If your Bichon has retained testicle(s).....

[EDDEL]

If your Bichon has retained testicle(s) , that is the testicle(s) is(are) not descended into the scrotum, then it's best to neuter him.? This condition is called cryptorchidism.

As mentioned in the WHY SPAY & NEUTER YOUR BICHON thread, Bichons with retained testicle(s) are susceptible to developing tumor and cancer (namely testicular & prostate cancer).? So for health reasons, you should, imho, neuter your Bichon.

  Usually, by the age of 6 months, one (especially a vet) should be able to tell if a Bichon suffers from cryptorchidism (by palpating the *ahem* area )

  Such cryptorchids can still impregnate a female .?

  As this condition is hereditary, these Bichons should not be bred from.? Likewise, your Bichon's sire.

  Call your breeder and inform him/her about your Bichon's condition.... at the very least he/she would no longer breed from your Bichon's sire and your Bichon's littermates.

  In a litter where only one cryptorchid is present, the rest of the normal pups (females included) may still be carriers. So, they should not be bred from too.

  If your breeder knew of his/her breeding stock's condition and YET still bred from him , then he/she is not a very responsible/knowledgeable breeder (not meaning to step on anyone's toes, just making broad sweeping general statements)


Here's a list of definitions pertaining to this condition......

Cryptorchidism
This is a condition concerning the testicle(s) of a male dog.

Unilateral Cryptorchid
A male dog with one testicle descended, the other retained within the body.

Bilateral Cryptorchid
A male dog with both testicles retained within the body.

Anorchid
A male dog with completely no testicles at all.

Monorchid
A male dog with only one testicle regardless whether it is descended or retained.


Hope this info helps

[SuperMax (Susan)]

Great Post Del!?

Now here's a goofy question...? ? (you know how I love those!? )

Since Max is neutered - would he technically be an Anorchid?

Or do you have to be BORN that way???

[JenBow]

mom_of_max...I believe they have to be born that way.  Gunner was unilateral cryptorchid, so I've done quite a bit of research on this topic.  As Eddel said, dogs with these conditions need to be neutered.  My vet went over all of the health risks with me and informed me that Gunner had to be neutered.  I was planning on having him neutered anyway, but the surgery can be complicated so it was a rough time for me, but he came through it in flying colors.  Thanks for the post Eddel!  I hope this info. helps others with the same condition.

[EDDEL]

Susan, JenBow is right

Anorchids, males with COMPLETELE NO TESTICLES at birth, are quite rare.? As are monorchids.

The term monorchid is commonly applied to unilateral cryptorchids but this is a misnomer. As we now know:

monorchids have only one testicle, and the other is missing

while....

unilateral cryptorchids have one testicle descended, with the other hidden retained/hidden inside the dog's body cavity.


Jen, if you have additional information (the health risks that your vet went over with you), do share & let us know .
What I know are what I've read/gleaned from books/articles .


Here's a trick question for everyone:
What do you call a male dog with 2 (normal) testicles

[zdk753]

Here's a trick question for everyone:
What do you call a male dog with 2 (normal) testicles

Not neutered? .

[SuperMax (Susan)]

Here's a trick question for everyone:
What do you call a male dog with 2 (normal) testicles

A Show Dog! ?

[JenBow]

Jen, if you have additional information (the health risks that your vet went over with you), do share & let us know

The main health risk my vet went over with me was cancer.  Dogs with retained testicles are 13 times more likely to develop a tumor and to develop testicular cancer.  If they do develop a tumor, it can create problems with blood cell production.  Also, 1 in 10 dogs (with retained testicles resulting in testicular cancer) will have the cancer spread throughout the entire body.  My vet only had to mention the big "C" word (cancer)  and I was ready to schedule the surgery.  To do the surgery, they make two incisions.  One at the site of a normal neutering and another one in the abdomen.  Occassionaly, the retained testicle can be in a tricky spot to remove so the surgery can get complicated.  Lucky for me, Gunner's was easily accessible and everything went fine.  I had no intention of breeding Gunner so this was a relatively easy decision for me to make.  Although everyone in my family is against neutering (they believe male dogs should be left intact), I would not do anything to risk Gunner's future health.

[GMomof11]

Here's a trick question for everyone:
What do you call a male dog with 2 (normal) testicles

? I so wanted to reply to that but when I typed my answer it didn't seem suitable for any of our young viewers? ?

I am trying to learn how to insert these quotes but something still isn't right. I'll continue working at it?

