Dog penile infection: Balanoposthitis in Dogs
Balanoposthitis in dogs, also known as a dog penile infection, is an uncomfortable — and let’s face it, pretty unpleasant — condition that affects a dog’s penis and the surrounding sheath (prepuce).
While it might sound like a serious condition, balanoposthitis is usually treatable and often preventable with good hygiene and prompt veterinary care.
But what actually is balanoposthitis? Let’s dig into the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, and recovery process, so you can help your pup get back to being their happy self.
What is balanoposthitis?
In dogs, a small amount of clear discharge from the penis is normal. But if you notice pus-like or bloody discharge along with swelling or redness, it’s a sign something isn’t right and needs a vet’s attention.
This inflammation, called balanoposthitis, can happen for lots of reasons: bites, injuries, infections, or even small objects like grass or sand getting trapped in the sheath (prepuce). While treatment is usually straightforward, it’s super important to figure out what’s causing the issue to stop it from coming back.
This infection is essentially inflammation of the penis and prepuce, often with a discharge that looks like mucus or pus. It’s pretty common in sexually mature male dogs and is usually mild, often clearing up on its own.
But if it sticks around or gets worse, it can cause bigger problems like pain, infections, difficulty urinating or mating, fever, and in extreme cases, tissue damage.
Symptoms of a dog penile infection
Catching the signs of balanoposthitis early can save your dog a lot of discomfort, and even spare you from dealing with worsening symptoms.
Here’s what to look out for:
- Unusual discharge: Look out for mucus mixed with pus, bloody discharge, or even just pus coming from your dog’s penis or foreskin.
- Excessive licking or biting: If your furry friend is obsessively licking or nibbling at their genital area, it’s a big sign something’s wrong.
- Swelling and redness: Inflammation in the penis or foreskin can cause noticeable puffiness or irritation.
- Ulcers or blisters: Keep an eye out for sores or blisters on the foreskin or penis, these can be signs of infection.
- Bleeding: Any bleeding from the penis or foreskin is definitely a red flag.
- Cuts or tears: Small injuries or tears in the genital area can lead to bigger problems if left untreated.
- Pain or discomfort: If your dog is sensitive when you touch the area, they may be in pain.
- Abnormal growths: Bumps, lumps, or unusual tissue growth on the penis should always be checked by a vet.
- Urination troubles: Difficulty urinating, dribbling urine, or signs of incontinence could indicate more than just balanoposthitis, like a urinary tract infection or even kidney stones.
- Scaly patches: Dry, scaly skin on the penis or foreskin may point to atopic dermatitis.
- Raised follicles: Sometimes, hyperemia (increased blood flow) can cause raised follicles on the penis.
And if balanoposthitis goes untreated, it can lead to more serious issues, such as:
- Abscesses: Painful pockets of pus can form on the penis or foreskin.
- Stenosis: This happens when the foreskin becomes too tight to fully retract, restricting the penis.
- Phimosis: The inability to extend the penis at all, which can cause discomfort and hygiene problems.
- Lethargy: Your dog may seem unusually tired or low-energy.
- Fever: An infection can cause your pup’s temperature to spike.
- Loss of appetite: If your dog isn’t eating, it could be a sign they’re feeling unwell.
- Scarring: Long-term infections can lead to permanent scarring of the penis and foreskin.
- Pain during mating: Discomfort during copulation might reduce your dog’s interest in mating altogether.
- Reduced libido: Your dog may show less interest in normal reproductive behaviors.
- Tissue necrosis: In severe cases, untreated infections can cause tissue death in the affected area.
When to call the vet
If your dog is showing signs like lethargy, fever, or loss of appetite, the infection might have spread or become more serious, possibly also tied to a dog urinary tract infection.
Don’t wait — call your vet ASAP to get help and prevent further issues down the line.
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Causes of balanoposthitis in dogs
Causes of balanoposthitis in your dog may include:
- Trauma
- Snake or insect bite
- Foreign body, such as hair, string, cords, grass, sand or other small objects
- Bacterial infection, such as Mycoplasma and Staphylococcus
- Viral infection, such as canine herpesvirus and calicivirus
- Fungal infection, such as Malassezia
- Protozoal infection
- Self-trauma, such as excessive licking
- Atopic dermatitis
- Urinary tract infection
- Poor hygiene
- Hyperemia of the penis, or an excess of blood flow
Diagnosis of a dog penile infection
If you suspect your dog has balanoposthitis, a vet visit is a must! A full exam will be conducted by your vet to determine why your dog has become inflamed in these areas.
They’ll also ask about recent behaviors, like licking or straining during urination, and whether your dog has been in potentially dirty environments.
Things your veterinarian will look for are foreign bodies lodged in the prepuce, lacerations, masses, abscesses, blisters, ulcerations, and other signs of infection.
Any changes in appetite, behavior or elimination can be important for a correct diagnosis, so be prepared to tell your vet if these have been happening recently.
Your vet might also conduct an analysis of preputial smears, infected tissues, bacterial cultures, biopsy, and papules or blisters.
If urinary issues are present, your vet may order X-rays or an ultrasound of the bladder, prostate, and genital areas. This is to check for any masses, infections or blockages that may be causing the issue.
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Treatment of balanoposthitis
Luckily, most cases of balanoposthitis are treatable with the right care. The type of treatment will depend on if it’s a mild or more severe case:
Treating mild cases
If your dog has a mild case of balanoposthitis, you may not need to do much at all! This is especially common in sexually mature dogs with slightly mucopurulent (mucus-like) discharge, and it often clears up on its own. If your vet recommends treatment, simple antiseptic flushes or topical antibiotics can help speed up recovery.
