This is George, he is a one year old Cairn Terrier. Since a puppy only one of his testicles descended into the scrotum. This is known as crytorchidism and can happen to one or both testicles. Usually the testicles will descend between 6 and 16 weeks of age and a vet or a nurse can confirm the presence of external testicles during a clinical exam. Any retained testicle can become a problem because it can twist or become cancerous if left inside, therefore the veterinary surgeon recommended removal.
It is not always clear where the retained testicle may be located from conscious examination. Most commonly they can be found in the abdomen or in the inguinal canal which is the passage from the abdominal wall into the genital area. Here you can see in the second photo, after anaesthesia was induced, that it became visible after Vet Abi felt it in the inguinal canal and was able to move it into a more normal position to aid in removal.
Often dogs with this condition will require an incision to be made to open up the abdomen in search of the testicle. Often the testicle is much smaller than if it was external, making it much harder to find.
Vet Abi was able to remove George’s retained right testicle and his left external testicle was left in place! There are lots of things to consider when deciding whether to fully castrate your dog. In George’s case, as he is such a lovely sweet natured boy and is not having any other problems it was deemed suitable to leave his external testicle. If you are sure whether castration is right for your dog then please speak to one of our Veterinary Surgeons or Registered Veterinary Nurses
