colts - testicles decend(silly question)

[rosie-ellie]

I'm getting my 7 months old colt next week, I have read that their right testicles descend before their left is that correct. I've only had mares so colts are new to me. Reason why I'm asking is that I noticed his left has descended but he wouldn't let me look at his other side and I want to get him gelded asap.

Thanks

 

[Cragrat]

Hopefully he's not like my horse - his left testicle descended as normal, his right never did. We waited until he was 3 years old( he was well behaved and not colty), and sent him to hospital to find it. It had partly descended, so it wasn't too big an op to have them both removed.

The vet said if we had had it done earlier when it was higher up, it would have been a more major operation. However, we were only able to wait so long because his temperament is so good.

 

[Spring Feather]

All of the colts I've ever foaled out have been born with both testicles descended (as is normal). I always check at birth. I assisted in the castration of a colt yesterday who had one testicle much smaller than the other. The cord was twisted so it hadn't been able to grow properly. You need to check that both are descended though because if the vet turns up and finds there is only one then you'll still get charged for the callout even though vet probably won't castrate him. Do feel around though as sometimes, particularly in the chillier weather, they can suck them up a bit.

 

[Echo Bravo]

My colts left testicle didn't come down at all and just over a week ago he went for a big op as it was up near his kidneys and smaller than a marble and he was never colty at all.

 

[pennyturner]

My 'colt' is now a 14 year old stallion. He still has just one massive testicle. The other is nowhere to be seen - presumably still up by his kidneys if it's there at all.

 

[varkie]

There's no hard & fast rules - every colt is different. I've bred a fair number of colts now, some are born with them and keep them visible, some are born with them & then they seem to disappear for a while before reappearing, some are born without them and they descend later on. We've been lucky so far in that they've all eventually descended, but some have taken until they are three years old before they're fully down & we could castrate. I can't honestly say that I've particularly notice one side of testicle dropping before the other in every colt either!

If you have one, it could be worth getting your vet to check for the second under sedation - some colts will pull them back up when you have a feel! Sedating makes them drop down again.

If you don't have one by three years of age, it's worth getting a castration done, even though it will be more expensive & difficult - undescended testicles have a much higher risk of cancer later on. It is not a good idea to leave them uncut in this situation.