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Treatment

Treatment typically involves castration or removal of the testicles. This may result in a complete reversal of symptoms, or will put a halt to any further feminization if the tumor was responsible for secreting female hormones.

Living and Management

The outcome and prognosis for most dogs is very good if the tumor is detected and treated before it has had a chance to metastasize or spread into surrounding organs. Most of the time there are few complications associated with treatment.

Some dogs may develop male feminization syndrome, meaning they will have enlarged breasts and assume other female characteristics or traits. This side effect occurs in up to 29 percent of dogs affected with sertoli cell tumors.

Dogs with testicular tumors that penetrate the abdominal cavity have up to a 70 percent chance of developing female traits. There is a small risk of developing liver failure from over production of estrogen over time when symptoms have been prolonged, and when there is lack of treatment.