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

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | French Bulldog | Male | neutered | 3 years and 7 months old | 25 lbs

I noticed this evening my dog has 3 small bumps on his penis, one is very red and swollen, the other two don’t look as irritated. Is this something to worry about, or maybe just a bug bite or something? They all just showed up today.

5 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Elva Ma DVM

Veterinarian

Published on March 2nd, 2018

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!

6Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By David Elbeze, DVM, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Published on August 1st, 2017
That looks like an infection, it could very well be due to having sexual intercourse. you will probably need to take him to the vet to get it checked and he will need a course of antibiotics in order to resolve this infection quickly.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS
Veterinarian
Published on July 25th, 2020
Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Hammy and for providing a picture, it's very helpful. Puppies have very sensitive skin and can be prone to skin infections such as puppy pyoderma. It could be he has a skin infection causing these bumps. Please do not try to pop them, it will make things worse. Without seeing him in person, I can't say for sure what is going on, so I would have him seen by a vet. The vet can diagnose what is causing these bumps and can treat him. Best of luck.
5Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS
Veterinarian
Published on February 16th, 2017
This redness and bumps along Wally's penis could be due to a skin infection from bacteria or fungus, or could be due to a contact allergy. As for the big lump, I'm wondering if you are seeing a large bilateral swelling along the sheath of the penis. If you are, those are Wally's bulbourethral glands, and they are a normal part of the dog's anatomy. If it's just one lump, then it could be a cyst, an abscess, a benign tumor, or a malignant tumor. Without seeing Wally in person, I can't say what these things are caused by for certain, so I do recommend having him seen by a vet. The vet can diagnose what is causing all of his symptoms, and can treat him for them.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Megan, DVM, CVA
Veterinarian
Published on January 8th, 2019
I agree this doesn't look exactly normal, but without seeing it in person I cannot say for sure what is causing the bumps. I would have your vet take a closer look at it. Your vet may choose to do a urinalysis or a culture of the skin on his penis to ensure he doesn't need any antibiotics. I hope this helps!
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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My puppy has red bumps on his penis. What could it be and how to help?

Hello, this looks like a very mild staph infection, very common in very young puppies. You can bathe your puppy with a mild antibacterial soap or shampoo, one with benzoyl peroxide or chlorhexidine. Allow the soap to remain in contact with the skin for 5-10 minutes before rinsing. Repeat this 1-2x a week & the skin should look better soon. If the skin does not look better soon, please see your veterinarian. Thank you.

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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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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.

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My 4-month-old puppy has small bumps on his penis. What are they?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is likely a small focus of infection or pustule. Sometimes these do occur in puppies and go away on their own. Sometimes it does require antibiotics to take care of it. You can bathe him with a medicated shampoo containing chlorhexidine which you may get at your local pet store. You can bathe him twice weekly for 2 weeks. If it does not improve, have him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck!

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Why does my dog have red swollen bumps near her private area?

Swollen red bumps on the belly or near the private parts are most often caused by a bacterial skin infection called [pyoderma](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/staphylococcal-pyoderma-1/). This often happens in dogs that have underlying [allergy issues](https://www.petcoach.co/article/food-allergies-vs-environmental-allergies-whats-the-difference) or other skin problems. If the bumps aren't bothering her much and she is acting normal otherwise, you can get a [topical antibiotic spray](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/vetericyn-plus-wound-and-skin-care-for-dogs) labeled for dogs at Petco or online. Use this on the affected area 2-3 times daily until the bumps are gone. If there is no improvement in the rash in the next 3-5 days, or if she is itchy or painful or having any other symptoms, then I would recommend having her examined by a vet as she may need oral antibiotics or other prescription medication to treat the problem.

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My dog has small pimples on his penis. What should I do about them?

This could be a bacterial skin infection. If any urine gets trapped on his fur or any moisture, this can predispose them to infection. I would recommend using a spray such as malacetic conditioning spray and apply to the area until resolved. If it does not resolve, I would recommend having a veterinarian take a look at him so that the most appropriate treatment can be administered. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.

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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.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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