A 3 Year Old Gelding.

A gelding is a castrated animal — in English, the term specifically refers to a castrated male horse or other equine such as a donkey or a mule. Castration (also referred to as Gelding, Neutering, Fixing, orchiectomy, and orchidectomy is any action surgical, chemical The horse ( Equus caballus) is a hoofed ( Ungulate) Mammal, one of eight living species of the family Equidae. The horse ( Equus caballus) is a hoofed ( Ungulate) Mammal, one of eight living species of the family Equidae. The donkey or ass, Equus asinus, is a member of the Equidae or horse family and an odd-toed ungulate. In its common modern meaning a mule is the offspring of a male Donkey and a female Horse, which is classified as a kind of F1 hybrid. The word comes from the Old Norse geldr ("barren"). Old Norse is the North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age ^[1] Castration, and the elimination of hormonally-driven behavior associated with a stallion, allows a male horse to be calmer and better-behaved, making the animal quieter, gentler and potentially more suitable as an everyday working animal. Horse behavior is best understood from the perspective that Horses are prey animals with a well-developed Fight-or-flight instinct A working animal is an animal that is kept by humans and trained to perform tasks

History

The Scythians are thought to have been the first people to geld their horses. The Scythians or Scyths (Σκύθες Σκύθοι were an Iranian speaking people of horse-riding Nomadic pastoralists who dominated the Pontic ^[2][3]

Geldings as war horses

Geldings were once prized by classical steppe warriors as war horses because they were quiet; without mating urges, they were less prone to call out to other horses, easier to keep in groups, and less likely to fight with one another. In physical Geography, a steppe ( German, from степь - "a flat and arid land" степ - /stɛp/ тал - tal дала - /dɑlɑ/ pronounced Horses were first used in warfare over 5000 years ago The earliest evidence of the use of horses ridden in warfare dates These qualities are still valued today, particularly on modern cattle ranches where working horses are commonly kept in groups and also need to be ready to go at a moment's notice. Cattle, colloquially referred to as cows, are domesticated Ungulates a member of the Subfamily Bovinae of the family A ranch is an area of landscape including various structures given primarily to the practice of ranching the practice of raising grazing livestock such as Cattle ^[4]

Famous geldings

Famous racehorse geldings include Red Rum and Desert Orchid, who raced in the UK; Arkle, from Ireland; Phar Lap, who raced in Australia; and American geldings Exterminator, Kelso, Forego, John Henry, Lava Man, The Tin Man, 1985 Belmont Stakes winner Creme Fraiche, and the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner, Funny Cide as well as his half brother, winner of the 2005 Whitney Handicap, Commentator. for Murder spelled backwards see Redrum. Red Rum (bay gelding May 3, 1965 &ndash October 18, 1995. Desert Orchid ( April 11 1979 &ndash November 13 2006) affectionately known as Dessie, was an English racehorse The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Arkle ( 19 April 1957 - 31 May 1970) was a famous Irish Thoroughbred racehorse Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world For the Computer software, see Phar Lap (company. Phar Lap, a giant chestnut Thoroughbred Gelding, is considered For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Exterminator ( May 30, 1915 - September 26, 1945) was an American Thoroughbred Racehorse and the winner of the Kelso (April 4 1957 - October 16 1983 was an American Thoroughbred Race horse and is considered to be among the best racehorses of the Twentieth century Forego (1970-1997 was a highly successful American Thoroughbred Racehorse. John Henry ( March 9 1975 &ndash October 8 2007) was an American Thoroughbred Race horse named after the Lava Man (foaled on March 20 2001 is a dark bay gelded Thoroughbred Race horse by Slew City Slew ( Seattle Slew) out of L'il Ms The Tin Man (foaled February 18 1998 in Kentucky) is an American Thoroughbred Gelding racehorse. The Belmont Stakes is a prestigious American Grade I stakes race held yearly in June at Belmont Park in Elmont New York. Creme Fraiche (foaled 1982 in Kentucky) was an American Thoroughbred Gelding racehorse. The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three year-old thoroughbred horses held annually in Louisville Kentucky, on the first Saturday in May The Preakness Stakes is an American Grade I stakes race 1-3/16 mile (1 Funny Cide (born April 20 2000 is a Thoroughbred Race horse who won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in 2003 The Whitney Handicap (often referred to as the "Whitney Stakes" is an American Grade 1 handicap race for Thoroughbred Racehorses three Commentator (foaled March 27 2001 is an American Thoroughbred Race horse out of the increasingly influential Stallion, Distorted Humor Famous geldings in movies and television include Mr. Television ( TV) is a widely used Telecommunication medium for sending ( Broadcasting) and receiving moving Images, either monochromatic Ed (Bamboo Harvester), and the two geldings that played the Lone Ranger's horse "Silver. Bamboo Harvester was the name of the Palomino horse which portrayed Mr The Lone Ranger is an American, long-running Old-time radio and early Television show created by George W "