Treating severe cases
For more severe cases, treatment is a bit more involved. Your vet will start by removing any foreign objects, like bits of debris or hair, that might be causing the irritation. Next, they’ll thoroughly clean the penis and prepuce with an antiseptic solution. Depending on the severity and the cause, your dog may need:
- Antibiotic ointments to fight infection.
- Abscess care: If abscesses are present, they may need to be lanced, drained, and carefully cleaned.
- Surgery: In rare cases, surgery may be required to remove abnormal tissue growth or address structural issues.
If an underlying cause, like a bacterial infection or urinary tract problem, is identified, it’ll need to be treated to prevent future flare-ups. Your vet will likely work with you to create a treatment plan tailored to your dog’s needs.
Even with proper care, recurrence can happen if the root cause isn’t fully addressed. Keeping up with your vet’s recommendations and monitoring your dog closely can make all the difference!
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Recovery after a dog penile infection
Once treatment begins, your dog should start feeling better soon - hooray! But recovery doesn’t end when symptoms improve. Ongoing care is key to preventing recurrence.
Recovery timeline
- Mild infections: Improvement is usually noticeable within a week.
- Severe infections: Full recovery may take several weeks, especially if underlying issues are involved.
Long-term prevention
- Hygiene is king: Regularly clean the preputial area to prevent future infections.
- Routine vet visits: Regular check-ups can catch problems early.
- Watch for early signs: Excessive licking or discharge are red flags to act on quickly.
By staying on top of your dog’s care, you can help them stay happy, healthy, and infection-free.
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Balanoposthitis In Dogs Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Goldendoodle
6months
27 found this helpful
27 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Redness
Red spot his penis area. What do you think that is? allergy, heat rash, or mites bite
June 24, 2021
Answered by Dr. Sara O. DVM
27 Recommendations
Hello, this looks like allergies. YOu can bathe your dog with oatmeal shampoo and give Benadryl to help. The dosage is 1mg per pound twice a day. If this does not quickly improve, it would be best for your dog to see your vet.
June 24, 2021
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Havanese
Fourteen Years
29 found this helpful
29 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
My dog has his genital are very swollen and red he went to the the groomers 2days ago he has been licking constantly
March 16, 2021
Answered by Dr. Linda S. MVB MRCVS
29 Recommendations
I'm sorry to hear this.
The skin is extremely red so a vet visit is needed as he likely needs medicine such as antibiotics and anti inflammatories.
I would want to analyse his urine and check he is urinating as normal.
Stop licking by using a buster collar at home.
March 16, 2021
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morkie
Four Years
37 found this helpful
37 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Licking At Genitals
It’s yellowish skin, swollen, and he is licking it every now and then. Please help! I’m not sure if I should put antibiotics (neomycin) on it. I won’t do it until a vet says it’s safe.
Feb. 19, 2021
Answered by Dr. Sara O. DVM
37 Recommendations
Hello, This does look like he may have it infected. You can use Neosporin or any other topical antibiotic cream. Just try to keep him from licking this area.
Feb. 19, 2021
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Labrador Retriever
Eighteen Months
24 found this helpful
24 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Redness
I just noticed what looks like welts or a ring on his penis. It’s red and raised. Is this a fungal infection?
Jan. 23, 2021
Answered by Dr. Sara O. DVM
24 Recommendations
Hello this looks like a small infection. You can clean this area and apply Neosporin to it. If it does it heal or gets worse, you would need to see you vet for some oral antibiotics.
Jan. 25, 2021
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Great Pyrenees
Five Months
19 found this helpful
19 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Redness
My dog has bumps or lesions on his genital area. Do I need to take him to the veterinarian?
Dec. 27, 2020
Answered by Dr. Linda S. MVB MRCVS
19 Recommendations
This looks like it could be a fungal or bacterial infection.
A vet visit is best.
They may swab the lesion and can then prescribe the most appropriate treatment which may be e.g. antibiotics and anti-inflammatories.
If he is licking at the area, use a buster collar to prevent this as this will delay healing.
You can bathe the region with cotton wool and salt water.
I do hope this helps.
Dec. 27, 2020
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Malshi
Changu
3 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Swollen Penis
Today my 3 year old malshi was humping the pillow but it was unusual to see the his penis was double the size of normal and had excessive swelling (dark red color) though it went inside immediately as I took away the pillow and since then she he normal and active. Is there something to worry about?
Pug
Munchkin
11 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Blood Drops
My pug is not neuter. He is 11 years old. He likes to wrestle with our other dog who is a 8yr old miniature schnauzer.who also is not neuter. They both wrestle to where they both get excited and start to take turns humping each other.even though they both don't do anything or their penis enter in their rectum. Well last night my pug came in the house and his penis was dripping blood. I check the outside of the penis and where the hole is where he pee it had blood. But he began to drip blood. I clean the pee opening with a warm towel and it stop. Then this morning it started to bleed again.im thinking he got excited to where his penis came out and he was rubbing it on the back of the other dog. Because the other dog fur on his back was wet. And had dry blood. He must of rub it so hard that he ejaculated on the other dog fur and when the penis went back into the skin it was worn out. I don't know but I'm worried. Will it get better on its own
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Ike
10 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Swollen Penis,
I noticed my dog had a swollen penis and area where his testes would be (if he had them). I took him to the vet and was told it might be PLE (protein losing entropy due to IBD/IBS/colitis/chronic large bowel diarrhea). But, the odd thing is, only his penis and groin is swollen (it's not red or irritated looking, just enlarged by fluid it seems). Otherwise his abdomen tucked and not swollen. Does this make sense for PLE? Can you think of any other reasons this might this be happening?
