cryptorchid

Question
Hi My 4 month old boxer just went to the vet for his last shot and the vet noticed that his testicals have not yet dropped.  He thinks they are in the abdomin and doesn't think they will drop. But, in case they do he wants to wait a little bit on the surgery.  If he does have to surgically remove them, what will happen with my dogs behavior?  Is it the same as when a dog is neutered? Im just curious of the consequences of having cryptorchid. And the aftermath of them being removed? Should I be concerned?

Answer
Hi Julie,

No big deal.  :)  Most vets will wait until about 7  months just to be sure they (or one) don't drop on their (its) own.

Nothing will be different with his behavior.  The important thing is getting them removed...the after effects will be the same as if they had dropped and you'd had him neutered.

Testicles left in the abdomen (which a vet wouldn't do) get to hot and the risk of cancer is much greater.  Dogs that retain a testicle, or both, should not be bred from as it's thought to be a genetic condition which could be passed onto the males of the litter.  Most likely either your guy's sire or a sire a generation or two back had an undescended testicle and an unethical breeder.

The only thing I would be minorly concerned about is the surgery.  Minorly.  Most times, when testicles don't drop, they can be felt just above the scrotal sac.  Sometimes they can be manually 'dropped'.  Sounds like that's not the case with your boy.  Instead of having a regular neuter cut, the vet may have to give him an abdominal cut.  We've nicknamed this surgery a 'speuter'...it's the same area cut when a female gets spayed.  ;)  

It's a bit more complicated than a normal neuter but not by much.  Keep an eye on the incision site...it will probably be just in front of his penis near his belly button.  A small amount of weeping will be normal but if you notice pus or blood, take him back.  Some dogs have an allergic reaction to stitches...some pull the stitches...you just have to keep an eye on it.

I've had 2 boys with an undescended testicle.  One had his testicle just above his sac and it was pulled out and snipped through the neuter incision.  My second has a speuter and ended up having a reaction to the stitches...very rapidly...next night.  Was no big deal, I took him back, they stitched him with a different thread and sent him home on antibiotics.  :)

Your vet may want to send him home with a lampshade...if he's (the pup) is completely distressed running around with it on his head, you can get a blow-up e-collar at the pet store.  Sort of looks like a doughnut and just inhibits them from turning and biting on themselves.  Most dogs do better with this type of device than the lampshade.  :)

Any more question?  I'd be happy to help you!