CASTRATION OF THE RUPTURED PIG

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 64, Issue 4, 15 April 1942, Page 241

CASTRATION OF THE RUPTURED PIG

Last month’s article described the castration of P l & s simple cases. Discussion this month

centres on the castration of ruptured pigs, the after-effects of faulty castration, and necrotic rniiiiiiiiiiiini sores.

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LIVESTOCK DIVISION

THE castration of a pig affected with a rupture or hernia in the scrotal sac requires a different technique to that followed in the castration of the normal animal. The hernia is readily diagnosed by the size and swelling on the affected side. The swelling in this case is due to the sac containing some of the abdominal contents in addition to the testicle, the contents having passed into the sac through the canal containing the cord. It is obvious, therefore, that if castration is carried out as already described, not only the testicle, but possibly some quantity of small intestine will escape when the normal incision is made through the skin and other coverings. In order to avoid this, certain precautions and change of method of operating are necessary. It is most important to have the ruptured pig well fasted before the operation in order to reduce the

volume of the abdominal contents. It is also advisable to have the pig held with the head downwards so that the contents of the hernia may be returned to the abdomen before any incision is made. Careful manipulation of the sac will now reveal the testicle only. If the hernia has been in existence for

iiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiniiiiiii some time the possibility of adhesions of the bowel in the sac makes the operation still more difficult. In the majority of cases, however, this complication is not present. Before operating, it will be necessary to have some sterilised silk or fine cord available for tying the neck of the sac containing the testicle, and also for sewing up the skin wound to prevent any possible prolapse afterwards. The needles and silk are prepared by boiling beforehand. Operation Described Probably the best method of castrating the ruptured pig is to carry out

carefully what is known as the “covered” operation. The pig is firmly held in position, as already described, so that the operator may make a careful incision without disturbance from the animal. The testicle is raised against the skin in the usual way. A careful cut is made through the skin only, the testicle being still covered by the lining of the scrotal sac. The testicle, is not exposed in this case, but shows through its covering as a dull, purplish body. The testicle in its sac or covering is now separated from the skin and gradually drawn through the skin wound to enable the silk or fine cord to be tied as low down as possible. After making certain that this tying is well done, so that it will not slip off when the testicle is removed, the sac is opened and the testicle is now cut off. Before tying the sac or cutting, it is absolutely necessary

Method of Castrating a Ruptured Pig

to ensure that no small loop of bowel is contained in the sac. When satisfied that the tying is secure, the protruding sac may be trimmed off close to the tying. To finish off the operation, it is necessary to put a few stitches in the skin wound for support when the animal resumes its normal horizontal position. Such an animal should be fed sparingly for a few days to enable

healing to take place before the abdomen again becomes distended. The pig should be kept confined in a small sty away from disturbance by other animals. Another method of castrating the ruptured side when one testicle is normal is first of all to remove the normal testicle in the usual way. The testicle in the ruptured side is now released into the position vacated by the removed testicle through an incision in the septum or wall separating the two halves of the scrotal sac. The testicle is then removed through the skin wound used for the removal of the first testicle, the skin over the ruptured side ; being left intact. In order to prevent any possibility of

protrusion of the bowel, it is advisable to stitch the wound. The after-treat-ment will be the same as when the covered operation is adopted. Pigs or Stags It quite frequently happens that one or even both testicles do not descend into the scrotal sac. Such an animal is described as a ridgeling or rig, or when the condition is seen in pigs, the animals are commonly referred to as “stags.” The testicles normally develop in the abdomen, and at or about birth they are drawn towards the inguinal

canal, pass down this canal, and are located in the normal position in the scrotum. Should this normal course not be followed, one or both may be retained in the abdomen. The castration of rigs or stags is a difficult operation, and as the stag is a most unsatisfactory animal to have on

the farm, it is probably more economical to destroy this class of animal in early life. It frequently happens that an owner will remove one testicle, the other being retained. This stag animal is dangerous when placed in a pen or truck with other normal barrows and sows, and much damage through flesh

wounds may be caused to the other pigs. After-effects of Faulty Castration ! When castration is carried out carelessly or under insanitary conditions, the wound becomes infected, pus forms,

Methods of Restraint of Pigs When no Assistant is Available

and the skin may heal over the surface, leaving the ’ pus imprisoned underneath. ' The .abscess becomes larger and larger, and unless opened, drained, and thoroughly flushed out to allow healing to take place from

the bottom, the result is an ugly, enlarged abscess which may or may not be discharging pus. The photograph on page 241 shows the scrotal abscesses in the live animal. If it is possible to remove the. abscesses at the works during inspection, serious mutilation of the ham on either side cannot be avoided. In many cases it is not possible to pass the carcass because of other secondary abscesses internally, and the carcass must be condemned and consigned to the digester. It is therefore most important to carry out castration in the best possible way, strict cleanliness being observed throughout in order to prevent the present amount of unnecessary waste.

Necrotic Ulcers Or Sores

Quite frequently one sees the castration operation site free from abscess of any size but infected with the organism, spirochaete, which gives rise to an ugly, necrotic raised sore, which is amenable to suitable treatment. On premises where the infection is likely to be found it is advisable to drain the sections thoroughly and dress liberally with lime/ The use of slaked lime or chloride of lime about the feeding troughs and sties is also recommended with a view to reducing the infection on the pig premises. Naturally, the radical treatment is to remove the pigs to a clean, fresh site, but this is not always economically possible. It should, however, be

given serious consideration when the pig sections and piggeries become pigsick through intensive stocking on small areas. Intensive pig-keeping frequently necessitates the holding and housing of pigs on concrete floors, subject to excellent drainage, and provided with an adequate water supply to maintain a high standard of hygiene in all the operations connected with the raising and fattening of pigs. The treatment of necrotic sores on pigs consists of scrubbing the sores with a stiff brush in order to remove the dead outer layer of scab material. The sores are then dusted lightly with powdered antimony tartrate. Where this powder comes into contact with the organism, the disease is arrested and normal healing of the sore takes place. It is well to remember that the powder is very poisonous, and should not be allowed to come into contact with any feeding stuff or feeding troughs.