Gelding, or castration, tends to reduce breeding type behavior, but may not eliminate
it entirely. Individuals vary of course and some males will still be somewhat pesty
when around females and yet others may never notice. Most veterinarians recommend
waiting until about two years of age to perform the gelding procedure.
Castration Of Camelids Photos of A Castration
Here is an article on castration sent out by Dr. David Anderson of Ohio State University.
Castration of Camelids: When, Where, Why
Practicing veterinarians offering service to clients owning camelids are routinely asked for advice
on castration of pet quality males. Superficially, this might appear to be a simple question, but
there has been significant debate on this issue. At the center of the debate is a concern for
musculoskeletal maturation of males after prepubertal castration. Breeders would prefer to castrate
males at 4 to 6 months old so that they may be sold as pets soon after weaning. Veterinarians would
prefer to see camelids castrated at 18 to 24 months after they have reached skeletal height maturity.
EFFECTS OF PREPUBERTAL CASTRATION
Castration of males at an early age has been shown in several species to delay the closure of
long-bone physes. Therefore, geldings may develop a tall, straight legged stature (particularly
of the hind limbs). In llamas, lateral patellar luxation and early onset of degenerative osteoarthritis
of the stifle joints have been seen as complications of this posture. Historical data usually reveals
that affected males were castrated at an early age (e.g. 4 months).
CASTRATION TECHNIQUES
Basically, any castration method that has been used in other livestock and pet animals has been
done successfully in camelids. However, two methods have become standards of practice: scrotal
castration (similar to horses and swine) and pre-scrotal castration (similar to canine). I prefer
to administer tetanus toxoid vaccination and procaine penicillin G (22,000 U/kg, q24h x 3 d) to
each animal. All food should be with held for 12 hours prior to castration in case general anesthesia
or heavy sedation becomes necessary.
Scrotal castration can be done with the animal standing or recumbent (I prefer recumbent). For
standing castration, the camelid is sedated with xylazine (0.2 mg/kg body weight, IM) and butorphanol
(0.1 mg/kg, IM) and an epidural is administered (2 ml, 2% lidocaine; or 10 mg xylazine in 2 ml sterile
normal saline). The scrotum is prepared for aseptic surgery and, if an epidural was not used, 2 ml
lidocaine is injected as a line block along the median raphe. A 2 cm incision is made on either side
and parallel to the median raphe along the ventral most aspect of the scrotum. Each testicle is removed
and excised either using an emasculator or after transfixation ligation with No 0 chromic gut (I prefer
transfixation ligation). Topical antiseptic and fly spray are applied. For recumbency, xylazine
(0.2 mg/kg, IV), butorphanol (0.1 mg/kg, IV), and ketamine (1 to 2 mg/kg, IV) are used.
Pre-scrotal castration is done with the animal recumbent. Strict aseptic technique is critical to
ensure that infection of the castration site does not develop. A 2 cm incision is made on ventral
midline immediately cranial to the ventral base of the scrotum. Each testicle is removed through
this incision and excised after transfixation ligation. After hemostasis has been achieved, the skin
incision is closed using a subcuticular or subcutaneous suture pattern. I prefer not to place skin
sutures so that removal of sutures is not necessary.
POSTOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT
I recommend that camelids be confined to a small pen for 24 to 48 hours after scrotal castration.
Confinement is not needed after pre-scrotal castration. Owners should monitor the incision for
bleeding, swelling, exudative discharge, fly infestation, difficulty urinating, and any other
problems. Although complications are uncommon, the consequences of postoperative problems can
be devastating to the owner.
David E Anderson, D.V.M., MS, Diplomate ACVS
College of Veterinary Medicine
The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
REFERENCES
1. Baird AN, Pugh DG, Wenzel JGW, Lin HC. Comparison of two castration techniques
for castration of llamas. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1996;208:261-262.
2. Pugh DG, Baird AN, Wolfe DF, Wenzel JGW, Lin HC. A pre-scrotal castration technique for llamas.
Equine Practice 1994;16:26-28.
3. Barrington GM, Meyer TF, Parish SM. Standing castration of the llama using butorphanol tartrate
and local anesthesia. Equine Practice 1993;15:35-39.
4. Dargatz DA, Johnson LW. Castrating the llama: a step-by-step guide. Veterinary Medicine
1987:625-627.
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