What are Retained Testicles?
If your dog does not have two visible testicles by the second month after birth, you need to have your veterinarian check for cryptorchidism, or retained testes. While many owners think having retained testes is not a big deal and just ignore it, this can put your dog at a much higher risk of getting testicular torsion or cancer. Both of these illnesses are extremely painful and can be fatal. Cancer of the testicles is the second most often reported cancer in dogs overall and about 12 times more common in dogs with retained testes. This cancer causes severe pain in the abdomen, weight loss, and the shutting down of the internal organs. Testicular torsion is usually rare, but with the testes floating around unattached in the abdomen it is much more common and a life-threatening emergency. It occurs when the testicle twists itself up and cuts off the circulation to that testicle. Extreme pain and infection are imminent and emergency surgery to remove the testicles will have to be done immediately to save your dog.
Retained testes happen when the tube that connects the testicle to the scrotum does not form correctly, the testicle will not be able to drop down into the scrotal area as it should. It is actually fairly common in dogs, although unilateral cryptorchidism is the most common. There are two types; unilateral, which means only one testicle has descended, and bilateral, which means neither testicle drops into place in the scrotum. In unilateral cryptorchidism it is the left testicle that descends in most cases. Those with bilateral cryptorchidism are almost always sterile because it is too hot inside the abdomen for sperm to live.
When one or both of a dog’s testes do not drop down into the scrotal area, this is called cryptorchidism, which is also called undescended or retained testes. There are two types of retained testes, which are unilateral (only one testicle drops down) or bilateral (both testes do not drop down). By the eighth week of a dog’s life their testicles should have both fallen into place in the scrotal area behind the kidneys. If one or both testicles do not drop into the scrotum, this can cause more than just cosmetic issues. It can also affect the health of the dog by increasing the risk of cancer or testicular torsion. A dog with retained testes will almost always be sterile, but it is still essential to get your dog neutered to prevent cancer or torsion.
Symptoms of Retained Testicles in Dogs
The most obvious sign that your dog has retained testes is if your dog has only one testicle or none at all. Even if you do not notice this, your veterinarian will catch the problem at your puppy’s first examination. That is why it is so important to take your puppy to the veterinarian between six and eight weeks of age for the first check-up. Sometimes the dog can be mistaken for a female and the owner does not notice any problems until cancer or testicular torsion occurs. The signs of these are:
- Extreme abdominal pain
- Vomiting
- Weight loss
- Mass in the abdominal area
Types
Unilateral Cryptorchidism
- This happens when your dog only has one testicle that drops down into the scrotal area
- The other testicle is either in the abdomen or the inguinal canal
Bilateral Cryptorchidism
- This is when neither testicle drops into place in the scrotum
- This is not as common as unilateral cryptorchidism.
Causes of Retained Testicles in Dogs
While this is not uncommon in any dog, it is more common in certain breeds, which are:
- Chihuahuas
- Dachshunds
- French Poodles
- German Shepherds
- Miniature Schnauzers
- Pomeranians
- Shetland Sheepdogs
- Siberian Huskies
- Yorkshire Terriers
Diagnosis of Retained Testicles in Dogs
Although this condition should be noticed by the veterinarian at your puppy’s first examination between six and eight weeks, sometimes it may go unnoticed until a later age. A good example of this is if you get your dog when it is older and the first owner did not get the puppy checked by a veterinarian or if your male dog was mistaken for a female because it has bilateral cryptorchidism. Either way, provide the veterinarian with as much information about your dog’s history as you have. This should include medical records, vaccinations, illnesses or injuries, changes in behavior or appetite, and any symptoms you have noticed.
Your veterinarian will then do a physical examination of your dog. A complete physical exam will include heart rate, weight, body temperature, and blood pressure. After the examination, the veterinarian will do some tests, including urinalysis, stool sample, semen sample, x-rays, and ultrasound. He may also need to do a CT scan and/or MRI if necessary to see exactly where your dog’s testicle(s) are located.
Treatment of Retained Testicles in Dogs
The only treatment for both unilateral and bilateral cryptorchidism is surgically neutering your dog. Neutering a dog with retained testes is more complicated than the usual neutering because it involves locating and removing the testes from the inguinal canal or wherever in the abdomen they may be. While this type of surgery has some risks, it is much safer than not having the surgery. Your dog will probably have to stay in the hospital for one or two days and will need rest and relaxation for at least two weeks after that at home.
Recovery of Retained Testicles in Dogs
After going home, your dog will need to be on limited activity with possible cage rest. The veterinarian may also give you an Elizabethan collar for your dog to wear to keep him from licking at the incision area. Check daily for signs of infection at the incision site. The signs of infection are redness, swelling, bad odor, or any kind of discharge. You will have to bring your dog back within 7-14 days to get the stitches removed and to see if it is healing properly. Be sure to tell your veterinarian any concerns you may have.
