Getting Swollen Testicles in Dogs

Testicles (also called testes or gonads) on a dog are the male sex glas which are located behind the penis.  When they are swollen, they are enlarged, more firm, sometimes discolored and frequently very painful. This condition in dogs is called orchitis (or epididymitis) and there are several reasons for it:

• Trauma
• Infection
• Testicular torsion
• Testicular neoplasia
• Canine brucellosis
• Scrotal hernia

Swollen testicles can be a very painful experience for your male canine and, if left untreated, this condition can be dangerous for him.   Potential causes include:

Trauma

This can be any blunt or penetrating injury to the testicles or scrotum. The penetrating wound can open up an opportunity for infections to develop. It is possible for trauma to cause an immune-mediated inflammation (or orchitis) and the body’s own immune system then turns on itself and causes inflammation and testicular damage.

Infection

This can be caused by bacterial organisms, fungal organisms or viral organisms which find their way into the testicles.  These infections can enter via the external environment, the urinary system or from the prostate.

Testicular Torsion

This is a twisting of the testicle on its spermatic cord.  This is relatively uncommon in dogs but, when it does occur, it is very painful.

Testicular Neoplasia

Testicular neoplasia is a common malady in male dogs as they age. There are three which normally are found: Sertoli cell tumor, Seminoma, and Leydig (interstitial) cell tumor. 

Canine Brucellosis

Brucellosis is a systemic bacterial infection which shows up in your male dog as epididymitis, orchitis, prostatitis, testicular atrophy and infertility. It is very hard to treat successfully.

Scrotal Hernia

A scrotal hernia is a condition in which some abdominal contents move into the scrotum. 

If you notice that your male dog’s testicles appear to be enlarged or discolored, an examination is in order.  If you are able to examine him, you need to look for any obvious wounds on either or both of the testicles of your pet. 

Veterinary medical assistance is necessary as soon as possible for any of the possible reasons for the occurrence of swollen testicles in your dog.  Infections will need to be treated, masses will need to be investigated and potentially removed or repaired and castration may be required to ensure the safety of your pet. All of the potential causes for swollen testicles are serious enough that your pet needs medical assistance sooner rather than later to avoid permanent injury.

When it comes to prevention of swollen testicles, there really aren’t many things a pet owner can do to prevent some of the causes from afflicting their pet other than surgical castration at a young age.

The statistics report that about half of unneutered dogs contract testicular cancer.  The only true way to prevent testicular cancer in your dog is to have him neutered, taking away the testicles where the cancer can develop. At the very least, if your pet is not neutered, be sure avail him of regular examinations of the testicles by your veterinarian at every opportunity that you can. If cancer develops, castration is the only treatment.

Infections in the urinary tract and prostate can be prevented by castrating your dog (which reduces the size of the prostate) and ensuring they stay well hydrated.

Protecting your dog from injury to the best of your ability when he is playing or exercising will help to prevent any complications from trauma and any immune-mediated inflammation which will result from them.

Treating the causes of swollen testicles will be required to avoid more serious health concerns for your pet.  Here are some of the costs for this treatment:

• Testicular swelling treatment costs can range from $200 to $1,500
• Testicular neoplasia treatments costs can run from $400 to $1,200 (for Sertoli cell tumor, Leydig Cell Tumor and Seminoma)
• Testicular Torsion treatment can cost $500 to $2,000