Hi all. I am a little worried about my 4 and 1/2 month old Shih Tzu. I took him for his 2nd injection at 8 weeks old, the vet gave him a check up and told me testicles had dropped, whatever that suppose to mean, however he doesn't seem to have any at all. He is fluffy in that region but there is no sign of them. Is this normal at this age? Or am i to be worried about it? If it is normal at what age are they supposed to be visible?

Kind regards Janette

Don't worry Janette. It is something that does happen in some puppies and not normally anything to worry about. I believe 'teething' can influence this process at times and maybe this is what is happening with your little one. Your Vet has confirmed they are there (they start out in a cavity inside the body and then 'drop' outside of the body and into a 'sack'), so just keep an eye on them (don't go prodding about though) and report back to him if they have not dropped by 10 - 12 months old. I am sure he will be fine

Small dogs have very small testicles as pups. Have you actually felt for them? I have two 4 month old male Papillons, small and furry. I can't SEE the testicles in either of them, but I know they are there as they can be felt. (But even that takes some skill at this age.) But we are talking just under peanut sized!

Thank you Leigh and Goldmali for your replies. I was expecting him to have em on show like my jack Russell who had 'them' from the start . I was convincing myself pippin could be a girl because of this and the fact he squats to wee wee rather than lift his leg. My friend has a Shih Tzu and he has a testicle in his thigh! However thank you for the reassurance
Janette

He will start lifting his leg when he gets older.

He may not      Some of my Basset males tended to do a token lift and then put the leg back down again to finish.  They KNOW they can't hit the heights, so in true Basset fashion, don't bother.    I well remember feeling it was such an achievement when our first boy actually did this, when he was 6 months and actually I'd had some bitches who 'lifted' more than my males did!

The boy with the testicle in his thigh should probably have it removed before it becomes cancerous.   Fwiw.

> The boy with the testicle in his thigh should probably have it removed before it becomes cancerous

Definitely.  I had to have an undescended testicle removed from the inguinal canal on a Border Collie.  Even if they leave the descended one, it's important to think about the possibility of cancer with undescended testicles.

Have a ten year old who suffered retained testicles, he had other issues as well, so when prepped for an operation which x rays showed he didn't require asked that he was neutered  rather than have to undergo another GA. It's dreadful but looking back can't remember exactly how old he was but around 12 months, whether in his case they'd never worked properly but I'd leave well alone for as long as possible, as Otto has remained a Puppy - a geriatric puppy & a silly little boy - we joke he's go a picture hidden somewhere & call him Dorian Gray.
Realise & agree with everyone they do need to be removed, but at eight weeks there's still plenty of time for them to appear.

A dog I bred had his retained one removed aged 3 years, no problems at all. There is certainly no huge rush.

My friends dog is to be castrated, I think it is the safest option after reading it could turn cancerous. She didn't know it could be, so thumbs up for the advice to all who replied
Janette

It is an increased risk but there is no hurry and no need to castrate just remove the other one, preferably when mature.

Same here, I waited until my Border was adult first.  They really need the testosterone, and so many castrate too early.

Don't rush into surgery. My GSP was pushing 8 months old before one of his dropped permanently. Like your dog, both were there early on and then one disappeared, only to return when it was good and ready