Cryptorchidism is a disease that is popularly called the "hidden testicle". In dogs, this disease occurs quite often, is characteristic of all breeds and amounts to 4% in the context of the breed or line of one breed. From the name it is understood that this problem occurs only in males and is characterized by the fact that one or both testicles (testis) do not fall into the scrotum. They can remain both in the abdominal cavity and in the inguinal canal. At the same time, located in the abdominal cavity, the testes can be in various parts of the large pelvis, which makes it difficult to detect them using both ultrasound and other examination methods.
Cryptorchidism in dogs occurs in two forms - single and bilateral cryptorchidism. In the first case, one testis is not allowed to enter the scrotum, in the second case, respectively, of both testes. Without surgery, it is often impossible to distinguish cryptorchidism from monorchism or anorchism, when one or both testicles did not remain in the abdominal cavity, but are absent in principle.
The causes and development of a disease such as cryptorchidism in dogs
Dogs with bilateral cryptorchidism are most often sterile. Inside the abdominal cavity, fever contributes to the degeneration of the testicles and the cessation of spermatogenesis. This usually does not affect sexual activity. Despite the fact that males with one-sided cryptorchidism retain their fertility, they are practically not used for mating. Both testicles of the newborn male dog 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 male from 6 to 12 weeks, but a delay of up to 11 months is also possible.
Throughout this time, the ligaments may stop contracting due to a lack of hormones. As a result, the testicle remains either in the inguinal canal or in the same abdominal cavity.
Cryptorchidism in dogs can also develop with a normal hormonal background, due to various pathologies of the inguinal canal. For example, folds of the connective tissue at the root of the scrotum, a shortened spermatic cord, a narrow inguinal canal or its opening through which the testicle simply cannot pass, can delay the exit of the testis. Sometimes the cause of undescension is the abnormally large size of the testes.
Despite the fact that cryptorchidism in dogs is considered a genetically inherited disease transmitted through the mother, the above both hormonal and mechanical causes of its development make it possible to identify many nuances of each case. It is extremely rare that the disease develops due to the initial incorrect determination of sex, when both the testes and the 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 the concept of cryptorchidism can mean several pathologies of a different nature with one result.
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 that 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 it is at least unethical to use such a male for breeding.
Cryptorchidism in dogs, treatment
Most often, owners of such dogs are offered surgery to remove an undescended testicle.
Dog handlers still have lively discussions about cryptorchidism. Given the hereditary nature of this disease, which leads to disqualification of the dog, some advocate for the exclusion of not only the carrier of the pathology, but also his parents, brothers and sisters, while others suggest excluding from breeding only bitches, as carriers of the gene for this pathology. There is a third group of researchers who do not see a problem in this disease at all 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.