Cryptorchidism in the dog: Occurrence of cryptorchidism and semen quality in the cryptorchid dog.

Abstract

Occurrence of cryptorchidism in the mongrel dogs was examined at the Tokyo [Japan], Metropolitan Government Animal Pound and the dogs suspected to have cryptorchidism were transported to the laboratory. Sexual behavior to an estrous bitch, ejaculatory function by digital manipulation and semen quality were examined. In 2356 mongrel dogs examined, cryptorchidism was found in 29 cases (1.2%); all of them were unilateral cryptorchidism. Among the 29 cases, 21 were inguinal cryptorchisdism and the remaining 8 were abdominal. Occurrence of cryptorchidism was not different between right and left. Libido of the dog was generally feeble, and, in 8 of 19 cryptorchid dogs in which ejaculatory function was checked, ejaculation was not seen. In the cryptorchid dogs semen volume and total number of spermatozoa were few (7.2 ml and 1.2 .times. 108/ejaculate on the average, respectively), sperm motility was low and abnormal sperm and immature sperm rate were high (20.2 and 19.4%, respectively), as compared with semen qualities in normal dog.