So, I'm sure plenty ofnyouvsre aware of Arnie latest run in with the fence where he cut himself open and had to go to the vet to get some staples. While we were there the vet gave him a check up. She said she could only feel one testicle. She recommended desexing as a priority. She told a story of a greyhound that had the same issue and because the testicle was still in his stomach in the tube it secreted some hormone that developed into cancer. This greyhound died before its fifth birthday. So I'm thinking, has anyone heard of this happening? I didn't want to desex him, but I will if there is a genuine medical reason for it. Anyway, opinions?
Riley's second testicle didn't descend until he was about 9 months. Whilst I agree that undescended testicle definitely shouldn't be left to turn cancerous there are, to my non-vet knowledge, several options. You can take out the undescended testicle and leave the other one alone. You can do a full neuter and remove both. You can remove the undescended one and do a vasectomy which will leave hormones intact but prevent mating. There are probably other options too. Whether to spay or neuter is a very personal thing and each case should be decided as an individual. Neither of my boys is neutered but I'm happy to take on the responsibility that entails around possible matings. I believe the medical case for staying intact slightly outweighs the case for neutering in boys. If I have another boy dog with an undescended testicle I will choose whether to neuter based on other factors. Then I will decide how and when to remove the undescended testicle.
Right. That's good to know @bbrown I was gonna book his desexing in when I get his bandage changed on Friday but I might hold off for a little and ask the vet some more questions
With the exception of medical emergencies such as pyometra in bitches I think there's rarely a rush to make a decision. I always said it would be an open ended question in our house. The boys could keep their bits as long as there was no obvious need for them not to. So far I have a 5 year old and an almost two year old that are still intact. I understand that in other places there is a social pressure to desex and in some places legislation. I'm lucky in that I was free to choose and had (in the main) supportive vets
Arnie only has one testicle and it's not descended? Or two and one is not descended? I wonder what benefit there is if a vasectomy is performed but the one testicle is removed? Yes, there is lots of literature that says you should remove an undescended testicle (or both in the rare case both are undescended) but my only knowledge is from reading about it. I wonder, is there surgery to help a testicle descend? There is in people, my friend's little grandson had it.
The benefit (in my mind) of a vasectomy over a full removal of testicles is that the dog is left with his hormones from the testicle that has descended correctly whilst not able to mate and produce unwanted offspring. If I ever have to neuter a dog for procreation purposes I will endeavour to leave them with their hormones as I believe there's benefit to that. Vasectomies seem to be becoming more available. I haven't seen anything surgical about helping testicles descend but that doesn't mean it's not possible. I would imagine that because neutering is such a regular occurence it's probably not something explored for dogs. When speaking with a vet nurse about Riley's undescended testicle she said not to worry as they'd get it when I brought him in to be neutered. We had a swift conversation about making assumptions around neutering and the subject was never raised again.
The retained testicle can become cancerous. I am not sure how old Arnie is, sometimes the undescended testicle does descend, so with your vet's advice you may be able to wait a little longer. I cannot see the point of vasectomy, all that does is prevent the male dog from siring puppies, I do not think it changes the hormones.
Yes, thanks, I've read that too. I wrote my question wrongly. I meant if he only has one at all and it is removed then is the expense of vasectomy worth while? If he still has another good testicle left, then yes, I see that. From @Somatic my understanding is the dog only has one at all. One? Two?
Missing the edit button right now. With human women and I think sometimes dogs, a bit of ovary can be left in at a hysterectomy. A gal at work had that. Now, ovaries are supposed to be within the body, but, can a bit of testicle be left in? The dog will still produce testosterone from the adrenal glands too, but far less.
Our first dog had this, the vet noticed it fairly early on but was quite happy to leave it and check it every year when he went in for his boosters. He was 8yrs when she said to us that she felt that it was time to have them both removed. If i can remember correctly the one that was descended felt different and said she'd rather remove them in case it was an indication of cancer. He came through the op fine without any major problems, the cone of shame did dent his pride a bit but no changes to his nature or behaviour. He lived a long happy and healthy life till 2 months before his 17th birthday
That's exactly the point. Some people want to be sure the dog can't sire puppies but feel that hormones play an important part in the dogs physical and mental development. So if there's a solution that makes sure of no puppies but keeps hormones they (and I include myself in that) think it's a good thing. As I said in my first post choosing how to deal with desexing your dog is a very individual choice. I was just suggesting some of the options available.
I read it that the vet could find one testicle but not the other so one is descended or descending and the other is nowhere to be found and may require surgery to avoid cancer. In Riley's case one came down reasonably quickly and was visibly obvious. The other one could just about be felt but didn't properly descend until around 9 months.
Hi @Somatic I really think this is a conversation with your vet for the best way forward for Arnie but a quick google brings plenty of informative articles. Some webpages suggest that an ultrasound scan is helpful to identify exactly where the undescended testicle is located so a better informed decision can be made on the way forward. Here are just a few of the many pages available http://www.pet-informed-veterinary-advice-online.com/cryptorchidism.html http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2109&aid=897 http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/reproductive/c_multi_cryptorchidism Good luck with making your decision
Euan had also one testicle. We waited 3 years for the other one to descend. It didn't. We had him for desexing at that age. The operation was difficult for the testicle couldn't be found. At last she found him in his inguinal canal. After the operation he was and stayed incontinent for urine and had to take medication (enurase). We also were told that he had a chance of getting cancer if not operated. Due to the fact that the temperature in his belly is higher then outside where the testicle belong.
Having held many a testicle as it is being remove, I would think it virtually impossible to leave a bit of the testicle behind. It is attached by the spermatic cord which is a few inches long and the cord is cut.
Lots of thoughts here, thanks everyone. I will have a word with the vet in relation to this and get some more information. At this point I am leaning toward desexing, unfortunately. It is based purely on medical grounds. If I had my way I would keep him entire because I do believe that the production of testosterone and hormones are essential to his proper development.
