to drain. Large “liver” looking blood clots can be found and are removed also.Most of the time this only has to be done once. It is not a difficult thing to learn and saves a lot of money if done by the caretaker. I always like for a vet to check things out the first time to make sure there isn’t something more serious going on.

As others have said take temp twice a day until the swelling is in the normal range of “norm”. Checking for an possible infection is pretty easy by performing a simple “sniff test”. If I have to explain this I suggest working with a vet.

Given the fact you acquired the horse after it was gelded I would get your vet to check things out. I would only use a vet that is very well versed in post gelding not one that has only dealt with the odd horse and the rest of their “knowledge” is from a class room. The vast majority of horses that people have and or vets work with were gelded long before.

Swelling found in the area you have described is not unusual 2 weeks post. As long as it not “water balloon size”. But I think I would get your vet to check things out in the near future. Worth the cost for piece of mind. The vets I have worked with far prefer riding over lunging. I agree having done both. No worries about the horse bucking. They may give a little buck at first but they figure out pretty quickly it is much less painful to just WTC.

We never “pack” and I don’t remember having to do so post surgery.

“there is a higher incidence of problems when the area is sewn up.”

A horse gelded and “sewn up” should always be done in a clinic not at the farm. It requires a high level of “bio-security” to eliminate any chance of contaminates being “sealed in”. It also increases the cost considerably, The cost of a “farm gelding” should a couple of hundred at best. When done in a clinic $1,500 to $2,000++. A “clinic session” is usually recommended for much older horses, horses that were used for stud duty.

Being a guy gelding is not something I look forward to participating in. I apologize before and after. Unless he was a total SOB. In that case I remind him that; I told you if you didn’t straighten up and fly right what would happen sooner rather than later.

Thank you very very much for this amazing information. My brother in law who is a vet gelded my 8 year old stud many years ago and thats exactly what he told me as well!!!