cryptorchid?

[staci]

I have a 11 month old stud colt. Had the vet come out to castrate him yesterday and he said he was a cryptorchid? Only one testicle dropped. "If it hasn't already it won't"is what he said. We could put him on hormones for 3 days and have a 5-10% chance of having it drop, but not likely and very expensive or an operation to remove other, which he does not do, also very costly. He told me point blank"the best thing to do is just sell him."
Is all this true, anyone dealt with this before? Any help please!!! Thanks

[sulphurfire]

The retained testicle is infertile, if it's not removed he will more than likely develop stallion like behaviors. It's not a life threatining problem. I would call more than just the one vet to find a lower cost on getting it done. His opinion on "getting rid of him" strikes me as a little harsh. What do you plan on doing with him, is he a pleasure horse are you going to compete with him these and your budget are what determines the bottom dollar value on him. ME personally I wouldn't get rid of him because of that but find another vet who is more open minded.

[Inyureye]

I'm surprised this is such a big deal with the vets, although I haven't encountered it personally, but I would get another opinion, just because it may be something just this vet doesn't deal with. You may find a vet who does this kind of thing more often, also, might try a vet school - they may do it less expensively, just don't know, but it can't be that uncommon that its such an extreme condition to warrant getting rid of said horse? It may be that they have to put him out, though, for the operaion, and that may be where the expense lies. I would want to get some more details and information from another vet - depending on how much this horse's value is to you, for resale both with and without the surgery, you could then evaluate whether you wanted it. Many entire horses (I know, he's half) are successfully shown, hunted, ridden in company, if trained well from the start. Precautions are always taken in handling a stallion, but many do well in mixed company as long as they aren't turned out on their own with other horses, for example. Take some time to get info from some other vets and evaluate him over the next season or so, see what seems right for this horse, I say.
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[dunappy]

Get another vet opinion. The Retained testical CAN be removed and he can be a NORMAL gelding, BUT if it is still in the abdomen and never drops, the geldign will cost more. Leaving the retained testicle along and int eh body is jsut asking for trouble. The horse will develope study behavior and can potentially become dangerous. As for getting rid of him just means that you are passing on the hastle and problems to some one else.

[CHIRON]

Eleven months (11)???? and still fairly cold most every where.
I would not be worried!!
Depending on breed & grow & climate, calling an eleven month old a crypt
seems awlfully premature to me.
Excercise & proper nutrition & more excercise & if he hasn't "dropped" by late summer, maybe, just maybe you might have a crypt.
I've seen Arab colts who haven't dropped til almost 3!! Even then quite frequently the "retained" testicle can be palpated & under sedation & down on the ground can be removed. Only a few dollars more (maybe $50) it can be removed.
Were he mine I'd just give him some more time
If he starts bitting at his flanks or tail chasing then you probably do have a crypt

Good Luck.

[staci]

Thank you all for the help. I've gotten a second opinion by another vet, he said not to worry yet, it can still drop. The only reason to do surgery at this age is if he is really studdy acting already and a real handful, which is not the case. So I'm going to give it a few more months then decide to go through with it or not. Thanks again Staci

[RacingQH]

Give him a little more time. I have had several colts that had either 1 or NONE visable at his age, only to have them drop later in their yearing year. They were then able to be gelded the "regualr way" rather than a vet having to go looking for the second one.

As far as contacting a vet school, that is always a possibility, but here the vet school costs a LOT more than a vet clinic. They are just like the people hospital, where they charge you for every pair of gloves, every square of gauze, and everything else. (And when there is a "real" vet and half a dozen students present for the surgery, it gets expensive FAST.)

[Brooke]

i have a colt that turned 2 in Jan. and hadnt dropped yet, he was starting to show signs of discomfort and had began to buck when ridden. well i went to the barn yesterday to give him a bath and low and behold there they both were!!! LOL! we were just about to have the surgery done. so i wouldnt rush it.
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[lucky Clover Farm]

11 months!! with spring so too comes the hormones-it may drop rather quickly if he's runnin around screaming at mares or other horses. If it doesn't come down then you are looking at a pricey surgery-something close to colic surgery costs. Good luck-I hope it drops for you.

[RacingQH]

[missmagus]

Staci -
It's good you got that second vet opinion, and all the advice you've gotten on this forum too. The inguinal ring doesn't close until the horse is around 18 months old - can be later - so at 11 months there is nothing to panic about - which you weren't. A retained testicle can not only cause a problem with stallion like behaviour but a retained testicle can become cancerous - which is a whole other bunch of problems. It is always best to get both out when gelding.

I also have a 12 month old colt that only has one testicle down. I just had three others, at about the same age, gelded and am just going to wait on this one as he is no problem.
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[staci]

Thanks again for all the advice! He still has only one down. Luckily he hasn't any stud like behaviors so far. He is still very much a gentleman.
He probably thinks I'm crazy, always messing around down there!! Will keep you posted.

[Inyureye]

Have you named him, yet, Staci? How about Orchid's Crypt. Hee Hee haw haw, not very funny.

Okay. Sorry.
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[staci]

Just an update. Still only one there. My husband calls him Numero Uno!

[CHIRON]

We had the Mexican/Chinese horse. Juan Hung Lo

Don't worry, just lots of exercise & watch his diet..don't let him get pudgy