Dog Cryptorchidism

In cryptorchidism a testicle is retained in the abdomen or in the abdominal ring between the layers of muscle through which it normally descends. In adult dogs surgery is recommended as for best treatment. Retained testicles may cause undependable dispositions in dogs and a significant percentage become cancerous. The operation for testicles retained in the abdomen is equivalent in risk to the ordinary spaying operations.

The following are the information on Dog Cryptorchidism

Dog Cryptorchidism Information

• The Cryptorchidism occurs when either one or both the testicles fail to travel from the abdomen to the scrotum. It is a very common disorder among both dogs and cats where the incidence is more among the dogs. It is found that about every three incidence of the disease among dogs takes place with every one incidence among cats. This disorder is more common among pure bred dogs.
• This disorder is a genetic disorder and the dogs breeds that are mainly affected by the disorder is the miniature schnauzers, Chihuahuas, cocker spaniels and such. Though the above mentioned breeds mainly suffer from the disease, any breed of dog can get exposed to the disorder.
• The dogs are generally sterile that have both the testicles in the abdomen. When temperature of the abdomen is actually 4 to 5 degrees more than that of the scrotum. As a result of which the testes in the abdomen fail to manufacture sperms as they get damaged in high temperatures. This further affects the production of the male hormone called testosterone leading to non-male like characters in other wise male dogs.
• In case the testes happens to be having a single testes descending in the scrotum or the testes though present in the abdomen but are close to the skin of the scrotum the dogs may be fertile. But being a responsible pet owner you are recommended not to breed such dogs as the disorder is genetic in nature and the incidence of disease would transfer from the father to the son.
• Cryptorchid dogs are prone to the development of are certain type of cancer known as the sertoli cell tumor. The sertoli cells are actually the cells found in the testes that nourishe the sperm and are also responsible for the secretion of feminine hormones like the estrogen. The symptoms that are associated with the cancer are thin skin texture, loss of hair, aplsatic form of anemia, enlarged breasts and getting attracted to other male dogs. The hair loss related to the cancer is very unique as the loss of hair takes place bilaterally on the both sides of the body of the pet.
• In most cases the sertoli tumors are cancerous but they can be treated successfully with chemotherapy.