My young male dog has penis knots and licks. Is this normal?

Hello and thank you for your questions about Jonesy. It's difficult to know if this is normal or not without being able to examine him. Some dogs do have a protrusion above the urethral opening on their penis and it's often lighter colored than the rest of the tissue. This is normal. However, if you are noticing him licking more than normal, this often indicates discomfort. Young male dogs, especially if they are not neutered, often get infections in the prepuce and this can cause excessive licking and often an increase in discharge. Male dogs can also get bladder infections which can also cause increased licking. Since Jonesy cannot talk and tell you why this is happening, I recommend to have him examined this week. This is the best way to know what is happening and if treatment is needed. I hope this gets figured out quickly. Please feel free to post any additional questions.

Without pictures it is difficult to say what this is for sure. This could be smegma, which is the normal yellow discharge that is seen coming from a male dog's prepuce, which is a natural lubricant for the penis inside the prepuce. If it is not liquid at the prepuce you are seeing and a pustule, this could be infectious. If you could provide photos and post again it may help determine what this is exactly. Otherwise, a veterinarian should take a look at this so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Hello. If the split looks healed, & this seems to be what you are describing, then I would not be concerned at all, especially if the prepuce covers the entire penis. Male dogs, especially unneutered ones, will lick quite a bit. That is normal. There is a possibility of an infection within the sheath, but your veterinarian will need to see if this is the case & if necessary, prescribe an antibiotic to treat. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Causes of licking the prepuce/penis area could be a urinary tract infection, crystals in the urine, stones in the urinary tract, or trauma to the area. It is important that you make an appointment to have Mako seen by your veterinarian as soon as you can to help determine the cause of his behaviour and to start treatment. If you notice him straining to urinate/unable to produce urine, this is a medical emergency and he should be seen by a vet immediately. I recommend you put an e-collar (cone) on him to help prevent him from biting/licking at the area as this may help reduce the risk of infection

Dogs can definitely do this as part of normal grooming behavior, or maybe a bit excessively sometimes. It's also possible that something is irritating him down there. This could be something like an infection, allergies, or impacted anal sacs. It's a good idea to have a vet check him for any medical problems leading to the excessive licking. It's definitely possible that there is a reason for this, which can be corrected. I hope that helps.

Male dogs have a structure called the *bulbus glandis* along the shaft of the penis. The gland swells when they get excited or sometimes when they have to urinate. These glands are responsible for the "tie" that occurs during breeding. Even though your dog is neutered, he can still get erections, so likely something excited him causing the glands to swell. It is a perfectly [normal part of his anatomy](https://www.petcoach.co/article/anatomy-and-function-of-the-reproductive-system-in-dogs) and no cause for concern.

The bulbis glandis can sit on either side of the base of the penis, and will swell up when a dog becomes aroused or excited. If the area is not red, or painful that may be what you are seeing. Darker urine color could indicate slight dehydration, so making sure Remi drinks enough water is good. If the urine doesn't improve, the area becomes red or painful, or you start to see cloudy/bloody urine/painful urination it may indicate an issue such as a bladder infection which should be checked out by your vet.