My dog ​​has swollen testicles

The testicles are a sensitive area of our body dog and it is easy for them to be injured when they come into contact with bushes or bushes when we take them out to walk through wooded areas or with irritating substances that can be found on the ground when the dog sits on them.

In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will explain why our dog has inflamed testicles , what causes can cause this ailment and how we should act.Remember that castration is highly recommended for prevent these and other health problems, as well as to avoid overpopulation.

The genital apparatus of the dog

Dogs mature between 6 and 12 months, depending on the breeds, taking longer those of larger size.Their reproductive system is formed by the penis, covered by the foreskin, and the testicles , which must be found, both, inside the bag called scrotum , to which they usually descend towards the two months of life, although in some dogs it can be delayed until six.

Both testicles must have a similar size, a firm and regular consistency and an oval shape.When the testicles are not in the scrotum, that is, they are not visible or palpable, they will be inside the dog's body , a disorder known as cryptorchidism.These dogs are sterile.Sometimes only one of the testicles is retained.This case is called monorchidism..It is possible that these dogs are fertile, so we must take precautions.

The testicles descended but of a very small size or will present testicular hypoplasia .We will see below what disorders can cause our dog to have inflamed testicles.

Orchitis in dogs

If our dog has swollen testicles it may be suffering from an infection in them, known as orchitis .Its origin is usually in a wound produced in the scrotum or in the testicle itself.These wounds may appear after a bite in a fight with another dog, an injury caused by a sharp object or even a freeze or burn.

If our dog has irritated testicles for having come into contact with nettles or some chemical substance, can also end up developing an infection.These wounds can cause our dog to have the inflamed and red testicles From them bacteria can access the body and begin an infection, which, in addition, can spread through the sperm ducts.

Symptoms of orchitis in dogs

If our dog has swollen testicles as a result of an orchitis we will notice that feels pain .The dog will have the swollen testicles and lick the area frequently In addition, the testicle enlarges and hardens, so we will see that the dog has an inflamed testicle, since the infection is likely to affect only one of them.This increase in size and pain associated makes the dog keep the hind legs apart and walk abnormally, avoiding rubbing.

Treatment for testicular orchitis in dogs

If we observe that our dog has inflamed testicles we must go to the veterinarian .If the diagnosis of orchitis is confirmed, the treatment will consist of the administration of an antibiotic for the appropriate dog prescribed by this professional.

It may also be necessary to provide the dog with some type of anti-inflammatory to reduce swelling and pain.A gauze or a wet rag In cold water they can also provide relief to our dog, always consulting previously with the veterinarian.

The consequences of orchitis

If our dog has suffered an orchitis, it is possible that, after controlling the inflammation, the testicle will decrease size and harden.This way cannot produce sperm .In other cases, the infection does not end and the removal of that testicle is recommended.

To prevent orchitis All the wounds that we observe in the scrotum of our dog should be checked by your veterinarian, as they are easily infected.We insist on the benefits of castration to avoid this and other health problems.In the next section we will see another cause that can explain why our dog has swollen testicles.

Testicular tumors in dogs

These tumors usually occur in testicles that are retained inside the dog's body, being more rare in those that are normally descended.In these cases we will see that the dog has an inflamed testicle, of greater consistency and irregular or nodular touch .Other tumors do not cause an increase in size but consistency.

Some of these tumors can produce estrogens , which they are hormones that are going to make the dog show typical features of the females.Therefore, if our dog suffers from one of these tumors it will also present the enlarged breasts and we can see the hanging foreskin and a loss of equal hair on both sides.

The treatment for testicular tumors is castration .Therefore, any change in the size or consistency of the testicles should be assessed by a veterinarian.

This article is purely informative, at Animals and Pets Online we have no power to prescribe veterinary treatments or make any diagnosis.We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian in case you present any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to My dog ​​has swollen testicles-Causes and what to do , we recommend that you enter our section of diseases of the reproductive system.