How can I tell if my puppy's undescended testicle has dropped?

Dogs have two testicles. Soon after they are born they descend from the abdomen into the scrotum. If only one has descended then the other testicle is retained in the abdomen. This testicle should be surgically removed since the retained testicle can develop cancer more often than the normal testicle. Usually when he’s neutered they will remove the one in the scrotum and open him up like spaying a female to remove the other one. This can be a genetic problem so I do not recommend breeding him. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Ash.

Hello. It is too early to make any judgments as to if & when Diesel's testicles may drop. You certainly can wait until he is 6 months to a year of age, but if nothing is seen or felt by this time, he probably never will drop them. This can be a trait that is passed on to future puppies, so you definitely will not want to breed him. He should also be neutered in this case because the retained testicles are maintained at a much higher temperature in the body, & this can result in the testicular tissue turning cancerous. So wait until Diesel is older to see if his testicles do eventually descend into the scrotum. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Oso is very cute! By six months of age, both testicles should be descended into the scrotum. If they are not by six months of age, then it is unlikely that the other testicle will fall into place. This testicle has the potential to turn into a specific type of tumor and so you will want to make sure to have him neutered. Hopefully it will come down on its own! Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. This condition is known as cryptorchidism and it is not recommended to breed these dogs due to the potential for passing on this condition to the offspring. The undescended testicle should be removed during the neuter procedure. Once neutered there are no concerns. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any further questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

If the testicle is just under the skin on his belly he could have an undescended testicle. In puppies this can sometimes correct with age, but if he is 6 months or older it likely won’t drop anymore. The vet can surgically remove the testicle during a neuter surgery.

The anatomy appears incorrectly developed. Your pet may be a hermaphrodite. What you see there may actually be female genitalia that has inappropriately developed. In order to truly diagnose what is going on your pet should see a specialist. Abdominal ultrasound can be used to assess for undescended testicles. Surgery is sometimes needed for these dogs, which typically requires a veterinary surgeon. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Cryptorchism is the term used to describe if one or both testicles are not descended in the scrotum. It is a genetic condition. The breeder shouldn't continue to breed this line. It will be fine to wait to neuter Dexter until he is 1 to 1 1/2 years old. I wouldn't wait much longer. The undescended testicle can become cancerous over time. I hope this helps and I wish you all the best!