Gelding

[CarolP]

My colt is 15 months old and has only 1 testicle descended. Should they both be down by now? I want to get him gelded ASAP. He is having evil thoughts :oops: :shock:

[LynnG]

Get your vet to examine him to see if they can feel the other one at all. It could be partially descended or not at all, which can mean much more expensive surgery. You may wish to give him longer, up to 24 months. Also, geld when cool out and less bugs. I would see what the vet suggests.

[appyday]

YEP sure should be..my boy is 6 weeks and has both

[Cam]

I had to wait until my colt was 26 months because of undescended testicle.

[motorgypsy]

Give him a little more time.

They will go through a "naughty" stage but if they are disciplined and told how to behave they do behave. We have three intact males ages 13, 2 and 2 and all are very well behaved and one did go through a "phase" but got over it once he was disciplined. Actually we ended up swatting him on the butt with a plastic canoe paddle! He got the point and became respectful once again and had remained like that. He is two years old. The 13 year old also went through a territorial phase but once again is now extremely well behaved. Stallions are very good once they know the rules because remember - they are programmed to live in a herd of boys with a leader but they are very physical and playful with each other and they have to know NOt TO PLAY with you. Once they know they are very sweet.

They can give him a testosterone shot to help it descend. Sometimes they go up and down for a while too.

[Terry Wallace]

The AAEP says... if a colt is not fully descended by 12 months..he is "techmnically" a cryptorchid, even if it desends at a later date...which it *can*....depends on where exactly it is trapped....or if it is just laying at the inguinial ring.

I would give him more time, because if he is crypt on one side...that is a $750.00 (major) surgery here, opposed to a regular gelding ranging from $100 to $200 surgery.

Have you palpated to see if one testicle is just laying at the ring opening? Once it grows to big to pass through the ring, it won't descend. BUT...many times that "other" testicle is small & flabby, and *might* be accessable without a major surgery.

I can tell you one thing for sure...some colts can pull the testicles up & down for months & months.... One day you see them, the next day you don't. Since you know you will geld him...Might as well wait till fall..less flies, cold weather = better, quicker healing.

[CarolP]

Thanks, I'll give him a few more months, especially with the heat over 100 here. Just wanted to know if it was unusual. This is the first time he allowed me to check. Carol