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Cryptorchidism
Cryptorchidism is a fairly common condition where one (unilateral) or both (bilateral) of a dog’s testicles fail to “drop” or descend into the scrotum. This is caused by the inappropriate development of the gubernaculum, a structure which connects the testicle to the scrotum.
During typical development, the testicles descend into the scrotum before six months of age, although most puppies have testicles in the scrotum around two months of age. A veterinarian will palpate the scrotum during a routine puppy wellness check to determine if both testicles have descended yet.
The available treatment of cryptorchidism is surgical removal of the retained testicle(s). Even if the condition is unilateral (meaning only one testicle has failed to descend), both testicles should be removed because of the risks of torsion or cancer.
Surgery for cryptorchidism is considered routine, and most dogs recover completely in 1-2 weeks with some aftercare and reduced activity. Following neutering, if the dog has no other health issues, they can be expected to live a normal lifespan.
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