Reasons for gelding

See also: Horse behavior and horse breeding

A male horse is often gelded to make him better-behaved and easier to control. Horse behavior is best understood from the perspective that Horses are prey animals with a well-developed Fight-or-flight instinct Horse breeding refers to reproduction in Horses and particularly the human-directed process of Selective breeding of animals particularly Purebred Gelding also removes lower-quality animals from the gene pool. In Population genetics, a gene pool is the complete set of unique Alleles in a Species or Population. ^[5] Horse breeders choose to leave only their best animals as stallions; lesser specimens are gelded, to improve the overall quality of the breed. Horse breeding refers to reproduction in Horses and particularly the human-directed process of Selective breeding of animals particularly Purebred

To allow only the finest animals to breed on, while preserving adequate genetic diversity, it is recommended that only a small percentage of all male horses should remain stallions. Genetic diversity is a level of Biodiversity that refers to the total number of genetic characteristics in the genetic makeup of a species Some sources place the percentage of stallions considered unacceptable breeding stock at about 90%,^[6] while others would be more radical and state that only 0. 5% should be bred. ^[7] In wild herds, the 10% ratio is largely maintained, though via a different mechanism, as a single stallion usually protects and breeds a herd of up to 10 or 12 mares, though may permit a less dominant junior stallion to live at the fringes of the herd. ^[8] There are more males than just herd stallions, but unattached male horses group together for protection in small all-male "bachelor herds," where, in the absence of mares, they tend to behave much like geldings. A bachelor herds is a gathering of (usually juvenile male animals who are still sexually immature or of 'harem'-forming animals who have been thrown out of their parent groups but not ^[9]

Gelding a male horse can reduce potential conflicts within domestic horse herds.

Geldings are preferred over stallions for working purposes because they are calmer, easier to handle, and more tractable. ^[10] Geldings are therefore a favorite for many equestrians, especially amateurs. For the Roman class see Equestrian (Roman Equestrianism refers to the skill of riding or driving Horses This broad description In many horse shows, due to the dangers inherent in handling stallions, requiring experienced handlers, youth exhibitors (and occasionally, women) are not permitted to show stallions in classes limited to just those riders. A Horse show is a judged exhibition of Horses and ponies. Many different horse breeds and equestrian disciplines hold competitions worldwide ^[11]

Geldings are often preferred over mares, because some mares become temperamental when in heat. Oestrus is also the biological genus name of the gadfly. The estrous cycle (also oestrous cycle; derived from Latin Also, the use of mares may be limited during the later months of pregnancy and while caring for a young foal. A foal is a Horse that is one year old or younger More specific terms are colt for a Male foal and Filly for a Female foal

In horse racing, castrating a stallion may be considered worthwhile if the animal is easily distracted by other horses, difficult to handle, or otherwise not running to his full potential due to behavioral issues. This article is about the sport For other uses see Horserace (drinking game or Horse race (politics. ^[10] While this means the horse loses any breeding value, a successful track career can often be a boost to the value of the stallion that sired the gelding, and the horse himself may win substantial purse money on the track, as he is apt to race for many more years than would a stallion, which is often retired to stud immediately following a short but successful track career.

Sometimes a stallion used for breeding is castrated later in life, possibly due to sterility, or because the offspring of the stallion are not up to expectations, or simply because the horse is not used much for breeding, due to shifting fashion in pedigree or "look. " Castration often allows the retired stallion to live a more social and comfortable existence close to or with a herd of other horses.

