What do I know about Cryptorchidism?

What Do I Know About Cryptorchidism?Speaking to someone with a toy breed I thought it a good idea to tell you about this subject. 

Cryptorchidism is the term used when one or both testicles of a male dog have not descended into the scrotum. A dog may have one retained testicle, known as unilateral cryptorchidism, or both testicles may be retained.
The first thing to remember is not to panic. At eight weeks of age, some puppies are still immature and their testicles can be difficult to locate. In some cases, they descend as the puppy grows. However, most testicles that are going to descend will do so by around six months of age. Occasionally, descent can happen later, by 12–18 months, but after then it is unlikely that a retained testicle will come down naturally.
If you are concerned, ask your vet to check your puppy regularly rather than rushing into a decision. Sometimes a testicle is present but difficult to feel, particularly if it is positioned high in the groin or just inside the abdomen. Your vet may be able to locate it by examination, and an ultrasound can sometimes help.
What happens if the testicle remains retained?If a testicle has not descended, castration is usually recommended because a retained testicle has a higher risk of developing problems later in life, including testicular cancer and torsion. The operation is more involved than a routine castration. Instead of making a small incision in the scrotum, the vet may need to make an incision in the groin or abdomen to locate and remove the retained testicle.
Dogs still produce hormones while they are growing, and these hormones are important for normal bone, muscle and physical development. For that reason, the ideal timing of surgery should be discussed with your vet and considered on an individual basis. In some dogs, owners and vets may choose to wait until the dog is physically mature, while in others earlier surgery may be advised if they suspect torsion could occur. There is no single correct age for every dog. But I highly advise waiting. 

In one case I did for a behaviour consult a small breed of dog with retained testicles developed aggressive behaviour. The owner linked it to the retained testicle.  I did beg to differ.  So I asked for a vet health check to make sure.  The vet did not think it was directly the cause of a retained testicle, nor did I.  Although the dog had some hair loss and this has been linked to retained testicles.  So the dog was booked in for castration around 2 years of age.  Each case has to be taken individually with veterinary guidance.  But I would always add that you need to see an experienced vet, not someone who has really little knowledge. 

Many owners choose to castrate their male dogs eventually, so cryptorchidism does not necessarily create a serious long-term problem. Retained testicle surgery is generally well tolerated, and most dogs recover very well, although recovery may be slightly longer than after a routine castration.
It is also worth checking your insurance policy, as some companies do not cover castration or procedures considered to be related to a congenital condition. Always ask your vet for a detailed estimate, and you may wish to compare prices between reputable, independent veterinary practices.

Is it hereditary ? Not necessarily, as it can be just one of those things that the dog didn't develop as it should have done.  There are some cases in some breeds where they would link a hereditary element. But it's hard to prove either way.  I would suggest if a dog produced this in puppies to use a different parent next time to try and avoid the repeat.  But this may not always be possible. 


Have I seen it myself?Yes. I have seen cryptorchidism in both a French Bulldog and one Vizsla years ago, and in neither case did the retained testicles descend. However, I have also seen testicles appear later than expected more times than I can count.  I noted the sire (Which I did not own), had produced it in his offspring before.  So I did not repeat the mating.  Although there were no signs of it being hereditary, I thought it wise to try and breed by avoidance next time.  The following litter a year later all males had 2 testicles descended. 
I once took a young dog to a vet who was unable to locate the testicles and was convinced that they were not present. I turned the dog over and pointed them out. The vet insisted that they were not testicles, while I remained certain that they were. Needless to say, I did not return to that practice! As the following week they were down waving at me ha ha.  It is perfectly normal for an 8 week old Vizsla puppy to not have testicles present and it is neither issue or problem to worry about. 
The important message is to have your puppy checked properly and monitored over time. Do not panic at eight weeks, but do not ignore the issue if the testicles have still not descended as the dog matures. Your vet can advise you on examination, monitoring, possible imaging and the most appropriate timing for surgery.

As a breeder I feel qualified to make decisions on health issues that occur and give advice to other breeders also.  I feel that although we cannot help these issues when they appear we can try and breed by avoidance in future just in case there is a hereditary element.   For me I changed bloodlines over the years not because of the U.Testicle, but it's just the way life took me in a different direction.

I hope this information helps someone. 

​xRx