My dog's testicles hurt after playing. Why is he licking them?

I would recommend that you have Onyx examined by a vet. If he is uncomfortable laying down, it sounds pretty serious. It can be caused by infection in the skin or the testicles, which may have been brought on by trauma, excessive licking leading to infection, a systemic (or body-wide infection), etc. The vet will do an exam to determine the most likely cause and can prescribe medications for infection, inflammation, or itching as necessary. Until Onyx sees the vet, you should have him wear an e-collar to prevent further licking, since that will prevent spreading infection and delayed healing.

Poor guy. He must have very sensitive skin and is having a hypersensitivity reaction in that area. I would recommend doing a gentle cleanse of his testicles with a mild soap (i.e Dove or oatmeal based shampoo) and warm water, letting it air dry, and then applying a topical soothing spray (i.e. Hydrocortisone spray) from your local pet store. You can also apply a thin layer of Neosporin if he tolerates it to help prevent secondary infections. Place an e-collar (cone) over him to prevent him from licking it further and see if this resolves in a few days. If not, then he may need additional treatment (i..e steroid shot +/- medicated ointments) from your local vet.

Excessive [licking](https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-does-my-dog-keep-licking-himself) has multiple causes. Boredom, stress, irritation, infection or [allergies](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/canine-allergies) can all cause licking. It is also possible he has an inflamed or infected [anal gland](https://www.petcoach.co/article/anal-glands-sacs-impactions-infections-abscesses-in-dogs). This condition is very painful and makes it difficult to defecate or even move. Without treatment, the gland may rupture, causing a open wound on your pet's rear that will require wound care and antibiotics as well as some pain relief. I recommend getting your pet seen by your vet. He or she will express (empty) the anal glands if necessary, clean him up and possibly start your pup on antibiotics. You can ask them to show you how to express the anal glands yourself at home so you can avoid impaction or infection in the future. If his anal glands are clear, there may be another underlying cause. An e-collar (cone) can prevent further licking.

Place an [e-collar](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/well-and-good-e-collar) (cone) on him right away to prevent further licking or scratching. If the wound is superficial, I suggest gently cleansing the area with a diluted betadine or chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) solution. Applying a warm washcloth 2-3 times a day for five minutes at a time may provide some relief from itching and discomfort. Afterwards, dry the area throughly. If there is no sign of improvement in a few days or if your dog develops a fever, loses his appetite, start [vomiting](https://www.petcoach.co/article/vomiting-in-dogs) and/or having [diarrhea](https://www.petcoach.co/article/diarrhea-in-dogs) then have him physically examined by your veterinarian right away. Additional symptoms that should also be addressed by your veterinarian include redness, swelling, discharge or bleeding.

This often happens when dogs excessively lick their testicles, then the skin gets infected and scabs over. I suggest you keep him from licking ( you can put an e-collar on him or a t-shirt or a baby jump suit, if you have one, and then take him to a vet this coming week for an exam. He may need antibiotics for the skin infection.

I've seen this one time, and it was a hunting dog that I suspect had a disease transmitted from a tick. Tick diseases can cause vasculitis, which means inflammation of the small blood vessels. It's not uncommon for the scrotum to be affected, as the blood supply there isn't great. Sometimes we also see it on the tips of the ears. This could be an infectious problem (from a tick bite as mentioned above) or an auto-immune problem. Also can't rule out plain old trauma, like running around in a field with prickly grasses and the like. Get him checked out to rule out serious illness, and to get some relief for what I'm sure is a painful condition.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Pinto. I recommend that he sees a veterinarian today. It is worrisome that he is yelping out in pain. As far as his testicles, he could be experiencing a torsion. This is very painful. Lower back pain can also cause a dog to yelp. The veterinarian will examine him and try to locate any site of pain. Based on this information, he may need x-rays. Then treatment can be started to help him feel better. In the meantime, keep him quiet and do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs. I hope this information helps!