The dog’s penis, like any other organ, can have problems and diseases, so it’s important that you know the dog’s anatomy and know how to distinguish a normal situation from something that can be problematic.
In this Article of Animal Expert we will focus on the breeding organ of the dog, the dog’s penis, we will explain the anatomy, physiology and some of the most common problems that can affect this organ.
- When you look at the genital area of your male dog.
- You notice the foreskin.
- The foreskin is the skin covered with skin that covers and protects the dog’s penis.
The dog’s penis is formed by the root of the body and the acorn, the root of the penis is the one that fixes this organ in the sciatic arch, the body corresponds to most of the penis and the gland to the distal part, that is, the tip., where the entrance to the urethra is located.
The body of the penis is composed of cavernous bodies (which are filled with blood during erection) and a fluffy body.
The penises of dogs are classified as musculoskeletal, like cats and horses, this type of penis swells a lot of blood at the time of erection, unlike fibroelastic penises (ruminants and pigs), in the image below you can see the anatomical difference of the penis of different species.
A dog’s penis (like a cat’s) has a bone, called a penis bone. The dog’s penis has essentially two functions: to eliminate urine and semen (by copulation). In addition to this important structure, the dog’s penis has a urethra, which is partially protected by the bone of the penis, which has as one of its functions to protect the urethra from possible trauma.
Generally, you may notice a small amount of yellowish discharge into the dog’s penis, which is called a smegma and is perfectly normal.
Dogs, unlike dogs, do not have a specific moment when they go into heat, they can mate at any time of the year as long as there is a dog in heat.
There is a mechanism that prevents urine and semen from mixing in the urethra.At the base of the penis is a structure called bulb (bulb glandis) that increases drastically in size and fits into the cervix of the bitches, which has a hole shape when penetrating.Then you see the dogs glued together when they cross paths.On average, the cross between dogs lasts 30 minutes. The dog ejaculates in patches, has a “drip” ejaculation and that is why it is so important that the puppies stay together during the different phases of ejaculation.
It can never force dogs to separate during copulation, as this can cause serious damage to both male and female.
Problems with a dog’s penis can have different causes, they can be from injuries: fights with other dogs, foreign bodies, but they can also be caused by infections with viruses, bacteria and even tumors.
If you notice something strange on your dog’s penis, you should consult a veterinarian as soon as possible, remember that the penis is a very sensitive organ and that even a small injury can cause a lot of discomfort and pain in the dog.
Symptoms of dog penis disease include
If you notice any of these symptoms, some of the conditions listed below may be at stake.
Fimosis is the dog’s inability to externalize the penis due to a very small opening.Usually due to inflammation, the dog ingies excessively and dirt builds up causing an infection.
In general, tutors are only aware of this problem when the dog tries to reproduce and fails, but you can identify the problem by observing other symptoms such as:
This condition can be congenital or acquired. The only way to treat phymosis in a dog is through surgery to increase the opening of the foreskin so that the dog re-exposed the penis normally.
This problem is very serious, especially in dogs used for crossing, because the dog may be able to externalize the penis through the small hole of the foreskin and not be able to retract it later.
The paraphymosis of the dog consists in the externalization of the penis without entering the prepucial cavity, the causes may be related to the above, a small hole in the foreskin that allows an externalization during erection but the penis cannot return to its position.But other causes may be involved, such as trauma, foreskin musculature problems, reduced foreskin size, and even neoplasms (such as the transmissible venereal tumor, which we’ll explain later).
Symptoms are constant exposure of the penis, which at first seems normal but that over time begins to have problems, such as lacerations and cracks, so it is very important that you consult your veterinarian as soon as possible if this happens to your dog.
One of the most common problems is the trauma of the dog’s penis, these traumas can occur during copulation (for example if you try to separate two dogs stuck together) or an accident that injured the dog’s penis, such as trying to jump a fence.
Foreign bodies, such as dry grass entering the prepucial cavity or even a urinary stone, are another very common cause of lions.
Balanopostitis in dogs is inflammation of the penis gland and the lining of the foreskin, balanitis is inflammation of the acorn and postitis is inflammation of the foreskin, in most cases these two processes occur simultaneously and that is why it is called balanopostitis.
Balanopostitis is very common in dogs (rare in cats) and symptoms are usually:
The causes can be multiple, the most common being the presence of opportunistic bacteria, which usually live in the dog’s penis.Read our full article on balanopostitis in dogs: causes, symptoms and treatment.
TTV (transmissible venereal tumor) in dogs is one of the most common neoplasms and is sexually transmitted among dogs.This tumor can affect both men and women.
During copulation, small lesions occur in both the penis and vagina of dogs, allowing an entry path for tumor cells.
Symptoms are nodules in the genital area and there may be bleeding and even obstruction of the urethra, which prevents the dog from urinating normally.
Treatment is usually done by chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy.Prognosis depends on the case, but if detected early, the chances of treatment success are numerous!
This article is for informational purposes only, in Animal Expert.com.br we cannot prescribe veterinary treatments or make any type of diagnosis, we suggest taking your pet to the veterinarian in case of any type of condition or discomfort.
If you would like to read articles similar to, we recommend that you visit our Diseases section of the reproductive system.