HIDDEN TESTICLES

[lulu4444]

My Golden Retriever is 5 and a half years old - his testicles have not come out till date.  My questions are :

1.  Will an x-ray be sufficient to see if the testicles are there or not or a usg is better ?
2.  Should a surgery be done to bring them out ?
3.  If we do not go for surgery, will it be harmful for my dog in later years ?
4.  Should we have him mate inspite of his condition ?

Advice on the above will be much appreciated.

Thanks and God bless.

[lulu4444]

Thank you Ghilly for all your responses, specially your concern...will definitely keep you posted on the progress as I go on....
God bless you and yours....
Wish you much happiness and all the best.

[Ghilly]

Yes, the surgery would involve the removal of the testicles and, hence, neutering.  It will, naturally, be quite a bit more costly than a normal neutering because it will involve abdominal surgery, and the recovery time of course will be longer.  In the long run, however, your dog will have a longer, healthier life for it.  When he does go in for the surgery, please let us know how everything goes.  We're all wishing him the best!  :D

Ghilly

[lulu4444]

Yes, I do find this site most helpful and I am quite an old member here !!

Thanks once again Ghilly for your post which is now more clear...one last question though...actually a clarification (hehehe)

Does this surgery involve neutering also ?

God bless.

[Ghilly]

First of all, you're very welcome!  We're here to help and I'm very glad that you found our forum to be useful!  :D

The length of the surgery depends on several things.  The most common complication of this surgery is having difficulty locating the testicle or testicles.  Typically, undescended abdominal testicles are only a fraction of the size of a scrotal testicle, so they can sometimes be hidden behind other organs or so small and misshapen that they don't even resemble a testicle.  They can take time to separate from blood vessels that they may be wrapped up with, there's any number of time consuming things that can add to the length of the surgery.  After your vet x-rays your dog to pre-determine the location of the testicles, he should be able to give you a pretty good idea of how long it will take.  

The recuperation period should be about two weeks.  He can go for short walks from the first day on, and as the days go by and he heals more and more, he can gradually return to his normal activity level.  You want to keep him from running and jumping for at least a week and basically keep him from doing anything that will stress or stretch his abdominal muscles.  After two weeks he can be back to his normal self again.

Ghilly

[lulu4444]

Thank you so much Ghilly for your views and comments.  Most appreciated.
Yes, I will certainly see that the surgery is done within this year !!
I just hope that the issue will be simple and not complicated.

How long does the surgery take and how long is the recovery period after surgery ?

Will surely surely keep you posted here....

Thanks once again and God bless.

[Ghilly]

An X-ray should show your vet where the retained testicles are.  Depending upon how deep into the abdominal cavity they are, SOMETIMES (and this happens very infrequently, but it DOES happen) the testicles can be massaged down into the scrotal sac and the neuter can be done as a normal neuter.  If they are far enough into the abdominal cavity that they cannot be brought down by hand, then abdominal surgery is necessary and therefore a longer recovery time is needed than would be for a routine neuter.  

Your vet probably wants to do the surgery during the colder months because, depending on where you live, there are few to no insects (flies being the most bothersome) to bother the incision.  You have waited this long, it won't hurt to wait another three or four months until the cold weather arrives.  I wouldn't let it go past this winter, though.  Get it done so that your dog can begin his recovery and you no longer have to worry about the retained testicles causing him any health issues.

Please keep us posted and let us know when he has the surgery.  Good luck!

Ghilly

[lulu4444]

Thanks Margot and specially you Ghilly for this valuable update.  I was told that if they remain inside, and if surgery is not done, it will become cancerous in later years.
That is why on hearing the same, I posted my queries.

Just tell me whether an x-ray would be sufficient to be done or whether a usg is a must to see where the testicles are placed ?  This is confusing as some say an x-ray would do and others say a usg should be done - also, there is the cost factor involved, but that is not an issue - just dont want to be ripped off !!!!

The vet has told me to do the surgery during cold months - which surely I will ensure.

Thanks once again.....

God bless.

[Ghilly]

What Margot said.  Absolutely DO NOT use him for breeding.  There's a very good chance that he's infertile anyway, since the reason testicles are outside the body is because it's too hot inside the body for sperm to remain viable.  But on the off chance that he IS still fertile, if you breed him, there's a good chance that he will pass this condition (called cryptorchidism, by the way) on to his offspring, leaving them with the possibility of needing abdominal surgery or facing the prospect of cancer from undescended testicles.  And it's very important to have this seen to ASAP, since, at five years of age, if they haven't dropped by now, they never will and have a good chance of becoming cancerous.  Abdominal surgery will definitely be necessary, but that's a lot better than having his life cut short and dying by inches because of cancer.

Ghilly

[Margot49]

That is a long time to have testicles retained and you should *definitely* not use him for breeding.  He needs to see the Vet.  The testicles may be above the scrotal area but they could also be up in the abdomen and surgery would be needed to remove them.  These retained testicles can eventually lead to cancer.  I would have him checked ASAP.