Retained Testicle

[ROSIE MEADOWS]

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Hi

I have a whippet X lurcher puppy of 13 weeks. So far he seems to have only one testicle. This one is quite small. I don't want to use him for breeding so it doesn't really matter. Does anyone know if the other is likely to come down and if not what is the best course to take with him? Also I'm surprised that this has occured in a crossbred dog. Is this a common problem?

Thanks

Rosie (and Quince) :thumbsup:

 

[gabbitas31]

This doe's happen from time to time but nothing to worry about, they some times come down on there own, or the vet can bring it down, but if it looks like it will never come down your vet might suggest that you have him castrated because the retained testicle is held at the wrong temperature and can some times cause cancer in later life, I'm talking from experience because my first whippet greyhound had the same problem, he was castrated at six months old, hope this helps.

:thumbsup: Diane, good luck with your pup.

 

[wild whippies]

Retained testicles are not a condition confined to pedigree dogs, in fact as cryptorchidism is seen as a fault within the Kennel Club, as such the dogs are probably less likely to be bred from and thus the condition should have a lower incidence. Notice I said should

Vets believe there is a strong genetic trait to cryptorchidism, personally I feel that the mechanics involved in testicles descending is susceptible to many variables, and as the process is over a long period of time, I'm actually surprised the condition isn't more frequently occuring.

Treatment options, well at 13 weeks, it may be possible for the testicle to still descend on it's own, manipulation can be succesful providing it's done carefully, regularly and is a feasible option from your vet.

If it doesn't come down, then you enter the 'hot' debate of should they or shouldn't they be removed? The big indicator for removal is the alleged cancer incidence.

A highly effective and guaranteed method of preventing something turning cancerous is to remove it. How many neutered dogs get testicular cancer? None obviously.

There is an allegation that undescended testicles are pre-disposed to malignant changes due to them being unable to keep cool and there's probably a lot of research substantiating this.

The biggest killer of domestic dogs is the big C, I accept this and really don't think having my dogs testicles removed will substantially reduce his odds. Furthermore, my partner had his dogs retained testicle removed and the dog has a degree of incontinence due to muscle damage to his bladder during the surgery. Hindsight's a wonderful thing and looking back, Tony doesn't feel surgery was justified as the dog now has an impairment.

My current 'management' of my dogs retained testicle involves me palpating the testicle (Johnny will get excited at the thought of me fettling balls now) :b

If the testicle feels any different or becomes fixed to the body then I'll look into it's removal. As it's location is quite low down and superficially under the skin I think it isn't exactly cooking either.

Sorry for longwinded reply but I've seen quite a few gun-ho comments about getting them removed (heavily supported by vets) and to be honest I think a decent vet will look at ever case individually rather than list them for surgery.

 

[urchin]

Snippity Snip (no pun intended)
My current 'management' of my dogs retained testicle involves me palpating the testicle (Johnny will get excited at the thought of me fettling balls now) :b

If the testicle feels any different or becomes fixed to the body then I'll look into it's removal. As it's location is quite low down and superficially under the skin I think it isn't exactly cooking either.

Sorry in advance to those who have read me say this before -I am not in the 'whip em off camp' so I have hung on til I could find a vet willing to remove only the retained testicle, and leave the perfectly normal one exactly where it is .................... but having just read WW's post I'm thinking that maybe a spot of fettling is in order at Urchin Towers too? I know exactly where the offending nadger is, so I think i'll maybe just keep an eye (or finger!) on it myself.

How obvious are any changes likely to be though? (just need to point out here that furry plum fondling is not exactly a strong point of mine! lol)

This forum dont half have you discussing odd subjects

 

[J.T.]

We got Rafferty at about 5 months & he only had one descended testicle. We left it till he was about 7 months & there was still no sign of the elusive bauble :- " The vet couldn't find any sign of it at all so we went ahead & had him castrated. It turned out that the other one was the size of a pea & was still in it's original position inside him. It also had ligament wrapped tightly around it & would never had come down naturally. Rafferty had a bad reaction to the ketamine & had a little fit coming out of the anaesthetic. He was also very uncomfortable for a few days afterwards & had to go back to the vets for extra painkillers. Altogether not a nice time for him.

