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For the love of your pet: Neutering recommended for all dogs

  • Originally published April 7, 2011 at midnight, updated April 7, 2011 at midnight

By John Beck

I have a male dog born with one testicle. Is this very common, and do I still need to have him neutered?

A typical male dog will have two testicles in the scrotal sac by six to eight weeks of age. On occasion, a testicle will be retained in the abdomen or the flank. This is referred to as monorchidism, or if both are missing or retained, then it is referred to as cryptorchidsm. Most veterinarians like to wait for up to a year to see if the retained testicles will naturally descend before performing a neuter. This condition can occur in all breeds, but toy and miniature breeds are at a significantly higher risk. The incidence of occurrence in dogs' ranges from 1.2 to 3.3 percent with a reported increase in incidence in purebred dogs.

I suggest having your dog neutered as soon as both testicles have fully descended or at one year of age, whichever comes first. If the second testicle has not dropped by the time the neuter comes around, the doctor will have to make a separate incision in the inner thigh or abdomen to retrieve the missing one.

Retained testicles can occur in any dog breed and is believed to be an inherited trait. Most veterinarians recommend not breeding a dog with Cryptorchidsm to stop the trait from being continually passed on. If a dog is a monorchid or cryptorchid and is left unneutered, there can be future problems with infection, torsion or cancer. Torsion or twisting of the spermatic cord of the retained testes can cause an acute onset of abdominal pain.

Neutering any dog that is not going to be used for breeding is a good idea. Once a dog has finished its breeding years, it is time to have him neutered. Dogs that age usually begin to have prostate enlargement, which can then lead to urinary problems. Going unneutered allows the continual release of testosterone, which is linked to aggression, cancer of the reproductive system, dominant activity, etc. If your dog is already a bit older, over 5 years old, having him neutered might not eliminate aggression or dominance but can help decrease this activity.

If you are not sure about the procedure or have any questions, please contact me or your local veterinarian.

Dr. John Beck has a veterinary practice at Hillcrest Animal Hospital in Victoria. Submit questions to Dr. Beck at drjohnbeck@hotmail.com.