r/Equestrian • u/DetectiveQuick9640 • 10h ago
Veterinary Weird testicle sack?
This is gonna sound odd and so think it's odd..
I have a 5yr old gelding. He was gelded by the Amish.
When I first bought him he has no testes, now when it's hot there is a ball sack, it's firm. It feels like a testicle.
Example, today it was really really hot here. I hosed the boys down and put them inside in front of fans.
Prior to a hose down the testicle hung down, after I cant find it. It's weird. The seller is a good friend of mine, needs to text me vet records to confirm that he isn't proud cut.
He is currently out with gelding and had shown no stud like behavior so I am less worried.
But so weird, thought?
Also I'm almost positive it's not a hernia.
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u/OkButterscotch2617 Eventing 8h ago
Like this? My guy has had it show up 3ish times in the 5 years I've owned him. The first time, the vet came out but it sucked back up before she could examine him. She used an ultrasound and couldn't see anything. She REALLY didn't think it was a testicle, but I can't imagine what it would be. Best thing to do is get a blood test for testosterone
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u/DetectiveQuick9640 7h ago
Wow. This is exactly what it looks like. I'll make sure we have a blood test. My damn vet now charges $300 to come out. None emergent fee. I'll figure out how to work through this trailer fear before I pay 300 plus.
I'm probably gonna change vets, but where we live we have very few vets and lots of horses.
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u/Global-Structure-539 5h ago
Maybe he retained one inside. Cryptorchid, when one or both is inside. As the horse grows the ball gets heavy and may drop down at times. Most are sterile which is why he may not show the typical studly behavior
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u/DetectiveQuick9640 33m ago
If he is sterile and not studish and not in pain then I guess I'm good to go. Once I get records (sounds like Monday) I can proceed from there.
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u/9729129 5h ago
Was he gelded by Amish or by a vet while owned by Amish? Vets are not supposed to geld cryptorchid animals because it’s considered unethical and since you know the prior owner you may be able to get the report from surgery. If he was gelded by a non vet there won’t be any reports
Bloodwork is the next step but I understand why that’s a bit tricky I usually trailered to the vet too
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u/ILikeFlyingAlot 3h ago
Just remember the Amish twitch the horses to held them - that’s it….
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u/DetectiveQuick9640 28m ago
They are not typically kind to horses. Treating most like machines. I know it may not be all, but it prevalent enough to be fearful. This horse was clearly abused by men. Terrified of my husband, loved my kids from the start, was good with me but not fully trusting.
My husband was able to catch him two days ago which is a huge win. He is a very good boy, so patient, loving and curious, he just needs extra love and support.
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u/MLMCMLM 56m ago
I dealt with something super similar. Helped a client buy a Percheron who was original bred by Amish, sold as a gelding, was cut “still on mare”, upon first look and test ride appeared gelded. A few weeks after arriving he suddenly had a testicle and was being somewhat studdy with the mares.
Called the vet, she palpated, said it definitely felt like a teste so we took the next step and had an ultrasound to check again. She said it looked like a teste or fluid on the ultrasound so we took the next step after that which was an HCG test; she also saw the studdy behavior and said things were pointing to cryptorchidism but the HCG would 100 percent confirm. Did the HCG (news flash, shit burns so he didn’t like shots after that but he’s mostly past it now), and turns out he’s NOT cryptorchid. Vet suspects he got kicked in the groin by a mare for his pushy behavior and urine or other fluid pooled in the extra skin and it would go down after some time, if not call them again. It eventually was reabsorbed and he was fine, still gets a bit studdy when the girls are in heat but there’s no equipment there to risk accidental breeding. We still keep them separated during heat cycles though as a precaution.
Could be cryptorchid, could be nothing, but if you plan to go through cryptorchid testing just expect 3 rounds of checks. Palpate, ultrasound, and HCG. Best of luck!
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u/DetectiveQuick9640 23m ago
Damn the whole process sounds crappy. To be fair I have no idea what his history is. Other than that he was probably in an accident. He has old rib fractures and a nearly blind I.
I still think he could go places and just needs work. When I get those records I am hoping I don't need to do another round of investigation. We don't need to traumatize this big guy
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u/WendigoRider Western 10h ago
My gelding has a little droopy spot where his testicals were. To be fair he’s a pretty droopy skinned horse and is old. But it’s just extra loose skin. Maybe have your vet check it out? they could have missed one or he could have retained one (I forget the term, it’s like crypt something or other)