Under British National Hunt racing (i. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located National Hunt racing is the official name given to the sport of horse racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland where the horses are required to jump over obstacles e. Steeplechase) rules, to minimize the health and safety risk for horses, riders, and spectators, nearly all participating horses are geldings. The steeplechase is a form of Horse racing (primarily conducted in the United Kingdom, United States, France, and Ireland) and derives ^[12] On the other hand, in Europe, geldings are excluded from many of the most prestigious flat races including the Classics and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to Thoroughbreds which are three-years-old or above ^[13]

Reasons not to geld

To perpetuate any given breed, some male horses must remain capable of reproduction. Meyers b12 s0947bjpg|thumb|Heavy or draft horse breeds]] This page is a list of Horse and Pony breeds and also includes terms used to describe types of horses that are not Thus animals considered to be the finest representatives are kept as stallions and used for mating. Though the criteria used can be, in some places, rather subjective, a stallion should have a superior appearance, or phenotype; a superior pedigree, or genotype, and, ideally, a successful performance record in the area of specialty for that particular breed. A particularly fine horse that is gelded may remove outstanding traits from the gene pool, an issue that occasionally is raised when a gelding does particularly well, such as when Funny Cide won the 2003 Kentucky Derby. In Population genetics, a gene pool is the complete set of unique Alleles in a Species or Population. Funny Cide (born April 20 2000 is a Thoroughbred Race horse who won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in 2003 The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three year-old thoroughbred horses held annually in Louisville Kentucky, on the first Saturday in May

Hesitation to geld a horse may occur out of concern that a gelding, once past its athletic prime, will be of no economic value for anything but the horsemeat market; whereas a stallion can be used for breeding purposes even if injured or too old to be athletically competitive. Horse meat is the culinary name for meat cut from a Horse. It is slightly sweet tender low in fat and high in protein However, the consideration of whether a male horse is of a quality suitable for breeding stock must not be overlooked. Furthermore, though some nations have an active horsemeat industry, many geldings are actually retired to pasture and allowed to live out a normal lifespan. Pasture is land with Herbaceous vegetation cover used for grazing of Ungulate Livestock as part of a Farm or Ranch.

Some cultures historically did not and still seldom geld male horses, most notably the Arabs. The araB gene Promoter is a bacterial promoter activated by e L-arabinose binding ^[14] These people usually used mares for everyday work and for war. In these cultures, most stallions are still not used for breeding, only those of the best quality. When used as ordinary riding animals, they are kept only with or near other male horses in a "bachelor" setting, which tends to produce calmer, less stallion-like behavior. Horse behavior is best understood from the perspective that Horses are prey animals with a well-developed Fight-or-flight instinct ^[15] Culled males are often sold away to other cultures, some of which lack the cultural taboos against gelding horses, while others simply slaughter them for horsemeat. Horse meat is the culinary name for meat cut from a Horse. It is slightly sweet tender low in fat and high in protein Gelding was not practiced by the ancient Israelites and was forbidden in the Bible. See also History of ancient Israel and Judah According to the Bible, the Israelites were the dominant group living in the Land of Israel. ^[16]

Gelding horses is generally approved of as a way to allow more horses to live comfortably and safely in close proximity to humans and other horses, and as an ethical means of population control, even within the animal rights community. "Animal liberation" redirects here for other uses see Animal liberation (disambiguation. However, some individuals are concerned that the process may cause pain for the animal or somehow lessen their vitality or spirit. While modern surgical procedures cause far less discomfort to the animal than more primitive methods, there is minor postoperative discomfort when the animal is in recovery. Gelding a horse does not reduce its athletic potential or strength, but the reduced aggressiveness of the animal may be viewed as a minus in some competitive endeavors.

Time of gelding

A horse may be gelded at any age; however, if an owner knows that he or she intends to geld a particular foal, it is now considered best to geld the horse prior to becoming a yearling,^[17] and definitely before it reaches sexual maturity. While it was once recommended to wait until a young horse was well over a year old, even two, this was a holdover from the days when castration was performed without anesthesia and was thus far more stressful on the animal. Anesthesia, or anaesthesia (see spelling differences; from Greek grc αν- an-, "without" and grc αἲσθησις Modern veterinary techniques can now accomplish castration with relatively little stress and minimal discomfort, so long as appropriate analgesics are employed. ^[18] A few horse owners delay gelding a horse on the grounds that the testosterone gained from being allowed to reach sexual maturity will make it larger. Testosterone is a Steroid hormone from the Androgen group In mammals testosterone is primarily secreted in the testes of males and the Ovaries However, recent studies have shown that this is not so: any apparent muscle mass gained solely from the presence of hormones will be lost over time after the horse is gelded, and in the meantime, the energy spent developing muscle mass may actually take away from the energy a young horse might otherwise put into skeletal growth; the net effect is that castration has no effect on rate of growth (although it may increase the amount of fat the horse carries). ^[19]

