How to Take Care of Your Dog After Cryptorchidism Surgery

Cryptorchidism surgery treats an undescended testicle retained in a dog̵7;s abdomen. Male dogs who have this genetic defect should not be bred, as the problem could be passed down to future generations. The decision to neuter a dog with an undescended testicle is a smart one. Caring for your dog after the surgery is straightforward.

  1. Give Prescribed Medication

    • Your veterinarian will likely prescribe pain medication and antibiotics to avoid infection. Administer the medication exactly as your veterinarian prescribes it. Pain medication may be advisable, because your dog will likely be more uncomfortable than he would be with routine neuter surgery. Do not wait until your dog is showing signs of pain. Once the pain takes hold, it's harder to knock it out. It's better to have the "drugs on board," so to speak, than to try to alleviate the pain once it starts.

    Watch the Area Closely

    • Keep an eye on your dog's incision or incisions and stitches. In some cases, it may be difficult for your vet to locate the testes. Many times, she will use an ultrasound machine to do so, but not all vets have this equipment. Abdominal exploration is sometimes necessary. This means the abdominal incision is much larger than the one for a routine neuter. In fact, there may be two incisions if the testes are not close enough to each other to remove through one incision. Watch for signs of infection and inflammation, which include redness, swelling and heat at the site of the incision.

    Keep the E-collar On

    • Your most difficult assignment by far is to keep your dog from licking and worrying the incision. If your vet has equipped your dog with an E-collar -- an Elizabethan collar -- leave it in place until the vet says it is ready to be removed. It is tempting to remove the collar, because dogs always look so miserable when they have to wear one and the other household pets make fun of them. But you need to avoid the risk of your dog biting or chewing the stitches free.

    Supervise Rest

    • Allow your dog plenty of rest. Since each incidence of cryptorchidism is different, there is no standardized incision as there is with a routine neuter. Depending upon where and how large your dog's incision is, it can be subject to coming apart under pressure or stretching. Keep other household pets away from your dog if they are attempting to initiate play; place playtime on hold for the time being. If your dog is not in the mood to play -- a more likely scenario -- you run the risk of a kerfuffle between the two dogs because one wants to play but the other is in a foul mood due to pain, drugs and discomfort.

    When to Call the Vet

    • Your vet will give you an appointment to come back in about a week to 10 days after the surgery. Call your vet if the scrotum appears to be filling up, swollen, red or tender. Call if your dog has any unusual symptoms such as vomiting or signs of infection such as warmth or redness around the incision.