General Information About Field Surgeries
We offer a variety of procedures that are able to be safely done in the field without the need to haul in to a clinic or hospital, such as castrations, suture repairs, hernia repairs ,etc. Larger surgeries that require hospitalization can be referred to a number of trusted Equine and Large animal hospitals located in Ocala and Gainesville.
Castration
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Castration (gelding) is a surgical procedure performed by a veterinarian to remove the testicles of a male horse. The procedure is typically performed under general anesthesia with the horse lying on its back or on its side. It is typically performed once the horse is skeletally mature to reap the beneficial effects of testosterone. In preparation for gelding, the horse should be in good health and current on deworming and immunizations, particularly tetanus. If the horse has never received vaccinations, owners are advised to vaccinate the horse using vaccines recommended by the attending veterinarian.
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Following castration, your veterinarian may administer antibiotics/NSAIDS (antiinflammatories) to your horse after surgery. Your veterinarian will advise you on what he/she feels is best for your individual horse. If flies are still in season, it is a good idea to apply an insect repellant immediately after the castration surgery.
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Post-surgical complications can occur but are rare. The most common is excessive swelling of the scrotum that can extend down into the lower hind legs. If increased exercise does not resolve the problem, contact your veterinarian. In rare instances, the horse has an unusually large inguinal ring in which intestines may protrude from the incision. This usually occurs within a few hours of the surgical procedure but can happen days later. If this occurs, consider it a true emergency and contact your veterinarian immediately.
Laceration Repair
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The most common cause of equine lacerations are due to accidental collisions with inanimate objects, kicking injuries, or having the head or extremities in a precarious position while being startled. Often the cause is unknown and the resulting trauma is noted several hours following the incident.
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Time is of the essence when seeking medical care following trauma resulting in a laceration. Laceration assessment and repair is recommended in order to restore cosmetic and anatomic function, control infection, maintain blood supply, determine the extent of the injury and treat potential sequelae to the inciting trauma. Ideally laceration repair will take place within 6 hours. More commonly it is performed within 24 hours. When beyond a 24 hour period, further medical treatment is often required to reduce infection and inflammation before a laceration can be closed.
Enucleation
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Enucleation is a surgical procedure that involves removal of the eyeball (“globe”), as well as some of the eye’s adjacent connective, muscular, and glandular tissues. The procedure can be performed in a sedated, standing horse or with the horse on a surgical table under general anesthesia. Local anesthetic, to numb the area around the eye, is used to eliminate discomfort during the procedure.
Enucleation is commonly performed to treat horses affected by:
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Ocular trauma or a foreign body
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Perforating corneal ulceration
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Cancer, such as squamous cell carcinoma
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End-stage uveitis or glaucoma
