Dog Penis - Most Common Anatomy and Diseases

Author: John Stephens
Date Of Creation: 26 January 2021
Update Date: 18 May 2024
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Glass Dog Anatomy
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A dog's penis, like any other organ, can have problems and illnesses. For this reason, it is important that you know the dog's anatomy and know how to distinguish a normal situation from something that could be a problem.

In this article by PeritoAnimal we will focus on the reproductive organ of dogs, the dog penis. We will explain the anatomy, physiology and some of the most common problems that can affect this organ.

Dog Penis Anatomy

When looking at the genital region of your male dog, what you see is the foreskin. O foreskin it is the fur, covered with hair, that covers and protects the dog's penis.


The dog's penis is composed of the root, body and glans. The root of the penis is what fixes this organ to the sciatic arch. The body corresponds to the greater part of the penis and the glans the distal part, ie the tip, where the entrance to the urethra is located.

The penis body is composed of cavernous bodies (which fill with blood during erection) and a spongy body.

Dogs' penises are classified as musculocavernosus, as are cats and horses. This type of penis inflates a lot of blood at the time of erection, unlike fibroelastic type penises (ruminants and pigs). In the image below you can see the anatomical difference of the penis from different species.

A dog's penis (like a cat's) has a bone, called a penile bone. The dog's penis basically has two functions: to eliminate urine and semen (through copulation). In addition to this important structure, the dog's penis has an urethra, which is partly protected by the penile bone, which has as one of its functions to protect the urethra from possible trauma.


You can usually notice a small amount of yellowish discharge on the dog's penis, which is called a smegma and it's perfectly normal!

Why do dogs stick together when they breed?

Dogs, unlike female dogs, do not have a specific time when they come into heat. They can mate at any time of the year as long as there is a female in heat.

There is a mechanism that prevents urine and sperm from mixing in the urethra. At the base of the penis, there is a structure called the bulb (bulbus glandis) which increases considerably in size and fits into the cervix of the female dogs, which has a fossa shape during penetration. That's why you see dogs sticking together when they cross. On average, the crossing between dogs lasts 30 minutes.The dog ejaculates in installments, it has a "drip" ejaculation and that is why it is so important that the dogs stay stuck together while the different phases of ejaculation occur.


Don't try to separate the stuck dogs

You can never force the dogs apart during copulation, as this can cause serious damage to both male and female.

Most common diseases of the dog's penis

Problems in a dog's penis can arise from different causes. They can be caused by trauma: fights with other dogs, foreign bodies. However, they can also be caused by infections by viruses, bacteria and even tumors.

If you've noticed anything unusual on your dog's penis, you should see a veterinarian as soon as possible. You must remember that the penis is a very sensitive organ and that even a small injury can cause a lot of discomfort and pain for the dog.

These are some of the dog penis disease symptoms:

  • dog penis always externalized
  • Blood comes out of the dog's penis
  • Puppy foreskin swollen
  • Color change (must be pink or reddish)
  • Pus comes out of the dog's penis
  • Dog licking his genitals a lot

If you have noticed any of these symptoms, some of the illnesses that we will explain below may be the cause.

Phimosis

Phimosis consists of inability of the dog to externalize the penis due to a very small opening. Generally, due to inflammation, there is an exaggerated licking of the area by the dog and dirt accumulates causing infection.

Generally, guardians are aware of this problem only when the puppy tries to breed and fails. But you can identify the problem by looking at other symptoms such as:

  • inability to urinate
  • accumulate urine in the foreskin
  • excessive licking

This condition can be congenital or acquired. The only way to treat phimosis in dogs is surgical intervention to increase the opening of the foreskin so that the dog can re-expose the penis normally.

This problem is very serious, especially in dogs used for crossing, as the dog may be able to exteriorize the penis through the small hole in the foreskin and not be able to retract it later.

paraphimosis

THE paraphimosis in dogs consists of the exteriorization of the penis without going back inside the preputial cavity.. The causes may be related to what we mentioned above, a small hole in the foreskin that allows externalization during erection but the penis cannot return to its place. But other causes can be involved, such as trauma, problems in the foreskin musculature, a reduced size of the foreskin and even neoplasms (such as the transmissible venereal tumor, which we will explain later on).

The symptoms are constant exposure of the penis, which at first looks normal but which over time begins to develop problems such as lacerations and fissures. Therefore, it is very important that you visit your veterinarian as soon as possible if this is happening to your dog.

Traumas

One of the most common problems is trauma to the dog's penis. These traumas can occur during intercourse (for example if you try to separate two dogs that are stuck together) or some accident that injures the dog's penis, such as trying to jump over a fence.

Another very common cause of lions is the foreign bodies, such as dry grass entering the preputial cavity or even a urinary calculus.

Balanoposthitis

THE balanoposthitis in dog it consists of inflammation of the glans penis and the mucosa of the foreskin. balanite is the inflammation of the glans and postitem is the inflammation of the foreskin. In most cases, these two processes happen simultaneously and that is why it is called balanoposthitis.

Balanoposthitis is very common in dogs (uncommon in cats) and usually the symptoms are:

  • Discharge of pus in the foreskin
  • Dog licks the genital area a lot

The causes can be several, the most common being the presence of opportunistic bacteria, which usually live in the dog's penis. Read our full article on Balanoposthitis in a dog - causes, symptoms and treatment.

Transmissible venereal tumor in dogs

TVT (Transmissible Venereal Tumor) in dogs is one of the most common neoplasms. This tumor is sexually transmitted between dogs. This tumor can affect both males and females.

During copulation, small lesions occur both in the penis and in the vagina of dogs, which allow an entrance for the tumor cells.

The symptoms are nodules in the genital region, and there may be bleeding and even an obstruction in the urethra, which prevents the dog from urinating normally.

Treatment is usually done through chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy sessions. The prognosis depends on the case, but if detected early, there are many chances of success with the treatment!

This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Dog Penis - Most Common Anatomy and Diseases, we recommend that you enter our section on Diseases of the reproductive system.