one testicle.?

Question

I have a small dog but he only has one testicle. can he still succesfully have offspring?

Answer 1

Probably not. The cryptorchid testicle should be removed before it gets cancerous.

Answer 2

Yes he can still have offspring. It may take a few breeding's to produce sperm to make offspring. I probably wouldn't recommend breeding him because it is a defect in his genes, because his second testicle didn't fall into place while developing.

Answer 3

He can breed successfully as long as one testicle is descended , however, it is NOT recommended. Cryptorchidism is a syndrome in which one or both testicles fail to descend into the scrotum. It is a common problem in dogs and cats. It is seen more common in purebred animals than crosses. I see about three dogs with this problem for every cat. We know the problem is genetic because it runs in families or lines. I see it in miniature schnauzers, cocker spaniels, chihuahuas and Persian cats most frequently but any breed can be affected.

Dog and cats in which both testicles fail to descend are sterile. When testicles remain in the abdomen the 4-5 degree higher temperature there prevents the production of sperm. It does not, however, affect the production of testosterone, so these pets exhibit typical male behavior. When one testicle does descend into the scrotum the pet will be fertile. It is a bad idea to breed such dogs and cats because their descendants may show or carry the same defect.

Sertoli Cell Tumors:
Cryptorchid dogs and cats have a higher rate of developing a certain cancer call a Sertoli cell tumor. The Sertoli cells, which are located in the testicles, provide nourishment to the sperm cells. They also produce feminizing hormones (estrogens). These tumors often cause thin skin, sparse hair coat, aplastic anemia, enlarged breasts and attractiveness to other male dogs. The hair loss in these cases is very specific in that it is identical on both sides of the trunk (bilaterally symmetrical). We diagnose this tumor by this distinctive pattern of hair loss that occurs in a cryptorchid dog or cat. Occasionally we may need to do ultrasound examination of the retained testicle as well as a plasma estrogen level to confirm the diagnosis. Ten to twenty percent of these tumors are malignant and can metastasize (move) to other parts of the body.. If the tumor has spread it can be treated successfully with chemotherapy consisting of vinblastine, cyclophosphamide, and methotrexate. To avoid this debilitating treatment, we veterinarians suggest that the cryptorchid testicle be located and removed before it has the opportunity to becoming cancerous. Another problem that occurs in rare instances in cryptorchid pets is torsion of the spermatic cord , the sperm duct attached to the testicle.

Diagnosis And Therapy:
Cryptorchidism in dogs over twelve weeks of age is self-evident on physical examination. One only needs to pass the scrotum through pinched fingers to notice that only one or none of the testicles are present. In more than half of the cases I can palpate the missing testicle in the fat located in the animals groin. In these case I have read that the testicle can be relocated into the scrotum. I have also read that testosterone therapy sometimes allows the retained testicle to descend into the scrotum. I have never performed either of these procedures because I do not wish to play a part in perpetuating the disease to future generations of dogs and cats. Instead, I remove the retained testicle along with the normal one when I neuter the pet.

A special problem comes up when an adult dog or cat that appears to be castrated still exhibits male behavior. Here, we can be uncertain if we are dealing with a castrated dog or a cryptorchid dog. Sometimes the retained testicle can be visualized in the abdomen with ultrasound. When this is not the case, the pet can be given an injection of bovine (cow) chorionic gonadotropin. If this hormone causes a rise in serum testosterone level one hour after injection we are dealing with a cryptorchid pet. When this question occurs in a cat, we can examine the penis for spines. Spines are much smaller in castrated cats than in cats that still have their testicles – cryptorchid or not.

When the missing testicle or testicles have not passed through the inguinal ring and are still located in the abdomen, the surgery is much more complicated. In effect, you must neuter and spay the same animal. The missing testicle can be anywhere between the posterior pole of the kidney and the inguinal ring and it can be nerve racking to find and remove it. These testicles are much smaller and softer than the descended ones and are extremely difficult to locate in the fat that occupies the posterior abdominal space. What usually allows me to find them is the epididymus or sperm collecting tubules that retain their distinctive appearance.

Dogs and cats that are cryptorchid have a higher incidence of other genetic defects such as inguinal and umbilical hernias, abnormally formed penis and sheath, as well as patellar luxations (trick knees).

Some authorities suggest waiting up to six months before deciding that the testicle(s) are not going to descend. I have never seen a case where the testicle(s) were not descended at twelve weeks of age but descended later. Surgery is always easier on a pet when it is young so don’t put off the surgery too long.

Answer 4

Yes, but his male offspring can have a single testicle as well. This is common for "pure breeds" that have been inbreed.

Answer 5

yes -- but why -- that condition is hereditary and he can also develop cancer in that retained testicle. He would live a longer healthier life and be a much more pleasant pet if you neuter him.

Answer 6

That is a disqualifying factor. He should not be bred.

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