Question: after putting my 6 year old bitch with a small dog and all he does is sniff her and lick; he's not interested in doing anything else. She is definitely in heat. Could he be de-sexed without his owner knowing it? He is 3 years old and has been with his present owner for the past 2 years.

ANSWER: Male dogs have a visible external scrotum just like people. If this scrotum (with or without testicles) is not visible, then it is possible that it never developed, the testicles and scrotum were removed during a neuter, or that the testicles remain up in the abdomen and never dropped after birth. You will need to take your male in to have it evaluated by your veterinarian as testicles that remain in the abdomen (bilateral cryptorchidism) are subject to (and often do) develop cancer because they are in an abnormal environment.