My little puppy ,who just turned 3 weeks yesterday, started looking funny in her bottom end , a couple of days ago I took her to the vet ,he suspects that she may be a hemaphidite. He says that in his 30 years of being a vet he has only seen this once before. I was wandering if any of you have ever had this experience before? I suppose that when she is older the vets can fix it. But I need to know if this is genetic or just a fluke. I cant seem to find much info on the net about this.
Lucy

What breed Lucy and I will look it up for you.

Thanks Jackie
Shes a Boston Terrier, I have done a search on the computer , however, lol ,you can imagine what pops up, so far I havent found much useful information.
Lucy

There is a long list for the breed so I will check it out for you but may not get back till tomorrow.

Hi Lucy

Hermaphrodism is a defect that's caused by the presence of extra sex chromosome/s in the foetus.  I think its a sort of developmental blip so nothing to do with the genetic make up of sire or dam....just "one of those things"

Julie

Hi, whilst not common it is sometimes found in my breed (American cockers) and is an inherited trait.  It is quckly "fixed' by the vet at about 6 months, by neutering (obviously the neutering is a little more comprehensive in one of these cases!)
bye
Gwen

Just done a search on this.  It appears to be a different kind of hermaphrodism without the extra chromosome and is indeed inherited, as a simple recessive.  A few breeds mentioned but not Bostons.  To determine which one your puppy has Lucy, I would think a blood test advisable, unless you can see anything in the photos on this page to help.

http://www.ivis.org/advances/Concannon/meyers/chapter_frm.asp?LA=1

Julie

Well have looked it up for you and it is not listed as being a heritable condition in the Boston, although, of course, it is congenital. The overall opinion is, it is one of those things that happen on occasion, and can be drug induced whilst in the womb. The only dogs listed as having the problem as a heritable condition are Cockers and Am Cockers. There are different types and most are some malformation of the genitals but true Hermaphroditism (the presence of both male and female gonads) is very rare and why it occurs is not known.

Have seen it in a Cat we board, but never again!  She (or he) was spayed and castrated but retains all the scent of a Tom Cat!  Causes a few problems for the owner too.  I have not known it cause any medical problems in dogs.
Dawn.

Thank-you every one for your responses...very helpful.
Lucy

i have also sceen this in curly coated  retrevers
but not to very often but i dont think it is somthung to worry about
easly fixed

I knew someone that had a hermaphidite cat once