My dog is a year old and his testicles still haven't dropped. He is not neutered, but looks as if he were. Could you tell me what the problem might be or what could I do about it? I was planning on breeding him, but didn't know if this would cause a problem.
During fetal development and for a brief time after birth a puppy's testes will normally be positioned within the abdomen. After birth, the testes begin descending from the abdomen through the inguinal canal to the scrotum. This process usually takes about two weeks. However, in many normal dogs testicular descent takes up to eight weeks. By the time the dog is eight to ten weeks old, the testes should be completely descended into the scrotum.
Cryptorchidism is the condition in which either or both of the testes fail to descend into the scrotum. This problem occurs quite commonly in dogs. Most cases of cryptorchidism are caused by inheritable genetic factors. Certain breeds of dog have a statistically higher chance of producing puppies with undescended testes than other breeds.
Dogs with bilateral cryptorchidism (both testes are undescended) will be sterile. The relatively high temperatures of the abdomen destroy the sperm forming tissue of the undescended testes. In unilateral cases, where only one testicle is undescended, affected dogs are usually fertile. Cryptorchid dogs are at a higher risk for developing testicular tumors and certain blood disorders. Veterinarians generally discourage breeding cryptorchid dogs and encourage neutering them by surgical removal of the testes.
Diagnosis of cryptorchidism is made by physical examination; occasionally ultrasound or measurement of the plasma testosterone level may aid diagnosis. Treatment of the condition (as opposed to neutering) is somewhat controversial. Certain cases may be amenable to surgical relocation of the undescended testicle into the scrotum, but this is considered unethical. Since descent is thought to be under the influence of testosterone, a medical approach to treatment may employ hormones that stimulate testosterone release. Treatment success varies considerably from case to case. The ethics of medical treatment of retained testes is also questioned.
If your pet has no testes down at twelve months of age, there is a slim chance that they will descend, but this is unlikely. The retained testes may be either still up in the abdomen or under the skin near the inguinal canal next to the penis. Your veterinarian can help you determine the location of the undescended testes.
Given the strong genetic tendency to pass this condition to male offspring and because of the higher incidence of malignancy in the retained testicle(s), neutering is recommended. Unfortunately, this would preclude showing your puppy. If both of your dog's testes are undescended at one year of age, breeding is probably a moot question, as he is very likely sterile.
I encourage you to talk to your veterinarian about what he or she feels is the best treatment for your pet.
10/23/00
