Equine Field Surgery & Minor Surgical Procedures
Many equine surgical procedures can be safely performed without referral to a surgical hospital. Depending on the procedure and individual patient, Jacksonville Equine Associates can perform a variety of minor surgical procedures in the field or at our Green Cove Springs clinic. Procedures may include castration, laceration and wound repair, enucleation, selected hernia repairs, mass removals, and other minor surgical procedures when appropriate.
Cases requiring general anesthesia, advanced surgical equipment, intensive monitoring, or hospitalization may be referred to a trusted equine or large-animal surgical facility in Ocala, Gainesville, or the surrounding area.
Our veterinarians will help determine the safest and most appropriate location for your horse's procedure.
Equine Castration
Castration, commonly called gelding, is the surgical removal of a male horse's testicles.
The appropriate age and timing for castration varies depending on the individual horse, management situation, testicular development, behavior, health, and other factors. Our veterinarians can examine your colt or stallion and help determine when and how the procedure should be performed.
Before castration, the horse should be healthy, and tetanus vaccination status is particularly important. Your veterinarian may recommend vaccination or other preventative care before surgery if your horse's history is incomplete.
Depending on the horse and circumstances, castration may be performed under appropriate sedation and anesthesia in the field or at our clinic.
After Castration
Your veterinarian will provide specific aftercare instructions following surgery. These may include recommendations regarding:
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Exercise and turnout
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Incision monitoring
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Swelling
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Fly control
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Anti-inflammatory medication
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Antibiotics when indicated
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Some postoperative swelling is common, but excessive swelling, persistent bleeding, fever, depression, loss of appetite, or other concerning changes should be reported to your veterinarian. Any tissue protruding from the surgical incision following castration should be treated as an emergency. Keep the horse as quiet as possible and contact a veterinarian immediately.
Equine Laceration & Wound Repair
Cuts and wounds are among the most common equine emergencies. Horses can sustain significant injuries from fencing, trailers, stalls, other horses, or objects in their environment—and sometimes the cause is never known.
Prompt veterinary evaluation can make a significant difference in how a wound is treated and ultimately heals.
When evaluating a laceration, our veterinarians consider more than whether the skin can be sutured. We also assess the injury for possible involvement of:
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Tendons and ligaments
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Joints and tendon sheaths
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Bone
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Blood vessels
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Nerves
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Other underlying structures
Some wounds can be cleaned and sutured shortly after the injury, while others are better managed differently depending on contamination, tissue damage, location, and the amount of time since the injury occurred.
Don't Wait Because a Wound Looks Small
The size of a wound does not always indicate its severity.
A small puncture near a joint, tendon sheath, or other synovial structure can potentially be much more serious than a large superficial wound.
If your horse has a significant laceration or puncture wound—particularly one located near a joint—contact our office as soon as possible so we can determine the appropriate next step.
Equine Enucleation
Enucleation is the surgical removal of the eye and may be recommended when an eye is permanently painful, severely damaged, or affected by disease that cannot be successfully managed with other treatment.
Conditions that may lead to enucleation include:
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Severe ocular trauma
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Deep or perforating corneal ulcers
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Certain ocular tumors, including squamous cell carcinoma
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End-stage equine recurrent uveitis
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Glaucoma
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Blind, chronically painful eyes
Depending on the individual horse and condition, enucleation may sometimes be performed in a standing, heavily sedated horse using local anesthesia. Other cases may require general anesthesia or referral to a surgical facility.
Although the decision to remove an eye can understandably be difficult for owners, horses generally adapt remarkably well when a chronically painful eye is removed.
Other Minor Surgical Procedures
Our veterinarians may also perform other minor surgical procedures based on the individual case, including selected:
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Mass and skin-lesion removals
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Hernia repairs
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Wound debridement and management
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Biopsies
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Other minor soft-tissue procedures
An examination may be necessary before scheduling a procedure so our veterinarian can determine whether it can be safely performed at your farm or our clinic, or whether referral to a surgical hospital is the better option.
When Is Referral Necessary?
Not every equine surgery should be performed in the field. Cases requiring advanced anesthesia, specialized surgical equipment, intensive postoperative monitoring, or hospitalization may be referred to an appropriate equine surgical hospital.
When referral is recommended, our veterinarians can help coordinate care and provide the receiving hospital with relevant examination findings, diagnostic images, laboratory results, and treatment history.
Equine Surgery in Northeast Florida & Southeast Georgia
Jacksonville Equine Associates provides minor surgical procedures for horses throughout our Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia ambulatory service area, as well as at our Green Cove Springs haul-in clinic.
If your horse has an injury requiring immediate attention, please call our office rather than waiting to schedule a routine appointment.
To discuss a surgical procedure, schedule an appointment, or contact us regarding an equine emergency, call Jacksonville Equine Associates at (904) 387-3330.