This has got a few of us scratching our heads....

Someone I know has recently purchased a stunning male akita as a stud dog for her breeding program. (Not my breed so I'm unfamiliar with the pedigrees etc.)

She imported the dog, aged 3 and having been proven. When he arrived, he was vet checked and given the all clear by her own vet.

A few weeks later, the groomer observed and believes that his testicles are not in his scrotum. The scrotum itself is certainly defined and seems to have had testicles in it. There is no scar or remnants of a surgical procedure. The new owner contacted his breeder to ask if he'd been neutered or had any other reproductive issues to which the answer is no. She is obviously upset, having spent a fair bit of money to import him. The breeder is upset at having been accused of falsely selling a dog from her kennel as both parties were clear on his being a stud dog bringing new blood into a breeding program. I don't know who she is or what the kennel affix is so can't comment on that.

The registered litter was produced when said dog was 18 months old and breeder admitted that he'd managed to get one of her older bitches pregnant a month or so later, meaning he also had a non fci registered litter under his belt.

I do not have a stud dog so cannot advise on the anatomical workings of the entire male or if he's playing hide and seek with them (pretty sure that's not possible

Could he have had the implant, which does cause testes to shrink, and can take some time to come back to normal.

When importing a Vet ha to confirm entirety on the export pedigree and health certificate, was this showing entirety?

That is weird, if he'd had the implant his scrotum would have shrunk with his testes. If he was neutered again the scrotum would have shrunk too, they must be in there

Brainless: I haven't seen the paperwork and it's also not in English so doubt I'd be able to work anything out. But I have asked if she could send me a copy.

Having never imported myself and this being her first import, there is the worry there that she may have been duped. The breeder does however, seem to have a good reputation and her dogs are beautiful but again, this means little if you've lost thousands importing an animal and then be stuck with it if it's not up to standard.

From what I understand, both vets from country of origin and the UK said yes to his having testicles. When she told me he'd arrived and was booked in, it was the first thing I asked her to get checked.

Chaumsong: she's devastated at the moment as her other half was against importing in the first place so she's now hating herself even more.

She's asking me if there's anything she can start giving him to help 'encourage' them to become more substantial (!) if they are actually there and is still questioning whether he can pull them back up!

As I only have girls I have no idea! I've said she needs to get a 2nd opinion but being on the verge of another lock down, this is going to take a while. I fear the breeder will not have him back unless the buyer incurs the costs as there is now a breakdown in trust on both sides.

Is it possible he just has very small testicles??

I think you'd need to take him to a vet for a vet check and confirmation they're not there!

I think she does too. She's trying to get him booked in but covid is proving to be a problem as it's classed as non essential. I've advised her to ring round and register with a different vet or alternatively, ask my vet to see him.

She's looking at homeopathic remedies to see if there's something there that will help and something called Oxystud(?). I've also suggested a fertility analysis. Probably the cheapest option aside from the vet visit. If he's got viable sperm then obviously he's not neutered and most likely got retained testes. Which will sadly mean she's been sold an unfit dog.

If anyone has any other ideas, please do share.

Also, what are the chances of a dog being bilateral cryptorchid but having sired litters?

>Also, what are the chances of a dog being bilateral cryptorchid but having sired litters?

None. Testicles retained in the body are too hot to produce sperm.

Missing Testicles:  I have never imported a dog but looked at the possibility a few years back.  When I realised most of the paperwork was not written in English, I decided against it as some interperatation can be confusing. The paperwork you have states proven with 2 litters and another questionable mating. I had a male dog without visible testicles who fathered a litter and I couldn't understand how - one, not two testicles was found to be tightly tucked behind his scrotum.., but in light of the health concerns attached I had him castrated, You say the testicles have disappeared and I am not qualified to make a diagnosis but I have a feeling something similar has happened in your friends case so the Breeder is right, the paperwork of progeny could be right but the outlook of the Stud dog is in question.  If testicles are found. the only way ahead IMO is castration, increasing the chances that the dog will have a better chance of a cancer free life .

Fertility Analysis; Just 3 months ago I had a fertility analysis performed on one of my Stud Dogs (14 months old).  This was done artificially but during the prodedure only a tiny amount of semenal fluid was produced (enough to father a Litter) but I was advised to have a prostate exam done on him.  Not saying there is an issue there but maybe something else to check.

I've heard that stress can cause testicles to shrink as can some medications, possibly the stress of the move caused it?

Thanks Hoggie.

I've passed on all that's been mentioned here and obviously she's extremely upset, especially as two vets have said he is fine.

I'm of the thinking that her own vet is probably not a repro specialist, felt the scrotum and said all was good and didn't actually feel for the testes themselves.

I AM still concerned that the breeder may not have been 100% honest though. Once he's been checked, I'll update you all but as things stand at the moment, the breeder is denying any wrong doing (I think it's whoever signed the paperwork on her side that is mainly at fault here however I'm not sure if the breeder was genuinely certain of his testicals being there or may have had an inkling, hence selling him on out of country). I guess we'll know more once his checks have been completed and breeder notified.

It's just sad all round.

Kayenine: please let this be true! I'm not holding out much hope but it would certainly be the best outcome all round if it were.

gsdowner:  Best of luck and hope your friend gets some kind of recompense ,,, I know how disappointing it is as I have been mis-sold a puppy/dog in the past but there will be a way forward - always is!