[RenoirAndWrigleysMommy]

Del and Jen...Thank you so much for this information. When we took Renior in for his first vet visit she told us that one of his testicles hadn't dropped YET. She said that if it hadn't dropped by the time he was six months she would insist on neutering him. But that was all she said. I'm assuming that it could still drop and all would be good for us to make a decision to neuter him or not. Personally, I had every intention of neutering him anyway. After we purchased him I found out that Lance was on the fence regarding neutering him. I think it's a male thing!    Bottom line is I don't think we should ASK for any health problems and if not having him neutered could put him at greater risk for cancer, I think it would be cruel not to.  Again, thanks for the information. I am learning SO MUCH from this site!!!  Thank You!


Susan and Renior

[Kristen363]

Rofl.  I just posted about this on the neutering topic. Just last Thursday my Sampson (lhasa apso) had this suregry. We knew it was possibly an issue but my vet wasn't sure right up until he actually got in there. His recovery was much slower than Baxter's normal neutering had been, but thankfully, a week later and he's back to his old self. My biggest fear was that it would change his personality.  Sam is a very calm, quiet lhasa but very very loyal to ME. When Sammy is quite and careful, Baxter is loud and very outgoing (about everything)

[LadyDiane555]

It is interesting but not totally correct, It can be an inherited problem ,

this is assumed from the Veterinarian community but there is not a DNA marker to prove that is the case. 

Although if both testicles are not descended they will not reproduce as the sperm is not able to live in the body cavity heat.

if there is one testicle descended it can reproduce from the one.

The original stock of Bichons in the USA were mostly monorchid, for our original show stock.

There has been no determination if the sex linkage for this problem is from the dam or the dog.

This problem can and has been caused from improper handling of young puppies, and anxious breeders who over massage the area in order to help MOther nature.

Damage or bruising of a testicle can cause the testicle to "go up and hide till healed"

The dam can and frequently will chose what male dog will have descended testicles first by using upward stroke licking on a male pup equally on both sides to help lengthen the pully cords that pull the testicle into place.

Testicles may descend and ascend numerous times before the annal ring closes depending upon nutrtion handling and enviroment.

While the clinical types listed above are correct names.  The reasoning is faulty and just internet basics.

Now I know you can find anything you want on the internet to refute this, but there are now leading Researchers and VETs, who teach on reproduction, and as such I have paid in the thousands to go to those seminars, they agree with the information that i have given you.  That breeders and owners alike should keep their hands off of the pups testicle area until they have dropped in the scrotum and the annal ring has closed.

Also they agree that enviroment now has as much to do with the testicles as genetics does and they have not identified the DNA marker as of yet to prove it is genetic.

lastly in Bichons we have had many very nice Bichon show dogs who testicles have not stayed in place till 2 years of age and even popped down their first set after 2 the oldest recorded in Bichons at 3 being my JESSE and the oldet llaso is also at 32 months.

[LadyDiane555]

Here's a trick question for everyone:
What do you call a male dog with 2 (normal) testicles

A STUD DOG :hysterical :

[LadyDiane555]

Jen, if you have additional information (the health risks that your vet went over with you), do share & let us know

The main health risk my vet went over with me was cancer.  Dogs with retained testicles are 13 times more likely to develop a tumor and to develop testicular cancer.  If they do develop a tumor, it can create problems with blood cell production.  Also, 1 in 10 dogs (with retained testicles resulting in testicular cancer) will have the cancer spread throughout the entire body.  My vet only had to mention the big "C" word (cancer)  and I was ready to schedule the surgery.  To do the surgery, they make two incisions.  One at the site of a normal neutering and another one in the abdomen.  Occassionaly, the retained testicle can be in a tricky spot to remove so the surgery can get complicated.  Lucky for me, Gunner's was easily accessible and everything went fine.  I had no intention of breeding Gunner so this was a relatively easy decision for me to make.  Although everyone in my family is against neutering (they believe male dogs should be left intact), I would not do anything to risk Gunner's future health.

This is also sorta of only true, as the cancer will only appear in really old age not in a young dog, and they can not determine if the dog would of had cancer anyway, but that it will start at any point of weakness.  So if not the testicle the liver or kidney.

Although removing the testicle that is impacted will release the tightness of the cords that held the testicle from falling into the scrotum in the first place, and will allow the backbone to become more flexible and the legs to stand natural behind the dogs butt instead within the tummy line of the dog allowing energy to flow normally, sometimes you end up with better coat and tail after nueter from this as the energy levels become normalized.

[Princess Lucy Loulou (Tina)]

Boo was a unilateral cryptorchid,  that's why he was neutured    In saying that he would have been neutered anyway as i wasnt going to mate him or show him  and I didnt want him having any problems