Pedro and Pablo, two adorable mini mules, visited us for castration as they were becoming a bit too boisterous.
Fun facts about mules
- Mules are hybrids, born from a male horse and a female donkey.
- They are infertile due to their hybrid nature, but they still produce normal sex hormones – explaining why Pedro and Pablo’s energy levels were escalating.
Surgical considerations for mules
- Donkeys and mules, unlike horses, have a higher risk of hemorrhaging during procedures. This requires careful ligation of blood vessels during castration.
- Given their small size, performing the procedure under general anaesthetic was the safest and most practical option.
Unique challenges
Mules and donkeys have a porto-hepatic shunt, an anomaly in their blood supply to the liver. This can make anaesthesia more complex, with the potential for certain drugs to cause them to relapse into anaesthesia hours after recovery.
A happy outcome
Despite these challenges, Pedro and Pablo handled their surgeries like champions and recovered uneventfully. We’re thrilled to see these two amigos back to their playful selves – just a little less boisterous!
