Cryptorchidism, BPH and neutering?

[okaygreatthanks]

Remy turned out to be a cryptorchid (only one testicle descended). We kept holding out hope that the other might make a fashionably late appearance, but at around 9 months we needed to do an ultrasound to check on his liver (long story for another time!) and the MIA testicle was located near his bladder. The ultrasound also indicated benign prostatic hypertrophy, which neutering should help take care of (he doesn’t struggle to pee, poop, or have blood in either as of now).

Since then, we’ve gotten all kinds of timing opinions from different vets. One vet said we should have neutered him at 6 months, 12 months from another, and we’ve heard 18 months to 2 years from other vets and our breeder.

He’s 14 months now, and the consensus does seem to be that the longer it stays on the inside, the higher the risk for testicular cancer and potentially torsion. His health is our number one concern, and to that end, I also worry about his joint development and the part that hormones play in that.

As long as he remains asymptomatic for BPH, we currently planning to neuter him at around 18-19 months, which should hopefully give his joint plates time to close.

Has anyone else dealt with cryptorchidism or BPH, and if so, when did you decide to neuter?

Also curious to hear from folks who have neutered earlier than 2 years of age – have you seen any orthopedic or development issues as your dog has aged?

 

[JanS]

One vet said we should have neutered him at 6 months, 12 months from another, and we’ve heard 18 months to 2 years from other vets and our breeder.

Some vets push spay/neuter way too early so I agree with your breeder and other vets who said to wait til 18 - 24 months. That said, we've never had a dog with cryptorchidism so I'm not sure about that part.

Also curious to hear from folks who have neutered earlier than 2 years of age – have you seen any orthopedic or development issues as your dog has aged?

Our first Dobermans breeder had it in her contract that they had to be fixed by 7 months and we stupidly agreed to the contract not knowing any better. I waited until the last minute for the neuter and he had mile long legs, even though he was at least half Euro and I'm sure that was the effect of the too early neuter.

 

[okaygreatthanks]

Thanks so much for this response! We never went back to the vet who said 6 months. That's really odd that a breeder would have neutering by 7 months in the contract when 24 months is pretty standard, assuming there aren't any issues like this.

Remy is a lanky guy with a lot more filling out to do (it sounds like your first Dobie may not have put on as much muscle due to the early neuter?), so we're trying to hold off as long as we can, but I do worry about his retained testicle contributing to the enlarged prostate because of extra hormones. It feels like a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation, so I'm just trying to absorb all the info I can to help inform our decision.

We're really getting quite the intro to Dobermans with him: BPH, cryptorchidism (as you can imagine, the surplus of testosterone has made him quite spirited ), allergies, staph and ear infections, etc. He gives us a run for our money – literally – but he's been my dream dog since I was a child and he's our whole world.

 

[JanS]

He gives us a run for our money – literally – but he's been my dream dog since I was a child and he's our whole world.

And it's going to be that way for the rest of your life. Once you get this breed and raise them correctly, you'll never go back.

That's really odd that a breeder would have neutering by 7 months in the contract when 24 months is pretty standard,

She turned out to be a BYB'er and made her site look good. Live and learn.

Remy is a lanky guy with a lot more filling out to do (it sounds like your first Dobie may not have put on as much muscle due to the early neuter?)

He had muscle but he never got out of the lanky stage due to the early neuter.

 

[okaygreatthanks]

And it's going to be that way for the rest of your life. Once you get this breed and raise them correctly, you'll never go back.

He had muscle but he never got out of the lanky stage due to the early neuter.

Leggy, but a very handsome fella though!