• Not used routinely at the present time in stallions, but rapidly increasing in popularity.

Uses

• A useful adjunct to stallion breeding-soundness examination   Male: genitalia - examination  .
• An important diagnostic tool for examination of reproductive pathology in the stallion.

Advantages

• technique allows for inspection of internal reproductive organs.
• Non-invasive examination of components of the male reproductive system.

Disadvantages

• Rectal palpation involves risk to examiner and animal.
• Examination of the external genitalia often requires the veterinary surgeon to be in a potentially vulnerable position in relation to the horses hind legs and therefore proper restraint   Restraint methods  is essential and extreme care must be taken of personnel and equipment.
• Experience is needed to perform the technique and interpret the ultrasound images.
• Narrow scope of result findings, ie structural abnormalities.

Technical problems

• Transducer size and frequency will limit results achievable.
• Interpretation of ultrasound scans requires a high level of expertise.

Alternative techniques

• Manual palpation.
• Rectal palpation.
• Testicular biopsy.

Decision taking

Risk assessment

• Examination of the external genitalia often requires the veterinary surgeon to be in a potentially vulnerable position in relation to the horses hind legs and therefore proper restraint   Restraint methods   is essential and extreme care must be taken of personnel and equipment.
• Rectal palpation involves risk for both personnel and horse.