We were lucky to have vets Pat Sells and Laura
Heaps with us at the time of the horses arrival, so they were able to carry out the tricky
operation. When the operation was carried out there was no time for breakfast, since it
was important for the operation to be completed before the day got too hot, which could
also have increased the risk of complications. With our whole team of staff helping,
Patrick was prepared for the operation, anaesthetised and gently knocked down. It is a far
cry from the sterility of an operating theatre operating on a horse in the middle of a
dusty yard, but we unfortunately do not have those luxuries, so we do what we can with
what we have!
Vet Becky Whitell was in charge of the
anaesthesia, and she did a great job despite it being a slightly daunting task. The
operation took slightly longer than expected, with both testicles being rather unusual to
say the least! Upon opening the largest testicle (which weighed roughly 7kg!!) we expected
to find that there was a tumour, but to our surprise this was not the case. As Laura
dissected the testicle we were amazed to find that it was full of pus! However, the whole
team did a fantastic job and we all breathed a sigh of relief when everything was
completed and Patrick started to come round from his anaesthetic. It wasn't long until he
was up on his feet again and then it was a case of waiting a worrying few days to make
sure there weren't going to be any serious bleeds after the operation.
Since the operation Patrick has been making
slow but steady progress, and it won't be too long before he can go back to his owner a
much happier and more comfortable horse. Patrick is the most gentle of stallions and
everyone who dealt with him has become very fond of him. He has settled in well at GHDT,
and is especially pleased to have his own fly rug and to be turned loose in the paddock -
something that would not have happened since he was a foal. Stallions are typically
tethered all the time that they are not working in The Gambia, as people do not have
paddocks where they could be turned out, and there are so many stallions around. He is a
gentleman to handle, and has stood perfectly every day to have his wound washed down.
His owner is over the moon. Almost immediately
after we had finished the operation he was straight on the phone to us to check if his
horse was ok. And he phoned every day after that. It will be a wonderful day when we watch
him walk out of the GHDT centre with his owner, able to live out the rest of his days
without the constant pain that he was previously experiencing. A real success.
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