My puppy has an undescended testicle. Is neutering safe and when?

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!

HI, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I think it is find to wait until Nigel is 1 year old to neuter him. The descended testicle (cryptorchid) should be ok for another 6 months. Overtime (years) there is a risk that the retained testicle can become cancerous. Good luck!

Marshal is likely a cryptorchid which means he still has a testicle retained in his abdomen. He should absolutely be neutered as the retained testicle makes Marshal at high risk for a certain type of cancer called a Sertoli cell tumor. I'd recommend having Marshal neutered right away. The veterinarian will need to remove both the testicle in the scrotum and the one that is retained in the abdomen. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and best wishes to you and Marshal!

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.

I would definitely get Huxley neutered. He's not too old to be neutered, and given that he has a retained testicle, neutering is highly recommended. The retained testicle is more prone to testicular tumors and testicular torsion. Testicular tumors are more common in older dogs, but warning signs include swelling in the testicle, hair and skin changes, nipple enlargement, and pale gums among other symptoms. I would speak to a vet about scheduling Huxley for a neuter very soon.

Yes, I recommend neutering and removing both testicles. This can be a genetic problem so you don’t want to breed him. The testicle that is in the abdomen has an increased chance of developing testicular cancer in the future so removing now is best. This surgery is more like spaying a female dog, with only a slightly longer recovery than a typical male dog neuter. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Rex.

In large breed dogs (i..e Golden Retriever, Labs, Rottweilers, etc) the newer recommendations is to wait until the pet is 2-3 years of age before neutering to decrease the chances of inadvertently causing bone cancer. So I would recommend waiting a bit longer.