This is the final installment of Dr. Palazzolo’s series on diseases that pets are subject to if they’re not spayed or neutered. Once again, the photos aren’t pretty, but neither is the reality. It’s hoped that they drive home how serious this is. Please spay and neuter your pets.
The two types of testicular cancer are Sertoli cell and Leydig cell. Intact male dogs can also get several different types of testicular cancer. This does occur in other species, but it’s not as common.
Sertoli cell tumors occur when the testicle does not descend from the abdomen into the scrotum at a young age. The term for this is a cryptorchid. Some of these are malignant and can spread to local lymph nodes and beyond. This tumor causes excess of estrogen and progesterone, and can also cause some degree of feminization, such as enlarged breasts. Other symptoms include skin changes and behavioral changes.
This photo shows the postoperative appearance of a dog after LBAH vets removed the cryptorchid testicle. You can see the incision on the side. The red light is our companion laser enhancing postoperative healing of the skin. The vets do this routinely after every neuter for more comfortable and faster healing. This is not the same laser that performs the surgery. That laser is called a carbon-dioxide laser. Photos courtesy of Long Beach Animal Hospital.
Using the surgical laser takes special skills and training, which newly graduated veterinarians don’t generally get in veterinary school. Dr. Palazzolo trains them in the proper use of this tool when they are students as part of our externship program and also when they are hired as newly graduated veterinarians.
Leydig cell tumors occur in a testicle that has already descended into the scrotum. They are usually benign and cause minimal symptoms. It is diagnosed by a lump on the testicle or an enlarged testicle.
Intact rabbits can get a tumor of the testes also. It is diagnosed by an enlarged testicle, can cause several symptoms, and has the potential to be malignant.
This photo shows the enlarged testicle that rabbits will get when the tumor is present.
Treatment consists of neutering, hopefully early in life so the problem never occurs in the first place. If neutering is not performed on a Sertoli cell tumor early enough, it might spread. We use the laser for all of our neuters because there is dramatically less postoperative pain, swelling and inflammation.
Click on these links to learn more about these tumors and learn how we perform the procedure with the laser: