First off cryptorchidism or retained testicles as it is comonly called is where the gonads or testicles
remain up in the abdomen of the dog and do not decend properly.
This is a comon occurance in the very tiny or teacup poodles. I am unsure of the reason
why this happens in the tiny. I may have to do with improper growth of the sperm cord that is attached to the testicle.
Meaning that the cord is too short to allow the testicle to decend properly.
You can have a total lack of testicles called anorchids which is truely very rare. Most often when
no testicles can bee seen they are still retained up in the abdomen. Some can be felt by palpation of the area. If
only one testicle is undecended it is called unilateral cryptorchidism. This is the most comon problem with undecended
testicles that happens.
There has also been some talk of correlation between liver shunts
and cases of retained testicles. I have been unable to find the article on the studies that they are currently conducting
on this theory.
I have found that there are many vets out there that once they
find out a dog has cryptorchidism they are all hot and heavy to immediately neuter the dog. As a breeder I am firmly
against this! It is impossible at a young age such as 4 months and under to even know if their is a problem yet.
A male dog is relaly not sexually mature until 7-9 months old. Now this can very on the individual dog and the size
of the dog.
My vet recomends waiting until 7-9 months before worring about
neutering the dog. Sometimes the testicles may take a little longer to come down. Sometimes it can even take one
breeding before the testicle decends. Now this can be a double edged sword as this problem of retained testicles (if
they don't drop either by themselves or by a breeding) can be a genetic defect and passed on from father to son. And
you just bred a dog that carries the problem.
There is also a new treatment out there with steroids such as HCG
that is said to bring the testicle down. This treatment needs to be done early according to vets. But again here
you have the double edged sword. If that testicle was not going to drop then here again you just bred a dog with a genetic
defect.
Pesonally I believe it is very impotant if a dog is not going to
be bred be spayed or neutered. And a retained testicle can cause tumors and behavioral problems. But by waiting
till 7-9 months you are not putting your dog in any danger. And who knows the testicle may drop in that time and save
you the trouble.
I guess what I am saying is not to jump into neutering if you are
planing to breed you dog just because your vet says that the puppy may have a retained testicle and is hot and heavy to neuter.
Give it a little time. Then have the dog reevaluated by your vet before neutering. But please again if your
dog is just a pet spay or neuter them! Breeding isn't a responsiblity to take lightly!
Another note: Please take into concideration that when feeling
for two testicles, young unbred males can "suck up" one testicle when scared or frightened by the person feeling for the testicle.
This can often happen when a vet checks for testicles causing them to believe your dog has an unretained testicle.
Going to the vet can be strange and frightening to your dog. I recomend checking often and getting the dog use
to this so you can monitor the progress of the developemnt of the testicles and be able to monitor for tumors and such.
Yeah I know it sounds gross but it is something that needs to be done frequently to maintain a healthy intact male dog.
