Testicular Swelling in Dogs

Testicular swelling occurs in male dogs with no preference to any specific breed. Epididymitis is most often found in adult-aged dogs. However, it can occur at any age. Testicular swelling is very easy to diagnose at home, as you will be able to identify the change in size in your dog’s testicles; however, you must bring your dog to a veterinarian for immediate attention in order to ascertain the cause and severity of the condition and seek treatment. There are several possible causes associated with testicular swelling.

Male dogs can suffer from orchitis, an inflammation of the testes in which one or both testicles become hard and swollen, or epididymitis, an inflammation of the testicular tube that contains sperm.

The primary sign of testicular swelling is the swelling itself. However, your dog may exhibit more of the following:

• Swollen testicles
• Testicular hardness
• Excessive licking of the scrotum
• Irritated skin in the scrotal area
• Pain
• Fever
• Lack of appetite
• Change in gait
• Change in behavior, as dog may prefer to sit on cool surfaces to relieve pain
• Bite wounds

Prompt diagnosis by a veterinary professional is important, as your dog will continue to lick the scrotal area, causing further inflammation and irritation, until you begin treatment. It is important for you to provide the veterinarian with an account of the onset of your dog’s symptoms and information on any recent trauma he may have suffered. As there are many possible causes, any insight you may have will save you time and your dog pain.

The veterinarian will start the visit by conducting a thorough physical examination, which will include palpation of the scrotal area to assess the extent of the swelling. Additionally, a complete blood count may be ordered to measure red and white blood cell and platelet counts. An elevated white blood cell count might indicate an infectious cause of your dog’s testicular swelling. A chemical blood profile will check for irregularities in blood sugar, blood protein and electrolyte levels. A urinalysis will test for excess proteins in the urine, and may reveal blood and pus, which would indicate possible prostatitis or cystitis as the cause of the testicular swelling. Further tests may include an ultrasound of the prostate, epididymis and testes in order to view a granuloma, scrotal hernia or neoplasia. If a neoplasia is found, a biopsy will be necessary in order to determine if it is benign or cancerous. Bacterial and mycoplasmal culture evaluation of semen may be helpful for diagnosis.

If you have your dog neutered, it is important to monitor the site of your dog’s incision and follow all post-surgical care instructions. Your dog may be given medication to help with the pain during the recovery process, and it is important that you administer dosage exactly as prescribed. Additionally, monitor the incision site to ensure proper healing and clean as instructed. If your dog suffered any other wounds, be sure to keep them clean and dry.

If you elect not to have your dog neutered, recovery and management will be more difficult, depending on the cause of the swelling. You will likely be advised to apply cold packs to your dog’s testicular area in order to ease swelling in the remaining testicle or testicles during immediate recovery. If swelling does not go down, you will need to return to the veterinarian for further treatment. Your dog may still suffer from permanent infertility due to a partial castration or the trauma of the testicular swelling itself, and the condition may not improve, depending on the cause.