Case Sharing : Does your dog have both Testicles? Understanding Cryptorchidism

By Dr. Ryan Chuang

In recent years, I have noticed a growing prevalence of congenital cryptorchidism (undescended testicles) in dogs and cats. This trend is likely due to inbreeding or the continuous breeding of specific bloodlines, allowing abnormal genes to persist. Today, I want to explain why this condition is a "ticking time bomb" and how modern technology makes treatment much simpler.

What is Cryptorchidism?

During normal development, a male pet’s testicles should migrate from the abdomen down into the scrotum. This process should be complete by 6 months of age. If one or both testicles fail to descend and remain "hidden" in the abdomen or the groin (inguinal) area, the pet is cryptorchid.

Why is it Dangerous to Leave Untreated?

The testicles are meant to sit in the scrotum because it is cooler than the rest of the body. When a testicle remains trapped inside the warm body cavity:

• Tumor Risk: Prolonged exposure to body heat can cause the cells to mutate, drastically increasing the risk of testicular cancer.

• Torsion: A "floating" testicle in the abdomen can sometimes twist (torsion), causing sudden, severe pain and an emergency situation.

  
  

The Diagnostic Challenge: Why Ultrasound Matters

In the past, vets often had to perform "exploratory surgery"—essentially making a large incision and searching the abdomen blindly for the missing testicle. This meant longer anesthesia, larger wounds, and more pain.

Today, we use high-resolution ultrasound. However, detecting a 1cm testicle hidden in fat requires two things:

1. Advanced Equipment: High-definition imaging to see tiny structures.

2. Expertise: A veterinarian skilled in ultrasonography to accurately map the location before the first cut is made.

Case Sharing: Jima the Poodle

Jima, a 3.5kg Poodle, reached 7 months of age with no palpable testicles. We couldn't feel them in the scrotum or under the skin.

Instead of "guessing" during surgery, we performed an ultrasound first. We discovered the right testicle was in the abdomen, but the left testicle was buried deep in the inguinal (groin) fat.

Both were only 1cm small. Because I knew exactly where they were, I was able to make precise, tiny incisions. This shortened the anesthesia time, minimized pain, and reduced the risk of infection. Jima recovered beautifully.

Dr. Ryan’s Advice

If your pet is over 6 months old and you can only feel one (or zero) testicles, don't wait. Early surgical removal is the only way to prevent future cancer.

(Article by Dr. Ryan Chuang. Reproduction without permission is prohibited; sharing with original attribution is welcomed.)

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