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My dog has a red, sore lump on his penis. When should I see a vet?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Greyhound | Male | neutered | 8 months and 6 days old | 39 lbs

hello, over the last few days I have noticed a very small blister like lump near the opening of my dog's penis. It's red/purpleish in colour and is causing him no discomfort or problems with peeing, but to me looks quite sore. Another dog licked the area earlier today as if to suggest a problem

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Jessica Desrosiers

Veterinary Technician

Published on November 14th, 2016

It's possible something may have irritated Barley's penis, causing the blister you are seeing. It is best to keep the area clean and dry and prevent him and other dogs from licking or chewing at the spot. If it doesn't clear up in a day or so, becomes bothersome, or affects his ability to urinate, it is best to have a vet take a look to see if there is a possible infection or other issue causing it.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Dr. Massimo Orioles, DVM, Cert AVP, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Published on July 19th, 2021
This lump/bump/growth should be ideally examined by your local vet to have a diagnosis established.
Your vet may want to perform an FNA (fine needle aspiration) or a biopsy to sample the bump and determine its underlying nature.
Differentials would include skin cysts, the result of an acute allergic reaction, infections, benign type of tumors.
Buster collar may be useful as well to avoid any licking.
Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Jessica Desrosiers
Veterinary Technician
Published on January 19th, 2017
If the area has changed recently or rapidly, it is a good idea to have your vet take a look. Growths, irritation, allergies and more may all cause changes to the skin or current growth, and should be checked out. Your vet may recommend testing or taking a sample of the changes if the appear concerning.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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My male dog has a red lump on his penis skin. What should I do?

You can cleanse it with a mild soap (i.e. Dove) and warm water and then apply a very thin layer of Neosporin to it twice a day. Monitor it to see if it resolves on its own within the next 3-7 days. If it bothers Chico at any point, then it is best to get it seen by your veterinarian for further testing. However if this is just an inflammatory response then it should resolve on its own within a week. If not, then it may need to be aspirated or biopsied to determine what it is and how we need to go about treating it. I hope everything works out ok for Chico.

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I think its reasonable to monitor it for a few days; if it is not resolving, get him in to see your vet. Also place an Ecollar on him to prevent him from licking at it. If he starts to have any trouble urinating or if the spot is getting bigger, or is appearing more red and inflamed, or it it starts to bleed, take, him in ASAP. Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

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Why does my dog have a white bump on his penis and lick it often?

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.

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My dog has a blister on his penis. Is it safe to use home remedies?

I would not recommend any home remedies in such a sensitive area! If the area becomes painful or infected you should schedule an appointment with your vet for full investigation to rule out injury/infection/tumor growth and to prescribe appropriate oral medication

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My dog has red, swollen bumps on his penis. What could it be?

Hello, and thank you for your question. This looks like a bacterial infection of the skin. Around the penis is a common area to get skin infections due to the proximity to the ground. I would suggest bathing the area with a gentle aloe and oatmeal type shampoo. If Duke's skin does not improve within 1-2 days, I would bring him to the vet, as he may need something stronger such as oral antibiotics. In the meantime, you may need to put an e-collar (cone) on his head to prevent him from licking and further traumatizing the skin. I hope this helps, and that Duke feels better soon!

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My dog has a raw, painful penis bump after grooming. What to do?

Hello, and thank you for your question. The photo is very helpful. It looks like a local area of inflammation due to a skin infection of the prepuce. I would recommend getting it checked out by the vet within the next 24 hours, who can prescribe the appropriate antibiotics to treat the infection. They can also examine more closely to see if there is an underlying cause, such as a foreign body in the prepuce that is causing irritation. In the meantime, I would suggest putting an e-collar (cone) over Ollie's head to prevent him from licking and further traumatizing the area. I hope this helps, and that Ollie feels better soon!

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My dog has a red, ball-like growth on his penis. Should I be worried?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! That area definitely looks like it needs to be removed. It likely has a poor blood supply and healing can be difficult. I recommend having it removed and have it sent to a pathologist to determine what it is. There is no way to know just by looking at it. I would see if you can move your vet appointment up to have the mass looked at sooner. When the skin is ulcerated like that, most pets won't leave it alone and it can get worse. I'm the meantime, you can wash it with a mild soap and water. Good luck and kisses to Jacks!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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