Balls, not the catching variety!

[poiuytrewq]

When should a dog have balls by? I've thought absoloutely nothing of this, In my eyes Berts is still a puppy and I really cant remember when the others dropped.
I was just chatting to my friend out hacking and she mentioned that the vet was going to check her not quite 6 month old because he still had only one ball. I commented Bertie had none at all and she was horrified...

Is this a problem?
I'm thinking if he's all fine which he is and he is still young- 6 Months that its not anything to worry over just yet!

 

[Belmont]

I noticed our GR dropped at 6-7 months.

 

[CorvusCorax]

They should have descended by now.

 

[poiuytrewq]

They should have descended by now.

Is it a problem? I know it would be if I was wanting to castrate now but I have no need too.

 

[Clodagh]

I’d get the vet to have a look next time he goes in for something.

 

[Roxylola]

Is it a problem? I know it would be if I was wanting to castrate now but I have no need too.

I believe being retained means a significantly increased cancer risk

 

[poiuytrewq]

Ah ok. He isn’t due jabs for ages so if there’s still no sign in the new year I’ll pop him in for a look.

 

[Bellasophia]

They can decend as late as seven months to a year…but it’s not the norm….if they remain un decended, the risk of testicular cancer increases as the cells are at a higher temp. Ie…within the body,than in a normal decended testicle.
This is something to follow with your vet…it should not be left ,if after a year ,you still have an undecended testicle.

 

[poiuytrewq]

No I will absolutely take him in January if no sign. I know there are no appointments before Christmas as I called this week to book Spuds vaccinations.
Are we talking a higher risk in later life or now?

 

[CorvusCorax]

Is it a problem? I know it would be if I was wanting to castrate now but I have no need too.

It can be, speak to your vet.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I’ve been Googling and now am worried.
Mr P and I were talking last week about how old he should have them by, neither of us could remember but neither thought it a problem.
I Cecil definitely didn’t have them as early as Google suggests but was castrated at 1 and had had them a good while then.
Dougal was older, closer to a year I’d say but he was very late at everything, he still had fluff and baby teeth at 7 months.
Spud is too old to recall.

 

[Hm77]

My dogs didn't appear so I took him to vet at about 8 months old. They advised if not appeared by the time he was 1 he would have to have an operation to find and remove them.

They didn't surface so in he went. 1 was near where it should be, the other was nearer the abdomen so he had 2 incisions. Apart from being quiet for a few days he recovered quickly.

If you have insurance they may cover it, mine did.

 

[Jenko109]

I know nothing about ballies.

However when my chap was vet checked both with the breeder and when I took him for his second vaccine, both vets confirmed two testicles present.

So are some dropped as proper babies already? Or do I just not understand balls.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I know nothing about ballies.

However when my chap was vet checked both with the breeder and when I took him for his second vaccine, both vets confirmed two testicles present.

So are some dropped as proper babies already? Or do I just not understand balls.

Friend says hers had them when she picked him up at 9 weeks. None of mine have had them that young for sure.

Anyhow, I have called the vet and unless he gets a set for Christmas he is going to be checked on 2nd January just to be safe.

 

[gunnergundog]

Same as human babies, pups should have two normally descended testicles - it's counted as a fault if not and you can forget showing if your dog doesn't have two on display! Some pups can also suck them up when stressed and then only let them down when relaxed.

 

[poiuytrewq]

He’s not going to show or need to conform so any standards. He’s just my fur baby……..



*joking, very very definitely joking.
I’ll accept a ban if I ever start using that word.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Actually having just come home and man handled the little chap I maybe can feel two very high up, they are tiny though, like two little marbles, right area but at his body rather than hanging

 

[MurphysMinder]

I used to check they had 2 at 8 weeks before they went to new home . You may be able to feel them when he’s relaxed but probably worth checking with the vet

 

[poiuytrewq]

I used to check they had 2 at 8 weeks before they went to new home . You may be able to feel them when he’s relaxed but probably worth checking with the vet

I *think now that I can feel some but they are very certainly not dropped so will keep the appointment but am not quite as worried now.
He’s a very chilled “liquid and bones” dog at the moment, still. So he’s not holding them up out of tenseness or stress.

