The testes develop behind the kidneys in the abdomen while a puppy is still in the womb. In most puppies, the testes descend or “drop” by 2 months of age. Each testicle is attached to a ligament called the gubernaculum. The end of this ligament is attached to the scrotum. As the ligament shrinks, it pulls the testicle through the inguinal canal into the scrotum. In some breeds of dogs, the testes may descend later than 2 months, but rarely after the age of 6 months.
At your puppy’s first check-up, your veterinarian will examine the scrotum to see if his testes have descended. If your puppy’s testes have not yet “dropped”, your vet will check again at a future visit.
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If one or both testicles fail to descend into the scrotum by about 4 months of age, the puppy is presumed to have a condition known as cryptorchidism.
The Symptoms of Cryptorchidism
Puppies with cryptorchidism usually don’t show symptoms other than a lack of one or both testes in the scrotum. The condition is not painful and does not make a dog feel sick unless complications arise. There are two complications associated with cryptorchid testicles—spermatic cord torsion and testicular cancer.
In spermatic cord torsion, the spermatic cord twists on itself, cutting off blood supply to the testicle. This causes severe abdominal pain. The only treatment is emergency surgery to neuter the dog. Spermatic cord torsion is rare in dogs.
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Older dogs with cryptorchidism are at risk for developing testicular cancer.
Cryptorchid dogs are estimated to be 13 times more likely to develop cancer than normal dogs. Some dogs don’t show obvious symptoms of testicular cancer, but if they do, the symptoms depend on the type of cancer present. Testicular tumors of the retained testicle are typically diagnosed post-surgery when sections of the tumor are sent to the lab for histopathology, where a veterinary pathologist examines the tissue under a microscope.
Lowering the Chances of Testicular Cancer
The best way to prevent testicular cancer from occurring in a cryptorchid dog is to neuter the dog while it is still young.
The undescended testicle is not able to produce sperm due to the higher temperature inside the body. It is also usually smaller than the scrotal testicle. If both testicles are retained, the dog will be sterile, while dogs with one cryptorchid testicle are still fertile with the testicle in the scrotum producing sperm.
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What Causes a Dog To Develop Cryptorchidism?
Cryptorchidism is inherited. It is therefore important not to breed males with this condition. Although any breed of dog can have cryptorchidism, some breeds are at greater risk.
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According to VCA Hospitals, the toy breeds, including Toy Poodles, Pomeranians, and Yorkshire Terriers, are more likely to have undescended testicles.
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What Is The Treatment For Cryptorchidism?
Castration (also known as neutering) is the only treatment for this condition. Castration involves surgically removing both testicles while the dog is under general anesthetic. In most cases of cryptorchidism, the retained testicle is located in the abdomen or the inguinal canal. It is also possible for the testicle to be located under the skin in the groin area.
Cryptorchid dogs should be neutered early to avoid life-threatening conditions such as testicular cancer and spermatic cord torsion from developing.
The prognosis for cryptorchidism is excellent provided dogs are neutered early before problems develop in the retained testicle.
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