Only One Testicle?

[Ruftybear]

I put our puppy in to the vets today to be neutered. Only one testicle had dropped so we assumed that the vet would locate the other on investigation. Unfortunately she (and the other vet) weren't able to find the other one. They want to put him under again to look for it somewhere else, but I'm not too keen at the moment. I'm wondering if ultrasounds would be a better option, and whether anyone here has been through this please? Any idea on costs of ultrasounds at all? Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

[Aziah]

Why didn't they "look for it somewhere else" when was under initially? I'd be reluctant to to put him under again anytime soon.

[Ruftybear]

They did have a look around, but ran out of time because they have normal surgery this afternoon. That's why she wanted him back next week. I'm still not keen at all and am wondering what the risks would be if we just left well enough alone?

[Alyosha]

I think the risk is cancer etc if it's left in there. Not to mention he can and will be still fertile and able to breed.

[poodlefan]

They did have a look around, but ran out of time because they have normal surgery this afternoon. That's why she wanted him back next week. I'm still not keen at all and am wondering what the risks would be if we just left well enough alone?

The risks are testicular cancer and an entire dog.

I'd not be impressed about the vet not finding it but I'd not leave it be either.

There is always the possiblity that your dog only HAD one testicle.

Edited October 6, 2011 by poodlefan

[WreckitWhippet]

I'd be mega pissed as an owner, if my vet did that to me. It's their job to manage their time and they should not have put your pup under, knowing that there was only one visible testicle and they would need to investigate further.

At the very least , I'd be making sure that you didn;t have to pay for any additional surgery, especially another GA, as it should all have been done at the one time, including an ultrasound prior to putting the pup under.

GA's aren't kind on a dogs body but I think you have been left with no option, other than to put him under again and have the surgery completed, if they manage to locate the other. He could well have been born with one testicle.

[persephone]

[quote they should not have put your pup under, knowing that there was only one visible testicle and they would need to investigate further.

At the very least , I'd be making sure that you didn;t have to pay for any additional surgery, especially another GA, as it should all have been done at the one time, including an ultrasound prior to putting the pup under.

GA's aren't kind on a dogs body but I think you have been left with no option, other than to put him under again and have the surgery completed, if they manage to locate the other. He could well have been born with one testicle.

[Ruftybear]

Thanks everyone. I won't be charged for any more surgeries and the vet has been great. She has been in touch with a specialist, if we want to take that option, as well as finding out about blood tests to check for testosterone (to see if he maybe only did have one testicle). He is home and very quiet at the moment. He will be in for some sore and sorry days though and I am taking him back to the vet on Saturday so she can check and see how things are going with him. He has antibiotics and pain killers and we'll make a decision about which way to go when he has recovered from today. We will be making sure that there is nothing left, and there will be no risk of tumors relating to it in the future.

Thanks again for taking the time to reply. I appreciate it, I really do :-)

[poodlefan]

Thanks everyone. I won't be charged for any more surgeries and the vet has been great. She has been in touch with a specialist, if we want to take that option, as well as finding out about blood tests to check for testosterone (to see if he maybe only did have one testicle). He is home and very quiet at the moment. He will be in for some sore and sorry days though and I am taking him back to the vet on Saturday so she can check and see how things are going with him. He has antibiotics and pain killers and we'll make a decision about which way to go when he has recovered from today. We will be making sure that there is nothing left, and there will be no risk of tumors relating to it in the future.

Thanks again for taking the time to reply. I appreciate it, I really do :-)

How old is your dog? My dogs bounced through their desexing surgeries and in two cases the vet had to go looking for a testicle.

[Ruftybear]

He's 6 months old poodlefan. I hope he bounces back quickly, and I know puppies are noted for it but looking at his poor belly it might take some time. Fortunately we have a cage/crate to pop him in if he starts getting to bouncy with the other dogs :-)

[Jumabaar]

Just as an aside- I have been in a surgery where we could only locate one testicle. After well over an hr and a half the vet opted to close and give the dog a little while longer to mature so it was bigger (small dog). It was either not there at all or somewhere very unusual! So sometimes a vet will stop looking based on time considerations and the dogs vital stats. We don't know everything that went through the vets mind when they made that decision.

You might be able to leave it a few weeks with minimal risk Ruftybear. Perhaps talk with your vet about this so that you are comfortable with the decision.

[Ruftybear]

Thanks Jamabaar. It's comforting to know that people are here who care about their dogs as much as I care about mine :-)

[karly101]

Poor little guy! From the sounds I think ultrasound would be the best option for you... there is risk that the testicle (if it is in there) is not functioning and then a blood test may not be altogether reliable either. You would need someone who is very experienced at ultrasound so I would think it would be worthwhile to speak to a specialist.

I can understand them stopping - we had one that took an hour to find and fortunately he was stable under GA... there is a point where you have to stop!