Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Already a member? Sign in
Become a credit card member today!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
APPLY NOW
Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

What's causing my dog's rash above his penis and how to treat it?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Male | unneutered | 8 months and 24 days old | 50 lbs

My dog has a weird rash above his penis its been there for about 1 week but seems to be getting worse

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Ann Dion, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on June 13th, 2018

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Rashes around a penis are typically either caused by allergies to something he is lying on (grass, bedding, etc.), bug bites on the abdomen (ants in the grass), or from a urinary issue where he would be dribbling urine, or licking at his penis making the skin around it wet, and therefore getting a secondary skin infection. I recommend having it seen by a vet if it is irritating Dice or looks infected (any yellow/green discharge, any open wounds, etc). If it is just a little bit red, then I would recommend an E-collar to prevent self-trauma and licking which is likely making it worse, and just washing the area with water and drying it very well. Getting a urine sample checked by your vet is a good idea, especially if Dice is peeing more than usually, or straining to pee, or if there is any red discolouration of the pee. Best of luck with Dice.

2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Dr. Elizabeth
Veterinarian
Published on August 15th, 2019
Leo could have this rash for many reasons. It can be related to allergies of any kind, flea bites or a primary bacterial infection. You need to prevent him from licking the lesions with an Elizabethan collar. You can start him on an omega-3 fatty acid supplement for pets and you can wash the lesions once a day. If they do not start improving within one week or if they get worse at any point, have him examined by the veterinarian.
32Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Sara Farmer, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on April 1st, 2019
It looks like something may have scraped this area - I’m wondering if there’s anything outside he could have rubbed against. Bruising can sometimes look this way as well so if you see anything like this anywhere else on his body like his belly, inner ears or gums you should see a vet right away. Otherwise I’d prevent licking (use an e-collar if necessary) and monitor for a day or two. If it doesn’t get better check in with your vet.
18Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Leigh, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on January 25th, 2017
He could have a bacterial skin infection. You could bathe him with a medicated dog shampoo and see if that helps. If not, he needs to be examined by your vet for treatment. He may need an antibiotic and an anti-inflammatory to treat the problem.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

Training & Behavior

My dog has a red, itchy rash on his penis. Could it be allergies?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My dog has a rash near his penis. What could it be and what to do?

There are many reasons Prince could have the rash including parasites or allergies (both environmental and food). If you don’t see any fleas, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t a problem. They can have issues with only 1 or 2 fleas running around. Make sure to keep him from licking the area by making him wear an Elizabethan collar at all times if needed. Go ahead and treat him for fleas once a month for at least 2 months. If you want an over the counter product, pick Frontline but there are better products out there like Cheristan or Comfortis. You don’t necessarily need to do anything about the rash as long as it doesn’t get worse. If you want however, you can wash the area daily with hand soap and rinse it wel. If he does not get better within a couple weeks or if he gets worse, take him in to see the veterinarian. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any further questions.!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

Why does my male dog have a rash, swelling, and discharge near his penis?

This looks like a localised spot of skin infection which can be easily treated its antibiotic and antiinflammatory ointment on prescription from your veterinarian. The fact that he is licking his paw as well can be due to an allergy, which possibly can be considered in case infection is not resolved with treatment trial. I would recommend a check up at your local vet to confirm this clinical suspicion and treat appropriately. Hope this answer was helpful but please do not hesitate to contact us again in case you want to discuss this problem any further.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Why does my puppy have a pink rash around his penis? Is it normal?

As long as he is acting normal and urinating normal, I suspect this may just be a little bit of contact dermatitis. A little cocker puppy is low to the ground, so Charlie will be rubbing on grass when he goes outside and possibly picking up allergens and moisture. You can bath him with a mild puppy shampoo to see if that helps the redness. If he is licking excessively or having any difficulty urinating then he may need to see a vet.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

What causes a dog rash in armpits and genitals, and how to treat it?

It looks like your dog has a skin infection, most likely caused by allergies or fleas. The allergies can be from a protein in her food or to something in the environment, like grasses, pollens, dust, etc. The allergies cause a breakdown in the skin barrier and make the dog very itchy. The excessive itching and licking cause the skin infection. I would recommend taking Rex in to see the vet so he can be started on some antibiotics to help clear up the skin and get on a good flea control. You may also ask about a medicated shampoo, these can help clear up the skin more quickly. I would also recommend discussing with your vet some options for medication to help control the allergy symptoms like Atopica, Apoquel, or Cytopoint. Good luck!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

What is this red rash near my dog's genitals after exercise?

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I can see that Pokey has a flat, red, moist area. This can be due to a bug bite (but it does not look like a typical bite from a tick), a localized infection, or an allergic reaction. I would recommend having him looked at by a vet, especially because some may be closed with the holidays coming up. In the meantime, try to keep the area as dry and clean as possible, you can get Pokey an E-collar (or "cone") to place around his neck to prevent him from licking or biting the area. You can also apply a small amount of antibiotic ointment (like Neosporin) to the area. I hope this helps!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog has a rash and swollen penis. What should I do about it?

Was there any chance Gunter had trauma to that area such as being hit by a car or laying on hot pavement at some point. That is a typical lesion comparable to road rash or an abrasion of some sort. The swelling may be edema or a possible hernia in the muscle wall causing the swelling if there was trauma. Because a hernia can be life threatening it is best if he is seen by a vet to check for that. You can keep the area clean with cool water and apply an antibiotic cream to help until you can get him seen. Make sure you monitor for urination since the swelling is close to his prepuce and penis.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Share