My dog ​​has red and swollen testicles, why?

Did you notice that your hairy has the biggest and most irritated testicles? It is normal to be alarmed if you see what happens to your faithful companion and even more if you realize that he is upset or even in pain. Of course, in such a situation it is necessary to consult the veterinarian so that he can tell us what the problem is and help our dog by giving him the most appropriate treatment. However, in we want to help you to know what possible causes exist that cause this problem and so you can have more guidance when consulting the veterinarian. Therefore, in this article we answer your question about " why my dog ​​has red and swollen testicles? ".

What is the irritation and swelling of the testicles in dogs

On the one hand, that this part of the genitals are red or the redness or irritation in the testicular area of the dogs in a generic way is known as testicular dermatitis, although depending on the reason of this can be specified more and know if it is allergy, parasites or some other condition.

On the other hand, inflammation in this area can occur in the testicles itself, either in one or both, and is a problem known as orchitis, or occur in the epididymis or tube or testicular tube in which they mature and They store the sperm, which is known as epididymitis .

The reasons why this happens are very varied, as we will see later, but it is necessary that a veterinarian intervenes for the good recovery of the animal.

Symptoms of red and swollen testicles in dogs

Although the main signs of this problem are obvious, ie the redness or irritation of the skin of the scrotum and the swelling or inflammation of the testes and scrotum, there are more symptoms of orchitis or testicular inflammation in dogs, as well as epididymitis or inflammation of the epididymis. These are the main symptoms:

• Swelling or inflammation of the testicles, visible in the scrotum.
• Redness or irritation of the scrotum.
• Repetitive licking of the genital area.
• Pain in the genital area.
• Fever.
• Lethargy and fatigue.
• Difficulty walking and even little desire to walk.
• General malaise and even some aggression.
• Loss of appetite
• Wounds and / or bruises on or near the scrotum.
• Infertility

Common diseases in the testicles of dogs

Before detailing what are the possible causes of irritation and inflammation of this genital part of the dogs, we explain which are the most common diseases in the testicles of dogs, to have a more approximate idea of ​​everything that can occur in this part of the body of a dog without spaying or neutering.

Cryptorchidism

It is a problem that occurs in puppies, in which one testicle (unilateral) or both (bilateral) do not descend to the scrotum as would be normal, but stay lodged in the abdomen or in the inguinal canal. The usual thing is that the descent starts around 3 weeks of life and about a month and a half have already gone down to the scrotum.

Allergy or contact dermatitis

Allergy is known by this name because the skin of a part of the body has contact with a substance or product that produces a negative reaction. In the genitals of dogs, both males and females, it is frequent to occur when, for example, a new shampoo, cologne or perfume, blanket or bed is used and after a few days of use, this adverse reaction appears.

Testicular inflammation

Although it is not a disease in itself, it is a fairly frequent problem and represents a symptom of some conditions such as allergy, infections, twisting or lumps. You can see the skin of the swollen scrotum and even an increase in the size of the testicles themselves and, therefore, the scrotum.

Infections

Infection can also occur in the testicular area. These genital infections are mainly caused by bacteria, such as brucellos that produce canine brucellosis, or protozoan parasites, such as leishmania.

There are also viral infections that affect the whole organism and that can produce this aspect in the genital area of ​​the dog. This is the case of canine distemper virus.

Testicular torsion

This problem occurs when there is a rotation, twisting or rotation of the spermatic cord, which ends in the twisting of the testicle causing the blood supply to be cut in this part and causing its loss.

Cysts and testicular tumors

Bulks can be detected, at a glance or by palpation, or a general enlargement of the area. Cysts and tumors, or abnormal tissue mass, can be produced by a variety of causes and both can be benign or malignant (cancerous). They can occur anywhere in the body, including the genital.

Testicular cancer

In the case of non-sterilized dogs, that is, dogs that have whole testicles, apart from the above problems, cancer can also occur, especially in older dogs. Although we mentioned cysts and testicular tumors before, in this case we are talking about malignant tumors, which must be detected and treated as soon as possible to prevent the cancer from spreading. The most frequent solution is the extirpation of these.

Main causes of red and swollen testicles in dogs

The causes of swelling and irritation of the testicles in dogs exclude a problem that occurs in puppies, cryptorchidism. The reason for this is that the inflammation and redness of the area is not a symptom of this problem, since the testicles remain in the abdomen, have not descended, and can not be detected by the naked eye or by palpation of the scrotum. On the other hand, causes that are not among the most common conditions, such as blows, external parasites or castration or recent sterilization, are added. Thus, among the possible causes of your dog having red and swollen testicles are the following:

Testicular infection

Already explained in the previous section, we only add that the inflammation and redness of this area are just some of the symptoms of this problem. There is also pain on contact, positive results of infection in a blood test and fever.

Testicular torsion

Also commented before, we can add that of course there is swelling and redness, and there may even be some bruising, but there is also great pain, refusal to sit or walk, fever, aggressiveness as a defense, and may even faint from acute pain. .

Contact allergy

As we have said, it occurs when there is contact with an allergen in the skin, which produces in the affected part, in this case the genitals of the male, a lot of redness, swelling, hives, much itching, scratching and constant licking.

Cysts, tumors and cancer

As we have mentioned, the most common symptom is a swelling, enlargement or inflammation of the scrotum and the testicles themselves. However, redness may occur, although it is not one of the most frequent symptoms, among which there are altered blood tests, loss of appetite and weight and apathy.

From here the affections that produce these symptoms and that are common problems of the genital area are finished and, next, there are other causes that can give these symptoms and that, although they are not a usual problem, they are part of the Main causes of red and swollen testicles in dogs.

Blow, trauma or injuries

Whether due to an accident, abuse or a fight with another animal, a can have swelling and redness in the genital area, both in the testicles and in the penis, if it has received a blow or has been traumatized. In such a case, it is also possible that a bruise may appear and purple or dark testicles may be seen in the dog. Also, due to these same situations or even by nibbling himself for scratching, there may be a wound in this area and produce these symptoms.

External parasites

Any type of external parasite, such as fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, fungi or mites, can cause irritation and inflammation anywhere they bite or lodge. In addition, if the dog has an allergy to these parasites, such as the flea allergy that is quite common, the symptoms of redness, swelling, scratching and pain in the area will be more visible.

Castration or sterilization

Finally, a frequent cause of this aspect in the genitals is that surgery has been performed, such as castration or sterilization. It is normal and that after a few hours it will be reduced until it disappears, and if this is not the case it is necessary to talk to the veterinarian who has performed the surgery.

What to do if my dog ​​has red and swollen testicles - advice and treatment

If your dog has testicles irritated and enlarged, either by inflammation or increased tissue of the same, to help you keep in mind that the attention of a veterinarian is necessary. If you detect that your hairy is suffering from a problem in his genitals, do not hesitate to call or go to the veterinarian as soon as possible, since only the specialist can diagnose the cause of this problem and offer the best treatment in each situation.

The specialist will perform tests such as a physical examination, blood and urine tests, ultrasounds, etc., in order to diagnose the problem and the cause. The treatment will depend entirely on the cause and only the veterinarian can indicate it. The guidelines for treatment usually include anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, antihistamines, antiparasitics, antipyretics and even surgeries to remove cysts or tumors, undo a torsion or, sterilize or castrate .

If not treated on time or properly, orchitis rarely improves alone and ends up evolving to produce atrophy of the affected testicle or both. In such a case, the affected testicle will no longer be able to function properly and may cause major problems, so the veterinarian usually removes it.