Hopefully your dogs missing testicle will appear soon :b He's still very young, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Have you any pics of him?

 

[wild whippies]

I think the hardest thing is finding a decent vet who's willing to review an undescended testicle and will advise you on what to look out for. Ok it's no guarantee that just because it feels fine then it is fine but that's a risk I'm willing to take. Riley's ball is so superficial that I can feel all around it. It is the same size, symmetry and texture as his descended one so that tends to be a guide. Obviously not all testicles are like this in fact it's probably more justifiable to remove those that cannot be felt as they can be high up and causing discomfort, are closer to the body's core temperature and changes cannot be observed.

If Riley evers ends up having to go under anaesthetic to have something else done then I'd probably have the undescended testicle removed at the same time. My reasoning being that as it is so superficial the procedure itself would be very minor. I just don't feel it's justifiable to put him under anaesthetic with it's own associated risks as J.T. has just given a fine example of but nevertheless a justifiable reason for operating on Rafferty as his ball sounds like it was abnormal in it's appearance anyway.

Interestingly, last year Tony's dog Smooby got partial torsion of one of his descended testicles. Our vet examined him and put him on a provisional course of anti-biotics and kept him under review. The testicle completely resorbed leaving nothing behind and he too escaped the knife.

I like our vet a lot, he's a firm believer in looking before he leaps, I just wish others adopted this kind of attitude.

 

[weathergirls]

we have the same great vet Jac neither of our Danny's b**ls dropped Kevins (vet) advice then which was back in 1980 was keep check on them if they don't bother him don't bother them, Danny never had any problems and lived to a ripe old age

 

[dennned]

dont panic , there is an option for you , my lurcher pup @ 10months had one of his testicles stuck , it had not dropped into the scrotum , i took him to the vet , and asked if he could pull it down , then apply a stitch or two , so that his testicle stayed where it was supposed to , he then said it might not grow any bigger , well , it did ,he also said that he could'nt sire pups , well he did , im saying to you is , get the vet to stitch his testicle so that it does'nt retract back up

mine now has two testicles of equal proportion ,

ps , he was back to himself in a couple of days , a small incision in the scrotum , thats all he had

best of luck , dennned

 

[ROSIE MEADOWS]

My current 'management' of my dogs retained testicle involves me palpating the testicle (Johnny will get excited at the thought of me fettling balls now) :b

If the testicle feels any different or becomes fixed to the body then I'll look into it's removal. As it's location is quite low down and superficially under the skin I think it isn't exactly cooking either.

Sorry not to have replied earlier. I'm on holiday and have only just managed to get on line.

Thank you all so much for your input.

Does it really help to manipulate the missing ball? If so how do I go about doing so? :blink: I do know where to find the other one.

Thanks again.

Rosie

 

[Macha]

I think most vets will not agree to surgically reposition a testicle. That is probably a good medical option, what they would do for humans, provided the cord is not too short (in dogs I understand a short cord is often the problem). But there are ethical problems as if the dog is KC it would be illegal to show the dog, he might be sold on without informing new owners of abnormality, you shouldn't breed from a dog whose testicals don't descend normally as the condition is thought to be largely hereditary. (Maybe some vets would do the op and also a vasectomy???)

dont panic , there is an option for you , my lurcher pup @ 10months had one of his testicles stuck , it had not dropped into the scrotum , i took him to the vet , and asked if he could pull it  down , then apply a stitch or two , so that his testicle stayed where it was supposed to , he then said it might not grow any bigger , well , it did ,he also said that he could'nt sire pups , well he did , im saying to you is , get the vet to stitch his testicle so that it does'nt retract back up
mine now has two testicles of equal proportion ,

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