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Saturday, March 5, 2011

Gelding Question

Thanks everyone for your comments on gelding Zeppelin. I don't think I really asked my question clearly though. I am definitely gelding both Zeppelin and Chrome. I'm gelding Chrome as soon as I have the money. Zeppelin is the one I'm not sure about . . . I've heard donkeys can have more complications than horses and older equine (he's four) can have more complications than younger ones. So considering the fact that he's 'higher risk' do I have him gelded now or after he's tamed? If there are complications it would be impossible for me to catch him, hose him, exercise him, etc. So the question isn't should I geld him or not (because I am), it's do I geld him now or later? I'm worried if something goes wrong I won't be able to take care of him. If I wait until he's tame (could be a year or more) then I would be able to care for him properly. Does that make any sense? Thank you guys!

2 comments:

  1. That makes a lot of sense and you are in a real pickle. Zep has come so far, my inclination would be to wait until he is tamer.

    Mango Momma

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  2. I am NOT a vet and know nothing other than my observations. We gelded a 17 year old horse on Saturday and he was fine after. He was a reall pain in the ass too.

    As for Chrome, all the young horses jump right back up and seem totally fine, like nothing ever happened. I know nothing of gelding donkeys. I would wait, 4 is still young, and when he's a little tamer it might be easier. You'll need to do at least 20 minutes of forced exercise a day, so that means catching Zep and taking him to where ever you're going to do it. Do you know if your vet does an open or closed gelding? (aka do they stitch them back up?) My vet said that gelding is still really primative when you think about how far other vet procedures have gone, she does open (no stitches on the outside.

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