Cryptorchidism in dogs - causes and treatment

Cryptorchidism is a disease that in people is called a "hidden testicle." In dogs, this disease occurs quite often, is common to all breeds and is up to 4% in the section of the breed or the line of the same breed. From the name it is understood that this problem is found only in males and is characterized by the fact that one or both testicles (testicles) do not descend into the scrotum. They can remain in the abdominal cavity and in the inguinal canal. In this case, located in the abdominal cavity, the testicles can be in different parts of the large pelvis, which makes it difficult to detect them through ultrasound and other examination methods.

Cryptorchidism in dogs occurs in two forms: one- and two-sided cryptorchidism. In the first case, one testicle is not descended into the scrotum, in the second case, respectively, of both testes. Without surgical intervention, it is often impossible to distinguish cryptorchidism from monarchism or anarchism, when one or both testicles did not remain in the abdominal cavity, but are absent in principle.

The causes of the onset and development of a disease such as cryptorchidism in dogs

Males with bilateral cryptorchidism are most often sterile. Inside the abdominal cavity, the elevated temperature promotes the regeneration of the testicles and the cessation of spermatogenesis. On sexual activity, this usually does not affect in any way. Despite the fact that males with unilateral cryptorchidism retain their fertility, they are practically not used for mating. Both testicles of the newborn male are initially located in the abdominal cavity. Gradually, under the influence of hormones, the ligament that connects the scrotum and testis begins to contract. The testicle slowly leaves the abdominal cavity and moves into the scrotum. On average, the transition process ends at the age of the dog from 6 to 12 weeks, but a delay of up to 11 months is also possible.

Throughout this time, the ligaments may cease to contract, due to the lack of hormones. As a result, the testicle remains in either the inguinal canal or in the same abdominal cavity.

Cryptorchidism in dogs can develop and with a normal hormonal background, due to various pathologies of the inguinal canal. For example, the exit of the testis can be blocked by the folds of connective tissue near the scrotum root, a shortened spermatic cord, a narrow inguinal canal or its opening, through which the egg simply can not pass. Sometimes the cause of non-disruption is the anomalously large size of the testes.

Despite the fact that cryptorchidism in dogs is considered to be a genetically inherited disease transmitted through the mother, the above-mentioned both hormonal and mechanical causes of its development make it possible to reveal a lot of nuances of each case. Very rarely the disease develops due to the initial incorrect determination of sex, when the testes and scrotum are underdeveloped. And the mechanical causes of the appearance of cryptorchidism can sometimes be caused by various inflammatory phenomena. Therefore, it is probably more correct to say that under the concept of cryptorchidism, several pathologies of different nature with one result can be implied.

In some cases, the dog can restore the function of the producer, but not the fact that this will not affect the breed as a whole. We are talking about huge doses of hormones, which treat the hormonal cause of cryptorchidism. In other cases, such therapy is useless. There are cases when assistance was provided promptly. But most dog handlers agree that using such a dog for breeding is at least unethical.

Cryptorchidism in dogs, treatment

Most often, owners of such dogs are offered surgery to remove an undescended testicle.

Cynologists are still engaged in lively discussions about cryptorchidism. Given the hereditary nature of this disease, which leads to the disqualification of the dog, some advocate excluding not only the pathology bearer, but also his parents, brothers and sisters, while others propose to exclude from breeding only the bitches that carry the gene of this pathology. There is also a third group of researchers who generally do not see a problem in this disease in the case of normal development of the testes.

Cats also have problems in this area. Cryptorchidism in cats occurs for the same reasons as in dogs, and is also treated surgically.