Retained Testicles Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
I have a neutered standard poodle 9 yrs old .Since the operation my dog has always pumped him self and seems to have a hard vtime walking and urinating, sometimes goes for 14 to 16 hrs not able to urinate . Recentely I found 2 golf ball size balls on each side of his penis,under the skin. could this be his balls , and the vet made a mistake , you cannot feel them all the time .
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We have a lab/border collie puppy that we adopted at the age of 4 months already neutered. He has a small scar on his lower groin where his scrotum should be, but there is no scrotal tissue. He is now almost 8 months old and my husband and I are seeing what looks like testicles under his skin on both sides of his abdomen. He licks and gnaws at his whole groin area and jerks like he's itching really badly. I can't find anything on the internet about what happens if a pup is neutered too early and then his his testicles drop with nowhere to go...
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I have a 5 month old Cane Corso with only one testicle dropped. My vet said that he has a chance of dropping it on his own for up to 8 months. Is there any procedure for getting the retained testicle into the correct place without surgery?? I don't want to breed him but I was going to leave him intact for as long as I could for maximum growth and health.
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I have the Italian greyhound with one of his testicles retaining under between skin and ribs in the middle
His is 5 and healthy
No troubles
Thanks God !
I heard already about testicles removing
??!!
I wonder if it is a human are you also treated him this way or here are some other options
?? Do you really now how to cure without harm?
If it is your son what you would do ?
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I have an 8 month old boxer whos has this condition, bilateral Cryptorchidism. We are planning to go get them within the next month. I am just trying to learn more about this condition, does it affect their growth in any way? Are they getting the necessary growth hormones while having this condition?
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An 11 week old English Bulldog puppy that I am interested in purchasing was initially diagnosed with no palpable testies (at 8 weeks), then one testicle was noted on xray in the abdomen (at 10 weeks) and now at 11 weeks both testicles are palpable in the abdomen. I want to be able to show and breed this dog. The breeder thinks that both testicles will eventually descend on their own. Is this realistic? If they do drop, is there a higher chance of him passing this condition onto his male offspring? Both parents are platimun health certified and from reputable breeders.
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Hi, I have an 8 month old Boxer. I took him to get nuetered about 1.5 weeks ago. He has a left sided un-descended testes. The left side where he had the incision mark now has a big ball like lump close to the penis, about the size of a golf ball that you can see and palpate, especially when he rolls on his back. Is this normal?
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I have a 1 year old Golden Retriever who had bilateral cryptorchidism. He was neutered 5 days ago. He was at home after 2 days, getting around slowly but doing well. He had seeping from the posterior area of the incision from day one stopped on day four. On day 5, he began bleeding from the anterior area, which had a small ( approx. 4-6 mm) open area. This void was present from day one. I compressed it gently and when he got up, a 1 " piece of tissue emerged. I promptly took him to a university vet hospital. The doctor said it looked like fatty tissue and not intestine but concerned about infection as he is herniated. I am awaiting word from the emergency surgery. How common is this after neutering? What could be the causes? Thank you.
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I have a 10.5 week old lab and just noticed a small, moveable lump on his belly, just to the right side of his penis. Neither testicle has descended. Wondering if it could be a hernia, or is it possible to see an undescended testicle as a lump on the abdomen? Pup has no other symptoms, lump was definitely not present before today - he loves belly rubs, and we definitely would’ve noticed a lump. Also, vet will not reopen for another 4 days. Ok to wait to get checked out then?
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I am looking at a male Siberian Husky pup. Dad has both testicles descended and this male pup has both testicles descended. The pup's 2 brothers in this litter each only have 1 testicle dropped at 8 weeks of age. Since the male pup I am looking at does have both testicles dropped, would it be ok to use him as a breeder?
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My dog has one testicle and he mated with my female dog. In hoping she doesn't get pregnant could he be sterile?
My dog had one decended testice and we had him neutered but they could not find the other. Is this a concern or could it just not be there?
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My dog is almost 10 yrs. He had only one decended testicle and we finally decided to get him fixed about a year and a half ago. The vet said they did not find the other after looking as long as he was able to. Not sure if this happens or if I should be worried still. I don't want to have to have him go through that again. Also the same vet put him on steroids and antibiotics. It seemed a little while later he was affected by dermadectic mange based on my own research. I avoided the vet and tried home remedies for some time and he seems much better but now he has two red rash spots. One on the left side of his penis and the other under his left armpit. Not sure if this is related to the mange or the undecended testicle, or something else. He doe's chew his feet a lot too. We have tried switching food for 4 months to ensure it was not an allergy. Don't want to go back to the vet since he pushes med's and from what I read the steroids probably made the mange get bad in the first place.
