Jessica Jahiel's HORSE-SENSE Newsletter Archives

Monorchid horse

From: Cheri

Hi. I have an almost two year old colt that I want to geld, but only one testicle has dropped. I really don't want him to have to have surgery and I read that a shot of hormones can cause the testicle to drop and then he can be gelded on my farm. Is this true? Does a shot of hormones always work? Or will I need to take him to a veterinarian hospital to be gelded? My veterinarian isn't easy to ask questions of and I hate to even ask him about the hormone shot, so I thought you could help me.

Thank you. Cheri

Hi Cheri! Much depends on where the testicle is located -- and you are going to need a good vet to help you figure this out. There is no method that is guaranteed to work, short of surgery. Since this is an older colt that may well need to be gelded in a veterinary hospital, you may as well find out what is involved by taking the colt to the nearest veterinary hospital, perhaps one associated with a large university. There, the veterinarians will have the necessary diagnostic equipment to figure out where the remaining testicle is located, and what sort of operation will be required to remove it. If they feel that there are other options, for instance the shot that you mention, and if they can recommend a non-invasive way to induce the testicle to drop into place, so much the better!

You can't afford to wait around until your own veterinarian feels more comfortable talking with you, or vice versa, so if you're sure that you can't approach your own vet about what he thinks is the best procedure to follow, or if you have asked him questions and gotten no answers, you need to find another equine vet. Gelding a monorchid colt at 2 is already a problem; gelding the same colt at 3 or 4 is a bigger problem, so don't wait too long.

If you don't know where to find another equine vet, and you don't want to ask your own vet to recommend someone else, call your county extension horse specialist, or the state veterinary school, and ask for a list of names and contact information. Good luck!

Jessica

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