Many older stallions, no longer used at stud due to age or sterility, can benefit from being gelded. Modern veterinary techniques make gelding of even a somewhat elderly stallion a fairly low-risk procedure,^[20] and the horse then has the benefit of being able to be turned out safely with other horses and allowed to live a less restricted and isolated life than was allowable for a stallion.

Specialized maintenance of geldings

Owners of male horses, both geldings and stallions, need to occasionally check the horse's "sheath," the pocket of skin that protects the penis of the horse when it is not in use for urination (or, in the case of stallions, breeding). The penis (plural penises, penes Urination, also known as micturition, voiding, and more rarely emiction, is the process of disposing Urine from the Urinary bladder ^[21] This area may need to be cleaned, particularly in geldings. Not only can smegma, a waxy substance that includes dirt and dead skin cells, accumulate, but some geldings (and occasionally, stallions) may also form a "bean," a hardened ball of smegma inside the sheath or even the urethra that, in extreme cases, can interfere with urine flow. This article is about smegma a secretion of mammalian genitals In Anatomy, the urethra (from Greek ουρήθρα - ourethra) is a tube which connects the Urinary bladder to the outside of Although a gelding retains the same beneficial microorganisms in the sheath as a stallion, they seem to accumulate smegma and other debris at a higher rate, probably because geldings rarely fully extrude their penis, and thus dirt and smegma build up in the folds of skin. This article is about smegma a secretion of mammalian genitals ^[21] Thus, it is recommended that the sheath be cleaned once or twice a year. ^[22] To clean the sheath, a specialized mild cleaner with grease-cutting properties is used, along with warm water and many clean (usually disposable) towels. Rubber gloves for the handler are recommended, as the job can be rather smelly and messy. ^[22]

Some horses object to sheath cleaning and require sedation, others will tolerate it if the groom is careful and patient, though light sedation may help the horse "drop" for easier cleaning. A sedative, or more specifically a sedative-hypnotic, is a substance that depresses the Central nervous system (CNS resulting in calmness relaxation sleepiness ^[21] Ideally, the horse will be desensitized by careful training to tolerate the procedure. To begin, a gentle stream of warm water is run into the sheath from a hose or a large, needleless syringe. This will loosen and soften some of the material and make it easier to remove. ^[21] The process requires either that the horse "drop" its penis or that the groom reach up inside of the sheath to pull the penis gently from the sheath by the glans (head) in order to apply cleaner and carefully clean the entire region. The glans penis (or simply glans) is the sensitive tip of the Penis. ^[21] The "bean" is often found in the urethral diverticulum, a pocket adjacent to the opening of the urethra, so that area must also be checked. In Anatomy, the urethra (from Greek ουρήθρα - ourethra) is a tube which connects the Urinary bladder to the outside of While a veterinarian can clean a sheath, it is not a medical procedure and can be done by any person who learns the proper method. A veterinarian ( American English) or a Veterinary surgeon ( British English) often shortened to vet, is a Physician ^[23]

Castration techniques

An open castration being performed on a horse under ketamine anaesthesia

There are two major techniques commonly used in castrating a horse, one requiring only local anaesthesia and the other requiring general anaesthesia. Ketamine is a drug for use in human and veterinary medicine developed by Parke-Davis (today a part of Pfizer) in 1962 In modern medical practice general anaesthesia ( AmE: anesthesia) is a state of total unconsciousness resulting from General anaesthetic drugs Castration (also referred to as Gelding, Neutering, Fixing, orchiectomy, and orchidectomy is any action surgical, chemical Local anesthesia is any technique to render part of the body insensitive to pain without affecting consciousness In modern medical practice general anaesthesia ( AmE: anesthesia) is a state of total unconsciousness resulting from General anaesthetic drugs Each technique has advantages and disadvantages.

