kan@ihlpg.UUCP (Casali) (12/30/85)
I have a pure breed male dog that I was hoping to use for breeding someday. The dog's testicles never dropped after he was born (he appears to be neutered but never was). The vet told me that the testicles are still in the body where they developed and he will never breed successfully. Also there is no operation to remedy the situation. I haven't gone yet to another vet for a second opinion yet. Does anyone out there knows if this is true or had the same experience? In addition, the vet said that the testicles for dogs with this problem always develop in to tumors later in the dog's life and should be removed while the dog is still young. Is this also true? Thanks Kathy ihlpg!kan
dob@ihlpa.UUCP (Daniel M. O'Brien) (12/30/85)
> I have a pure breed male dog that I was hoping to use for breeding someday. > The dog's testicles never dropped after he was born Our breeder (purebred Boxers) never breeds or shows a male dog that has this problem. It is a bad trait that should not be propagated. She once had to refund the purchase price and accept return of a beautiful show-quality pup with lots of potential except that it had this condition which did not clear up and could not be surgically corrected. Sorry, Daniel M. O'Brien (ihnp4!ihlpa!dob) AT&T Bell Laboratories IH 4A-257, x 4782 Naperville-Wheaton Road Naperville, IL 60566
jla@inuxd.UUCP (Joyce Andrews) (12/31/85)
> I have a pure breed male dog that I was hoping to use for breeding someday. > The dog's testicles never dropped after he was born (he appears to > be neutered but never was). The vet told me that the testicles are > still in the body where they developed and he will never breed successfully. > Also there is no operation to remedy the situation. I haven't gone yet > to another vet for a second opinion yet. Does anyone out there knows if > this is true or had the same experience? In addition, the vet said that > the testicles for dogs with this problem always develop in to tumors > later in the dog's life and > should be removed while the dog is still young. Is this also true? > > Thanks > Kathy > ihlpg!kan Undescended testicles are not uncommon in any species, including people. The term for this is "Cryptorchidism." The poor affected male is a cryptorchid, meaning one or two testicles are not descended. A "Monorchid" is a further distinction, meaning one testicle is missing or undescended. I had a horse who was a monorchid until he was three years old. Since abdominal surgery is more difficult with horses, I put off gelding him until I had the money to send him to the University. His second testicle descended just before he turned four, so it can happen. (We lopped them off soon after, so that just goes to show what can happen when you let 'em down!). The important consideration is not only do the undescended testicles develop into tumors later in the animal's life, but the trait tends to be inherited. A monorchid dog, if allowed to breed, produces a higher incidence of cryptorchidism. Even if the dog were fertile, and if both testicles are undescended that is probably not true since the internal body temperature is too high for sperm production, he should not be allowed to breed. If he is not allowed to breed, he should be neutered. Besides, you will like each other better after his operation! Joyce Andrews ihnp4!inuxd!jla
kan@ihlpg.UUCP (Casali) (01/10/86)
I want to thank everyone on the net for responses to my problem.
My dog, a chesapeake bay retreiver, is about a year old. Even
though we cant breed him, we are going to keep him. He is already
fairly well trained for hunting and is a good watch dog. I warned
my brother who owns the sire of my dog about the hereditary
problems in future litters. I am going to have the dog's testicles
removed next week.
Kathy