What is monorchidism?
Monorchidism is the presence of only one testicle in place in the scholarships, the other having not migrated correctly or not having developed at all. In the first case, the ectopic testicle may have remained in the abdomen, either in the hollow of the groin or under the skin near the scrotum. In the second case, we also speak of anorchidia or testicular agenesis.
When the two testicles are not in place in the purses, we speak of cryptorchidism.
How is monorchidism diagnosed?
A dog is said to be monorchid when you feel only one testicle in its scholarship.Generally, it is the veterinarian who realizes this in the puppy during a clinical examination, during a vaccination consultation. The anomaly can also be seen easily, without the need for palpation, in large format dogs.
Normally, the testicles must be in place in the purses from the 5thday of the puppy's life. But, in some animals, the migration of the testicles from the abdomen to the scrotum takes a little longer and takes place between their 2thand 3thmonth. On the other hand, it is considered that no testicular migration can occur beyond the age of 6 months and it is only from this age that the diagnosis of certainty can be made.
To know!
Monorchidism, like cryptorchidism, is a crippling defect in dogs. The law provides for a full refund by the breeder of the buyer if the latter acquires a dog affected by this anomaly.Yes, but only in theory because the buyer has 30 days after the transaction to initiate an action in guarantee of redhibitory defects while the anomaly can only be declared from the dog's 6 months and most puppies are bought at the age of 2 months! However, it is always possible to take action in accordance with the Consumer Code if the legal deadline has been exceeded.
Monorchidism in dogs: what are the consequences?
Monorchidism in dogs has several consequences.
- it prevents the confirmation of a purebred dog. The absence of one or two testicles in dogs is an eliminatory fault during a confirmation session and therefore opposes the issuance of the pedigree.
- the reproduction of a monorchid dog is biologically possible (the single testicle descended into its purse is functional) but it is strongly discouraged due to the hereditary nature of this anomaly.
- it exposes the dog to an increased risk of suffering from testicular torsion and developing a testicular or prostatic tumor and other symptoms related to excessive production of sex hormones by the testicle remaining in the abdominal position and /or tumor.
Monorchidism in dogs: what are the remedies?
Faced with the medical risks that a monorchid dog incurs, it is appropriate to castrate it in order to eliminate these risks. The veterinarian will then endeavor to surgically remove the two testicles after carrying out imaging examinations to precisely locate the location of the ectopic testicle.
There are also hormonal and surgical treatments aimed at lowering the testicle into the scrotum, but they are controversial and deemed ineffective.