When to neuter?

brita54 · 09-30-2007, 06:14 PM

My puppy is 5 months old and still only has one testicle descended. He is getting accupuncture treatments and chinese herbs to hopefully help it descend. I had planned to show him but will neuter him if the testicle doesn't descend. My vet said it still could come down. But, if it doesn't and is retained, when should I neuter him? I have heard to wait until a year or so until their hormones stabilize but also have heard that a retained testicle can cause cancer. Does anyone have any information about this?

**greenkouki** · 09-30-2007, 06:35 PM

this topic was discussed very recently. there were a few comments by members with dogs with undescended testicles.
Puppy Neuter Question
hope this helps

brita54 · 10-01-2007, 12:44 PM

Thank you for those threads. I had read them but my situation is different. My puppy only has one testicle and my question is should I neuter him early because of the threat for the undescended testicle to develop cancer or torsion?

Julie W · 10-01-2007, 01:34 PM

No, he doesn't need to be neutered early because of it. Just the normal 12-18 months would be just fine.

I'm curious as to why a breeder would sell a puppy with an undescended testicle into a show home though?!

Lexxsmom · 10-01-2007, 03:43 PM

is it really easy for the breeder to tell these things at 7-8 weeks?

**Burns** · 10-01-2007, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brita54

Thank you for those threads. I had read them but my situation is different. My puppy only has one testicle and my question is should I neuter him early because of the threat for the undescended testicle to develop cancer or torsion?

Actually, that question is specifically answered in the link that greenkouki provided if you read it through to the end. Here is the post I made about it: Puppy Neuter Question

brita54 · 10-02-2007, 07:30 PM

According to my vet, it wasn't that unusual for the testes to not have dropped at that early of an age. He felt they still could drop. The breeder did offer to replace the puppy but I will keep him and neuter him if the testicle doesn't drop.

reddobes · 10-02-2007, 09:03 PM

Is the undescended testicle palpable in the inguinal area (inner thigh)?

I have yet to see a testicle that is retained in the abdomen at 8 weeks descend. I have seen some descend further (more toward the scrotum) if they are in the inguinal area, but not necessarily as far a normal testicle. I would wait to neuter him until he is at least a year old. As cryptorchidism can be inherited, I am not sure why this pup would be sold as show pup? Even if the testicle does descend some.... is this a dog one would want to be breeding? In fact, this is why I got one of my Siamese cats... the breeder had originally planned to keep him to show/breed, but one of his testicles had didn't quite make it to the scrotum (it was really close), so she neutered him and I got a gorgeous pet!
Normally, both testicles should be descended by 8 wks. of age. At this age though, it is usually pretty easy to slip them up into the inguinal area, but they should still be palpable and you should be able to push them back into the scrotum.

tjmom · 10-03-2007, 10:25 PM

Our Titus at 8 weeks of age had an undescended testicle. Our breeder sold him to us as a companion dog an also advised us of the situation before we agreed to purchase him. When we took him our vet on his first visit around 11 weeks of age the vet could not feel the testicle and advised us that it would probably not drop. He advised us that we should not leave the testicle as it would mean for a higher chance of cancer. We had no intention leaving Titus intact and at the age of 7 months he was neutered. When they did his surgery they advised us that his testicle was so far in his abdomen that it would not have descended. I am not a vet and this is just my opinion but if it has not descended by now it probably won't but I would have the vet check and see if he/she can feel for it.