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From: jla@inuxd.UUCP (Joyce Andrews)
Newsgroups: net.pets
Subject: Re: dog breeding problems
Message-ID: <831@inuxd.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 31-Dec-85 08:33:05 EST
Article-I.D.: inuxd.831
Posted: Tue Dec 31 08:33:05 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 1-Jan-86 01:00:49 EST
References: <1507@ihlpg.UUCP>
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Organization: AT&T Consumer Products, Indianapolis
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> 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