If we are determined to welcome a dog into our home we must know that this beautiful fact requires a firm commitment on the part of the owner, since we must be able to cover all the needs that our pet presents. When we refer to the physical he alth of our dog, we can generally think that possible pathological disorders are likely to appear as our pet ages, but this is not the case in all cases.
In this article we talk about the treatment for cryptorchidism in dogs and its symptoms, a he alth problem that can become evident to the few weeks of life, since it is a sexual development disorder of our pet.
What is cryptorchidism in dogs?
If you have reached this article it is because you have surely wondered why my dog has a testicle in his abdomen. The reason is cryptorchidism in dogs.
Cryptorchidism in dogs is the alteration of sexual development in males (affecting approximately 13% of them), since that as we will see, it is not possible that this pathology affects females. It is the absence of one or more testicles in the scrotal sac because they have not descended when they normally do at 8 weeks of life.
In a dog with normal sexual development, the testicles descend from their original position (behind the kidneys) into the inguinal canal at birth, and subsequently pass through the inguinal canal to reach the proper position at birth. the scrotal sac.
In a dog with cryptorchidism, the testicles do not complete this path of descent.
Types of cryptorchidism in dogs
This disorder can affect only one testicle or both, in addition, the undescended testicles can be found in different anatomical cavities, so depending on these factors we can differentiate between different types of cryptorchidism:
- Unilateral cryptorchidism: one testicle is in the scrotum and the other is not.
- Bilateral cryptorchidism: no testicle is located in the scrotal sac.
- Inguinal cryptorchidism: One or both testicles are in the inguinal canal.
- Abdominal cryptorchidism: One or both testicles are in the abdomen.
The diagnosis of this disease is made in a simple way through palpation, being definitive after six months of age.
Causes of cryptorchidism in dogs
The cause of canine cryptorchidism is not yet well defined although It is believed that the genetic component is of great importance because it is an inherited disease that can be transmitted by both females and males.
Due to its genetic component we can distinguish between some breeds predisposed to suffer from this disorder:
- Yorkshire
- Miniature Schnauzer
- Dachshund
- Poodle
- Boxer
- M altese
- Pekingese
Now that we know what cryptorchidism in dogs is and what causes it, let's see the symptoms of cryptorchidism in dogs.
Symptoms of cryptorchidism in dogs
What if my dog has cryptorchidism? Canine cryptorchidism does not present any symptoms in the animal, although we must take into account that the undescended testicles reach a high temperature inside the body, which implies that they can easily develop tumors, which are especially obvious if they are located in the groin or inguinal canal.
The testicle affected by the tumor will secrete high amounts of female hormone, causing a feminization syndrome in the dog, which will lead it to adopt typical female characteristics, which willcan be easily observed Thus, the symptoms of cryptorchidism in dogs are as follows:
- The penis shrinks and its size decreases.
- Breasts develop.
- The dog adopts a feminine position to urinate.
From the age of 4 there is an increased risk of undescended testicles developing a lump.
To have more information about Tumors in dogs: types, symptoms and treatment, don't hesitate to read this article on our site.
Treatment for cryptorchidism in dogs
The treatment of canine cryptorchidism is surgical and consists of the removal of the undescended testicles Now, how is the procedure done? cryptorchidism surgery in dogs? We can talk about two types of treatments or surgeries for cryptorchidism in dogs depending on the type:
- If the cryptorchidism is abdominal: a midline laparotomy should be performed, which is an operation that consists of opening the abdominal walls.
- If the cryptorchidism is inguinal: the testicle to be removed is located externally and an incision is made locally.
These operations would be synonymous with castration, since we are removing the testicles. Now, the price of cryptorchidism operation in a dog would range between approximately €100 and €110.
Now that we know what the treatment is for cryptorchidism in dogs, let's find out if there is a possibility of preventing it.
Prevention of canine cryptorchidism
Canine cryptorchidism can only be prevented by adequate selection of parents for reproduction, so a dog suffering from this disorder cannot be used for this purpose. Even choosing parents free of cryptorchidism, this does not guarantee 100% that the descending animals will not suffer from this disorder.
A cryptorchid dog or a dog with cryptorchidism can have children, since he is not fertile. Even so, since it is a hereditary disease, it is recommended that they do not reproduce.