Standing castration

Standing castration is a technique where a horse is sedated and local anaesthesia is administered, without throwing the horse to the ground or putting them completely "under. " It has the benefit that general anaesthesia (GA) is not required. In modern medical practice general anaesthesia ( AmE: anesthesia) is a state of total unconsciousness resulting from General anaesthetic drugs This method is advocated for simple procedures because the estimated mortality for GA in horses at a modern clinic is approximately 1–2/1000, and mortality in the field (i. Mortality rate is a measure of the number of Deaths (in general or due to a specific cause in some population scaled to the size of that population per unit time e. where most horse castrations are performed) is probably higher, due to poorer facilities. ^[24]

For standing castration, the colt or stallion is sedated, typically with detomidine with or without butorphanol, and often physically restrained. A colt is a young Male Horse, under the age of four However in olden days the word 'colt' referred to any young or infant horse regardless of gender Sedation is a Medical procedure involving the administration of Sedative drugs generally to facilitate a medical procedure with Local anaesthesia. Detomidine is an Imidazole derivative and alpha2-adrenergic Agonist, used as a large animal Sedative,primarily used in Horses. Butorphanol ( INN) is a Morphinan -type synthetic Opioid Analgesic. Local anaesthetic is injected into the parenchyma of both testes. A local anesthetic is a drug that causes reversible Local anesthesia and a loss of Nociception. Parenchyma is a term used to describe a bulk of a substance It is used in different ways in Animals and in Plants. The testicle (from Latin testiculus, diminutive of testis, meaning "witness" virility plural testes) is the male An incision is made through the scrotum and the testes are removed, then the spermatic cord is crushed, most commonly with either ligatures or emasculators, or both. In some Male Mammals the scrotum - also 'scrutum' or 'scrootum' - is a protuberance of Skin and Muscle containing the Testicles The spermatic cord is the name given to the cord-like structure in males formed by the Vas deferens and surrounding tissue that run from the Abdomen down to each In medicine a ligature is a device similar to a Tourniquet, usually of thread or string tied around a limb blood vessel or similar to restrict blood flow An emasculator is a tool used in the Castration of Livestock. The emasculators are applied for 2–3 minutes, then removed, and a careful check is made for signs of haemorrhage. Bleeding, technically known as hemorrhaging / haemorrhaging (see American and British spelling differences) is the loss of Blood from Assuming that bleeding is at a minimum, the other side is castrated in the same manner. Most veterinarians will remove the testis that is held most "tightly" (or close to the body) by the cremaster muscle first, so as to minimise the risk of the horse withdrawing it to the point where it is inaccessible. A veterinarian ( American English) or a Veterinary surgeon ( British English) often shortened to vet, is a Physician The cremaster muscle is a Muscle that covers the testis. Contraction Its function is to raise and lower the Scrotum in order to regulate The horse, now a gelding, is allowed to recover.

Standing castration can be performed in more complicated cases. Some authorities have described a technique for the removal of abdominally retained testes from cryptorchid animals,^[25] but most surgeons still advocate a recumbent technique, as described below. Cryptorchidism is the absence of one or both Testes from the Scrotum. ^[26] The other drawback to standing castration is the risk that, even with sedation and restraint, the horse may object to the procedure and kick or otherwise injure the individual performing the operation. ^[27]

