Castration Aftercare Instructions

Things to watch for:

• Bleeding - anything faster than a steady drip (a drop per 2 seconds) for longer than 3 hours is a cause for concern.
• Material hanging from incision site - small tissue tags can normally be present protruding from the incision. Any tissue that resembles intestine (guts) is a medical emergency contact a veterinarian immediately.
• Excessive swelling - post-castration swelling of the scrotal area or sheath is a fairly common occurrence. It may be decreased by exercise, anti-inflammatory medication (such as Bute), or hydrotherapy. This swelling should resolve within 1 to 2 weeks if swelling or drainage persist for 3 weeks or longer, contact a veterinarian.

Lethargy/Depression - understandably, the colt will likely have a decreased activity level for a few days after the surgery.

He should not:

• Be extremely reluctant to move or stiff
• Have a rectal temperature of over 102 degrees
• Have a decreased appetite or decreased thirst

Things to do:
Day 1:

• Keep him very quiet in a stall or small paddock for the first 18-24 hours after surgery. A quiet environment greatly decreases the chances of excessive bleeding.
• Check him hourly for bleeding during the first six hours after surgery.

Day 2:
Turn the horse out in the paddock or pasture as much as possible. Force exercise (lunge or chase around the pasture) at a trot or canter for 20 minutes twice a day, for a minimum of two weeks. Some swelling is normal, but exercise will increase circulation in the area of the incision and minimize swelling and discomfort which in turn helps prevent infection of the surgical site. The greatest swelling usually occurs 4-5 days following the surgery.

Note:

Your horse will still be fertile (able to impregnate mares) for up to fourteen days after castration. Avoid pasturing him with mares at this time. Studies show that approximately 25% of properly castrated geldings will show some degree of stallion-like behavior after castration, with no difference in incidence of this behavior between those castrated before and after puberty.