Is it possible that a neutered dog could still reproduce?

Question

I have a 3 year old Queensland that I adopted from the SPCA almost a year ago. He had to be neutered before we were able to take him home.
My brother has a Chihuahua mix that has not been altered. She was in the same fence with him while she was "in heat" because we didn't expect him to be able to impregnate her. He did "try" several times, but we never saw them "tied" (although it is possible since we weren't watching them all the time).
She ended up pregnant somehow, we assumed it was from our unaltered chihuahua male. But the puppies look a lot like Queenslands. Here are a few pictures of them.

http://media-files.gather.com/images/d262/d478/d744/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg
http://media-files.gather.com/images/d270/d478/d744/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg
http://media-files.gather.com/images/d280/d478/d744/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg

Here is a picture of Queensland puppies
http://www.deccoranch.com/Queenslands/1pups2days.asp

Is it possible that my Queensland could be the father?

Side note: please don't chew me out for having an unaltered female dog. She belongs to my brother, and although I have tried to convince him to have her spayed, it is his decision, and he had decided not to.

Answer 1

There could a possibility that your queensland can be the father if he was not neutuered correctly.

She could also be pregnant from someone else's dog.

it is your choice if you want to spay your dog.

Answer 2

The only thing I can think of, besides another sire :), is if your dog had an undescended testicle (ie was a monorchid) and the SPCA only removed the obvious testicle and left the undescended testicle inside. I don't know if that testicle could still be a functioning one as far as sperm because sperm do not like to be maintained at body temperature (that is why the testes are outside the body) but I do know that retained testicles can cause hormonal issues.

BUT, isn't there a HUGE difference in size between these two breeds? I'm not familiar with a Queensland but I also have NEVER seen a merle chihuahua :)

In order to get a merle puppy, you must HAVE a merle parent. The merle coloration is not carried recessively. AND, at our clinic we have done second neuterings on dogs where they did NOT remove the retained testicle. However, I still don't think sperm can survive inside the body but I don't know that for a fact. Well, just went and looked it up and nope - the retained testicle will be sterile. Soooooo, the father of these puppies will need to be a merle (if the mother is NOT a merle) something :)

Answer 3

No, the testicles are removed entirely, and while sperm can remain in the tubes, they only last 1-2 days, so unless they neutered him, sent him home the same day, and in the same day he tied successfully, it's very very unlikely. And even that scenario is a one in a million chance. If you have 2 intact animals on the property, they are almost certainly the parents, or else the female was impregnated by a passing dog that you never saw at all.

EDIT: Two more things, first, a Chihuahua would die trying to give birth do puppies fathered by a dog so much larger than she; and second, I checked the pictures, you're judging newborn pups entirely by their coloring. And here:
http://members.shaw.ca/chihuahuaheaven/images/2G.JPG

Is a photo of a blue merle chihuahua puppy, which is what your dog is. Very pretty, but very much a chihuahua, and nothing else.

Answer 4

I feel for you, I can't convince my sister to spay or neuter her dogs either and she has churned out 6 litters an 4 or 5 years, it's just sad.

I would say no,that your queensland couldn't have fathered the puppies with out the testicles. Now, I do know that in hummans, men who have had a vescetimy do have a short period of time afterwards where there is still the potential to father children until "the lines have been cleared" I haven't a clue if that is at all similar to dogs though, but an interesting fact none the less!

Answer 5

NO now way in the world could that happen.

When the surgery is performed the vet will make an incision in the abdomen about 3 to 6" long. From here he will push the testicles out of the scrotum and in to the abdomen and remove them from there protective covering. From there he will sever the tubes going from the testicle to the penis and tie them off with a few surgeons knots. and placing them neatly into place again. after the surgery we crack out the skillet flour and oil dredge them in flour and shallow fry them until golden brown and have a snack


It is not like when human male gets a vasectomy and they leave the testicles intact.





(OK so the last part is a little gross and never ever happens) LOL

Answer 6

WOW they do look alot like queensland puppies lol maybe they forgot to neuter him go back and ask or unless another dog could of jumped teh fence

Answer 7

Neutered dogs have no testicals. Just how are they supposed to produce sperm with no testicals? It's not at all possible that the neutered male is the sire of the pups. Another dog got to her when you were not watching. Leaving a female in heat outside alone, even in a fenced yard is not a good idea. Males will jump fences and do just about anything to get to a female.

The first puppy has very similar coloring to an australian shepherd.

If he had an undescended testical, he would be still be sterile since testicals that don't descend are not able to function.

Answer 8

A neutered dog can NOT inpregnate a female..it is IMPOSSIBLE!!!!

You simply have a merle Chihuahua plain and simple..a color that is not allowed by standard but common in irresponsably bred Chihuahuas.

Answer 9

It could be that he wasn't neutered correctly? You can always take them to the vet and they can do a blood test to check for his hormone levels.

Or it could just be an ironic twist of fate that another queensland impregnated her!

Answer 10

Theoretically, it is impossible for a neutered dog to sire those pups. Sperm is produced in the testes. The testes were removed when the dog was neutered.