Post Castration, decomp smell

[Singing Shepherd]

On Friday I had my two one-year-old rams castrated. Their scrotums were banded afterwards by vet. I expected them to be off normal for a day or so while they get over discomfort and stress of procedure. They both seemed to be proceeding as thought they would, then this evening I noticed a smell of decomp like what I smell when find a dead animal. I searched area for just that and found nothing. So I guessed I must be smelling the flesh of the scrotum dying off....but does that idea make sense?

 

[purplequeenvt]

Yes. That smell would be normal. You should smell banded lamb tails!

 

[Goatherd]

I'm a little confused...they were surgically castrated and then the vet put a band on the scrotum? Only reason I ask is that doesn't make sense with surgical castration.
Under normal circumstances, the incision is made, testicles and are removed and then the scrotum is left open for drainage to promote healing. A pain reliever is usually administered at the time of the surgery.
If the surgery was done only a few days ago, an "off" smell wouldn't be normal this soon.

 

[alsea1]

Can you get a good look at the wound site. Could be it needs some attention.

 

[Bossroo]

Note to original poster ... IF there is a next time... send the ram to freezer camp ... much cheaper and more productive to one's wallet ( NOT the Vet's.)

 

[Singing Shepherd]

Thanks for responses. Yes, I am fully aware of the ridicule I will receive for my "keep the rams and castrate" choice. I fully considered the cost of my decision before I made it. Although it probably is not the popular choice of action, I have deeply personal reasons for going the non-freezer camp route. There will not be a next time. That said, I want the sheep to recover. So....Goatherd, my vet said she removed the testicles and opted not to remove the scrotum sac to reduce the mess of the wound site. The sheep are eating normally, if a little less. Have seen both urinate and deficate; one is constipated, the other normal. They are much quieter than usual, but still respond to me as usual.

 

[purplequeenvt]

I missed the piece about the surgery being this past Friday. That does seem soon for stuff to be smelling, but it is soft tissue and, if you've been having warm temperatures, that will speed up decomp. Can you get a look at it to make sure there is no infection? Did you vet give a reason for banding the scrotum after removing the testes? I've never heard of the being done.

You won't get any judgement from me about keeping your rams (now wethers). It is a personal decision and one that should not be ridiculed or criticized. You don't need to explain or justify your reasons for keeping them.

 

[Singing Shepherd]

Thank you for your encouragement purplequeen. I really appreciate it. I had not heard of this technique either, only the removal of testicles and leaving wound open. The only relevant detail I remember from the post surgery conversation is vet reference to the bloody mess removal of the sac or allowing the sacs to hang unsecured poses..?.not sure. I didn't question it. Think I was distracted with trying to think of all the questions I wanted to ask to make sure I handled the immediate days following surgery. I was worried with the level of stress they were experiencing, knowing this was a big deal procedure for them at their age. Anyway, she gave me Banamine shots to administer Sat. And I will give antibiotics again tomorrow. They are not walking well as I watched them today; I was thinking that could be caused by how the site may be swollen and sore.

 

[Burnie]

Coming in late to convo...but we bought our first two goats last weekend. One was banded a few days before we picked them up. Now it smells...no increased redness or swelling just not smelling good and about the testes are about 1/2 'off' if that makes sense. Is that normal to have that smell?