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Hi, we have a 13 week old standard dachshund and currently only one testicle has descended. Is there still a possibility it will descend as we really would like to keep him intact. If it doesn’t then we understand we would have to get him castrated. What is the ideal age to have this done? Would it be safe and ethical to leave it until he his 18 months to 2 years old to be sure he has hit maturity, unless he starts any undesirable traits before then of course? I would just feel so much more comfortable knowing he has matured phisicly and mentally.
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What would be the latest you would leave it until having him castrated? Thanks
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My 11 year chihuahua has bilateral crytptorchildism now has mass in right side which was diagnosed that the testical is in the ingunial canal. The dog has a heart mummur and acl tear. What is treatment and cost?
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Generally Veterinarians recommend removing cryptorchid testicles at an early age to prevent problems later in life like tumours. Your Veterinarian would remove both testicles during the surgery so that there isn’t a chance for the development of any problems with the second; the ACL tear would be also need to be repaired, there are numerous different procedures which may be carried out depending on surgeon preference and other factors. For cost, this varies from Veterinarian to Veterinarian and state to state; you would be better to call a few local Veterinary Hospitals for quotations as a ball park figure is too vague ($1,000 - $4,000 for both surgeries and still may fall outside this range); also the heart murmur severity and the pre-surgery blood tests (generally required in a dog seven or older) may increase the cost of surgery with peri-operative care. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
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Hi! We were given a 1.5 year old doxie because he has a retained Testicle and couldn’t be breed. We happily took him knowing we’d have to get him neutered. He’s underweight, timid, fearful, and pee’s every 45 mins or so. He will also go in his crate. The crate is the correct size for him.
My main concern is, can the urinatuon frequency and the peeing in the crate be a side effect of the retained testicle?
I also worry that since he is a year and half are his chances high that he already has cancer from the ball that didn’t drop? It’s in his abdomen and we have been to two vets for different estimates and he goes Friday for another check up before we book the surgery.
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Hi. My pug Louis has a unilateral retained testis that on the advice of our vet was best to be castrated to prevent risk of prostate cancer etc. He had the surgery at around 1 years old. He has had no problems since. Now 7- for the past month has been experiencing trouble urinating and diarrhoea. We have sent for X-rays etc and outcome doesn’t look great but vet was very suprised to see calcium growth where he did because he has been neutered. Is it possible the initial castration wasn’t performed correctly? Or is there anything we can do to reduce inflammation etc for the time being?
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My dog, Blue, has one of his testes still inside (Unilateral Cryptorchidism). He is 2 years old. We don't want to operate him, fearing it might change his temperament and the way he behaves. I want to know how likely it is for him to actually develop cancer from this condition, and if it is true that his temperament and behavior could change after having his testicles removed.
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I've a Golden retriever male puppy having 4 months 12 days. Unfortunate thing is I'm getting only one testicle (Right) now. My vet Doctor said to wait another month. Is there any time limit by which I can confirmed whether my dog is Unilateral and there is no chance to descend the other one. And if he is unilateral then what will be the physical problems can occur in future. For unilateral, will they go for mating?
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I recently took on a 17 month boxer male .He was fine for first 8 wks then he just collapsed when out for a walk .I took him to a vet they said he might have sudden death syndrome but paid for a heart scan heart and valves fine then noticed only 1 testicle .when walking him now he has lack of breath and panting and is hot to the touch could the retained testicle cause these symptoms
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hi, my dog is a griffon 2 years old, he is a Unilateral Cryptorchidism
he made the operation and i ask the to remove only the Retained
testicle and leave the other one.so the dog can live normally. my question for you what is the side effects of removing only the retained testicle and can my dog have puppies or not
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I have a mixed breed small dog who has just had his first birthday. Bruno was abandoned on the morning he was born and so I don't know his exact breed, he looks identical to a Bernese mountain dog but he is Corgi sized. Only one of his testicles has descended. My vet is very good and has informed me of all of the possible complications and treatments and right now she says that he is in good health. However, in the last few weeks he has become very aggressive and extremely energetic/naughty. He is beginning to argue with my two older males too (7 year old labrador and another mixed breed of 2 years that I also rescued) who have both been castrated and I am worried that the growls will soon turn into bites. He is trying to dominate and intimidate them constantly, so much that the labrador and Bruno have to be separated at all times. I feel simply that Bruno is bursting with testosterone and I am scared they are all going to have a serious fight! He thinks he is the boss when in reality he is the baby. I want to know how likely it is that my vet will be able to remove the testicle with ease and whether it would be safer to wait for a few more months to see if the testicle descends, and just hope he doesn't get even more aggressive towards the older dogs? Is there any way to find out whether the testicle is in the abdomen or the inguinal canal and how long normally until the dog might be in pain? Thank you in advance.
Read more at: https://wagwalking.com/condition/retained-testicles
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There are glands just under your dog’s penis that will sometimes become more apparent especially if he is excited. It wasn’t a mistake on your vet’s part.