 

[Thistle]

I *think now that I can feel some but they are very certainly not dropped so will keep the appointment but am not quite as worried now.
He’s a very chilled “liquid and bones” dog at the moment, still. So he’s not holding them up out of tenseness or stress.

'Dropped' just means outside the body rather than a massive pair of hairy baubles swinging about!.

So if you can feel them then they're def outside the body as otherwise you wouldn't feel anything. They will remain small, neat and tucked up high, but outside the body, until adolescence when they'll descend fully into the sac and become more noticeable. A bit like children, little boys aren't born with full size male genitals!

 

[poiuytrewq]

'Dropped' just means outside the body rather than a massive pair of hairy baubles swinging about!.

So if you can feel them then they're def outside the body as otherwise you wouldn't feel anything. They will remain small, neat and tucked up high, but outside the body, until adolescence when they'll descend fully into the sac and become more noticeable. A bit like children, little boys aren't born with full size male genitals!

So no problem then! The most vivid memory I have is Dougal very suddenly having massive nuts and everyone being horrified when I took him to work literally appeared over night.

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

Friend says hers had them when she picked him up at 9 weeks. None of mine have had them that young for sure.

Anyhow, I have called the vet and unless he gets a set for Christmas he is going to be checked on 2nd January just to be safe.

All I want for Christmas is my two baubles

 

[CorvusCorax]

I would have expected them to have fully descended at this stage and would still get it looked at if no change in New Year.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I would have expected them to have fully descended at this stage and would still get it looked at if no change in New Year.

I will do yes, I was relieved to find them but it wasn’t easy and by the sounds they should be on display by this point.
Thank you!

 

[satinbaze]

It’s can also be breed dependent. A lot of flatcoats don’t have both descended until around a year old. I always tell my puppy owners not to panic as it may take this long for them to descend. Obviously if they haven’t come down by 18months then surgery maybe required.
Due to the recent research indicating that early spay and neuter increases the risk of certain cancers, I advise that puppies are not castrated before 12 months unless there is a medical reason

 

[poiuytrewq]

Thank you!

What is general advice/opinion on castrating?
I know bitches are best spayed, what about dogs?
Our older lab isn’t castrated. There was never any reason to do so and I think OH had ideas about having a puppy from him.
The terriers are both done. They are both x-breeds and there was never any intention to breed from either. Also things were getting a bit scrappy.
I’ve made no decision for Bertie, I won’t be using him to breed for definite so he doesn’t need them. Is it healthier for him (presuming they do drop and area healthy) to loose or keep them?

 

[skinnydipper]

At greater risk of developing cranial cruciate ligament disease if castrated.

 

[poiuytrewq]

At greater risk of developing cranial cruciate ligament disease if castrated.

That’s interesting. I wonder why, I’d not expected that reply.

 

[I'm Dun]

My most recent pups didnt drop properly till about 10 months. Berfore that he had them, but smalland tucked high up. It seemed perfectly normal to me.

And I never castrate boys unless they give me a reason to.

 

[Aru]

That’s interesting. I wonder why, I’d not expected that reply.

Early/paediatric desexing leads to later growth plate closure which can affect some orthopaedic conditions. Depending on the breed what age is considered pediatric can vary quite a lot.

random fact but its why stallions are often shorter and more muscular then geldings as well. Testosterone production is higher when you keep your balls. It affects the skeleton. Human eunuchs also looked interesting and ended up very tall back when that was a thing.

Desexed dogs are also more prone to being overfed and becoming obese (desexing lowers metabolic rate and food requirement for most dogs) Which also massively increases the orthopaedic issues risk.