Penile injury
Keywords: stallion, equine, penis, injury, GunnAn approximately five year old 500 kg Australian Stock Horse stallion was presented having been found in the paddock adjoining an “in season” mare, with a very large and swollen penis and prepuce.
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There was also an obvious wound on the left dorsal mid-shaft of the penis. The stallion appeared to have jumped into the paddock adjoining the mare, and attempted to serve her through the fence.
Initial treatment was cold hydrotherapy for approximately 20 minutes. When examined approximately three hours later, the stallion was bright, alert and responsive with obvious balanoposthitis resulting in paraphimosis. Clinical examination was otherwise unremarkable. The stallion was sedated with 20 mg romifidine and 20 mg butorphanol, and 750 mg flunixin meglumine was administered intravenously. Procaine penicillin (10,500,000 IU) was administered intramuscularly. The penis was extended with manual traction, palpated, examined visually, and scanned ultrasonographically. This suggested that the penile tunica albuginea was intact but as shown below (note cursors) there was substantial edema between the tunica albuginea and the skin.
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There was an obvious full-thickness wound on the left dorso-lateral aspect of the internal preputial lamina at the level of the internal preputial ring. The wound was left to heal by second intention. Massage was instigated to decrease the edema and assist in returning the penis to the prepuce. The penis was cleaned with water and very dilute iodine surgical scrub, rinsed and dried. Emollient antibiotic ointment was applied to the swollen area.
The “underpants support mechanism” was applied to this horse, similar to other described by Gunn. A.J. et al 2013). He was hand walked four times daily and treatment was similar to that in the cases described above. The support was deviated to the side twice daily for hydrotherapy and application of antibiotic ointment. The support was changed daily for three days. On the fourth day, the stallion was able to retract his penis and prepuce into the preputial cavity. The support was removed as it was no longer required.
Daily hydrotherapy of the penis and prepuce, and antibiotic ointment application continued for seven days. Then stallion was then able obtain an erection and after erection, to retract his penis into the preputial cavity. The wound had granulated, epithelialization was occurring, and contraction of the area was evident.
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The stallion was exposed to mares daily to induce frequent erections for a period of two weeks. The penile wound had healed substantially by that time (see inset) allowing the stallion to serve a mare successfully. The mare became pregnant.
Copyright: Dr Allan. BSc.Agric, BVM&S, MANZCVS (horse med; repro), DACT, MRCVS
Lecturer; School of Animal and Veterinary Science Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, Australia. (algunn@csu.edu.au).
Reference: Gunn. A.J. et al 2013. Balanoposthitis and paraphimosis in the stallion. A novel support for an inflamed penis and prepuce Clinical Theriogenology • Volume 5:45-55 • March 2013
This material has been reproduced courtesy of Dr R.Youngquist, Editor.Clinical Theriogenology
