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 can lead to symptoms including abdominal swelling and weight loss. 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 testicle 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.
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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, a puppy's testicle may drop down at a later age (e.g. 3 or 4 months).
Signs of a problem down the line can include:
- Vomiting
- Weight loss
- Mass in the abdominal area
- Poor appetite
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 (although this would be rare as their penis should still be visible). 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 may 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 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 will need rest and relaxation for at least two weeks at home.
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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 Average Cost
From 72 quotes ranging from $400 - $2,500
Average Cost
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Retained Testicles Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Cane Corso Italiano (Italian Mastiff)
Toro
5 Months
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
He Has No Symptoms
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.
Jan. 25, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
1 Recommendations
Thank you for your email. There isn't a surgery to make that testicle end up where it belongs, but there doesn't tend to be a big risk to neuter him right away if it is still retained - there are longer term risks of testicular cancer but waiting until he is a year or so shouldn't cause any problem, other than the normal possibilities of aggression, marking, and accidental breeding. Talk with your veterinarian about it, as they know his whole history and health status, but you should not need to rush if he is behaving himself.
Jan. 26, 2018
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Bernese Mountain Dog mix
Bruno
1 Year
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Unilateral
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
Jan. 23, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
1 Recommendations
Thank you for your email. At 1 year old, it is fairly certain that his testicle isn't going to descend, and that it is going to have to be found, surgically. If he is becoming more aggressive, it would be best to have him neutered as soon as possible. Your veterinarian will be able to find the testicle, whether it is inguinal or in his abdomen, and he will be sent home on pain medications to recover - an abdominal surgery involves more of a recovery than an inguinal surgery, but either one will require that same type of home care - pain medication, possible antibiotics, and an E-Collar. I hope hat everything goes well with Bruno.
Jan. 24, 2018
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American Bulldog
Cash
10 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Rash
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.
Jan. 22, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Thank you for your email. I'm sorry that Cash has been having these problems. It is possible that he only had one testicle, but unlikely. The best way to find out would be to test him for testosterone levels. That will tell if that testicle still needs to be located. As far as his skin goes, without seeing him, I can't really comment on any possible diagnosis, but environmental allergies do commonly affect dogs. Demodex is uncommon in older, healthy animals, and if he did have it, it might mean that he has an underlying immune condition that needs to be addressed. It might be best to seek a second opinion from a veterinarian that you can build trust with to have his skin evaluated and see what options there are for testing and/or treatment. I hope that you are able to resolve his problems easily.
Jan. 22, 2018
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Siberian Husky
Husky pup
8 Weeks
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Retained Testicles
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?
Jan. 19, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Thank you for your email. Retained testicles does tend to be an inherited trait, so it seems a fair assumption that even though his sire is not affected by the condition that he does carry the gene for it. This pup may also carry the gene for it, and may produce pups with retained testicles. He would probably not be okay to use for breeding, in my opinion. He would be fine as a pet, once he is neutered. The other thing to watch for may be that the 2 affected pups may just be young, and they may drop normally in a few weeks.
Jan. 19, 2018
My dog has one testicle and he mated with my female dog. In hoping she doesn't get pregnant could he be sterile?
April 7, 2018
David G.
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?
Jan. 22, 2018
Rob M.
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Retained Testicles Average Cost
From 72 quotes ranging from $400 - $2,500
Average Cost
$1,000
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