Read the Fine Print

Well...didn't I feel like a tool today! Our local humane society has just recently started early spay/neuter of kittens and puppies before adopting them into their forever homes. Yesterday I saw the first of these! It was a lovely, bouncy, black and white MALE 16 week old kitten. Mid-way through my 'kitten talk', I started my usual feel for the testicles to make sure they were where they should be. Nothing. Checked to make sure it was a boy. Yup. Sometimes, one of the testicles won't descend into the scrotum, and instead hangs out in the inguinal area (inner thigh) or abdomen (belly). This is called cryptorchidism and these boy bits need to be removed as they like to become cancerous. Even more rarely, neither testicle will descend. This is known as bilateral (both sides) cryptorchidism and I wondered if this kitten would be my first of these cases. As said kitten was being a major squirming unit, I took it into the treatment area to have my technician hold him for a better look. On closer inspection, under the fur, I could see the healing incisions of a castration surgery. Sure enough, a closer look at the file revealed that this kitten had been neutered at 8 weeks of age! Hello!

I walked back into the examination room, feeling sheepish, and admitted to the owner that I had been looking for something that wasn't there, and didn't I feel the fool! Luckily they laughed (while likely wondering how competent their veterinarian was!). Always read the fine print!