Recumbent castration

recumbent castration, including use of emasculators

Putting a horse under general anaesthesia for castration is preferred by some veterinarians because "surgical exposure is improved and it carries less (overall) risk for surgeon and patient. An emasculator is a tool used in the Castration of Livestock. In modern medical practice general anaesthesia ( AmE: anesthesia) is a state of total unconsciousness resulting from General anaesthetic drugs "^[28] For simple castration of normal animals, the advantages to recumbent castration are that the horse is prone, better asepsis (sterile environment) can be maintained, and better haemostasis (control of bleeding). Asepsis is the practice to reduce or eliminate contaminants (such as Bacteria, Viruses Fungi, and Parasites) from entering the operative field Hemostasis (or Haemostasis refers to a process whereby bleeding is halted in most animals with a closed Circulatory system. In addition, there is significantly less risk of the surgeon or assistants being kicked. In addition, in a more complex situation such as castration of cryptorchid animals, the inguinal canal is more easily accessed. Cryptorchidism is the absence of one or both Testes from the Scrotum. The inguinal canal is a passage in the anterior (toward the front of the body abdominal wall which in men conveys the Spermatic cord and in women the round ligament There are several different techniques (such as "open", "closed", and "semi-closed") that may be employed, but the basic surgery is similar. However, general anaesthesia is not without risks, including post-anaesthetic myopathy (muscle damage) and neuropathy (nerve damage),^[29] respiratory dysfunction (V/Q mismatch), and cardiac depression. In Medicine, a myopathy is a neuromuscular Disease in which the Muscle fibers do not function for any one of many reasons resulting in Muscular weakness Neuropathy is a medical term usually short for Peripheral neuropathy. ^[30] These complications occur with sufficient frequency that castration has a relatively high overall mortality rate. ^[24] To minimize these concerns, the British Equine Veterinary Association guidelines recommend two veterinary surgeons should be present when an equine general anaesthetic is being performed. A veterinary surgeon is a Veterinarian qualified in the UK and some other English -speaking countries (See Commonwealth of Nations and Commonwealth ^[31]

Aftercare

With both castration techniques, the wound should be kept clean and allowed to drain freely to reduce the risk of hematoma formation, or development of an abscess. A hematoma, or haematoma, is a collection of Blood outside the blood vessels generally the result of Hemorrhage, or more specifically Internal bleeding An abscess (abscessus is a collection of Pus (dead Neutrophils) that has accumulated in a cavity formed by the tissue on the basis of an infectious process The use of tetanus antitoxin and analgesics (painkillers) are necessary, and antibiotics are also commonly administered. Tetanus is a medical condition that is characterized by a prolonged contraction of Skeletal muscle fibres In modern usage an antibiotic is a Chemotherapeutic agent with activity against Microorganisms such as Bacteria, fungi or Protozoa The horse is commonly walked in hand for some days to reduce the development of edema (UK: oedema). Oedema (or Edema in American English formerly known as dropsy or hydropsy, is the increase of Interstitial fluid in any organ &mdash swelling ^[32]

Possible complications

Minor complications following castration are relatively common, while serious complications are rare - according to one in-depth study, for standing castration the complication rate is 22%, while for recumbent castration it is 6% (although with a 1% mortality). ^[20] The more common are:

• Post-operative swelling (edema) - minor and very common^[33]
• Scrotal/incisional infection - Local seroma/abscess formation is relatively common, when the skin seals over before the deeper pocket has time to seal. Oedema (or Edema in American English formerly known as dropsy or hydropsy, is the increase of Interstitial fluid in any organ &mdash swelling This requires re-opening the skin incision, typically with the use of antibiotics, but usually resolves quickly after this. In modern usage an antibiotic is a Chemotherapeutic agent with activity against Microorganisms such as Bacteria, fungi or Protozoa
• Peritonitis from bacteria entering the abdominal cavity through the cord is a rare complication. Peritonitis is defined as Inflammation of the Peritoneum (the Serous membrane which lines part of the abdominal cavity and some of the Viscera
• Chronic infection leads to a schirrous cord - the formation of a granuloma at the incision site, that may not be obvious for months or even years^[28]
• Hemorrhage (bleeding) ranges from the relatively common and insignificant occasional drip to the uncommon but potentially life-threatening blood loss. In Medicine, a chronic disease is a Disease that is long-lasting or recurrent In Medicine ( Anatomical pathology) a granuloma (classical Latin plural granulomata; modern anglicized plural granulomas, also accepted Bleeding, technically known as hemorrhaging / haemorrhaging (see American and British spelling differences) is the loss of Blood from
• Evisceration (a condition where the abdominal contents "fall out" of the surgical incision - this is uncommon,^[17] and while the survival rate is 85 - 100% if treated promptly, the mortality rate is high for those not dealt with immediately. Disembowelment ( evisceration) is the removing of some or all of the vital organs usually from the Abdomen. In Vertebrates such as Mammals the abdomen (belly constitutes the part of the body between the Thorax (chest and Pelvis. ^[28]

References

See also

• eunuch, ridgling, wether, and steer
• Spaying and neutering (for animals)