My dog has a tail lump and his penis won't retract. Is it urgent?

There are a couple of things this could be causing this to happen to Bruzer. It could be that he has an erection, and the penis is swollen and the tip is out because he is aroused. He could also be suffering from paraphimosis, which is an inability to retract the penis back into the sheath. This can quickly turn into an emergency situation, as constricting of the blood flow will lead to a larger engorgement of the penis, necrosis (dead tissue), and potential damage to the urethra. Should you suspect it isn't an erection and it is paraphimosis, I will give you some advice that may help Bruzer. If his penis hasn't been out too long (less than an hour), you can try to put it back yourself. First, thoroughly clean the penis, making sure there is no foreign material (such as fur) that is wrapped around the penis. Take a bag of frozen veggies wrapped in a towel, and apply it to the penis for five minutes at a time to try to reduce the swelling. Packaged peas work very well because they are mobile around the penis. Then apply a lubricant such as KY Jelly onto the penis, and very gently try to move the penis back into the sheath. Very gently try to push the penis back into the sheath, or try to gently pull the sheath over the penis. If this does not work, or if the penis has been outside the sheath for more than 30 minutes to an hour, you will need to take Bruzer into your vet.

This could be anything from a benign fatty tumor, to an enlarged lymph node, to a hernia, to a mass or other. While it’s unlikely an emergency, I would schedule an appointment with your vet at the earliest convenient appointment. He or she may recommend a cytology (poking the lump with a thin needle and looking at the cells under the microscope). Best of luck to you and Jack!

Oh no, that's not good! It sounds like he is suffering from paraphimosis, which is an inability to retract the penis back into the sheath. This can quickly turn into an emergency situation, as constricting of the blood flow will lead to a larger engorgement of the penis, necrosis (dead tissue), and potential damage to the urethra. If his penis hasn't been out too long (less than an hour), you can try to put it back yourself. First, thoroughly clean the penis, making sure there is no foreign material (such as fur) that is wrapped around the penis. Take a bag of frozen veggies wrapped in a towel, and apply it to the penis for five minutes at a time to try to reduce the swelling. Packaged peas work very well because they are mobile around the penis. Then apply a lubricant such as KY Jelly onto the penis, and very gently try to move the penis back into the sheath. Very gently try to push the penis back into the sheath, or try to gently pull the sheath over the penis. If this does not work, or if the penis has been outside the sheath for more than 30 minutes to an hour, you will need to take him into your vet.

It could be he is suffering from paraphimosis, which is an inability to retract the penis back into the sheath. This can quickly turn into an emergency situation, as constricting of the blood flow will lead to a larger engorgement of the penis, necrosis (dead tissue), and potential damage to the urethra. If his penis hasn't been out too long (less than an hour), you can try to put it back yourself. First, thoroughly clean the penis, making sure there is no foreign material (such as fur) that is wrapped around the penis. Take a bag of frozen veggies wrapped in a towel, and apply it to the penis for five minutes at a time to try to reduce the swelling. Packaged peas work very well because they are mobile around the penis. Then apply a lubricant such as KY Jelly onto the penis, and very gently try to move the penis back into the sheath. Very gently try to push the penis back into the sheath, or try to gently pull the sheath over the penis. If this does not work, or if the penis has been outside the sheath for more than 30 minutes to an hour, you will need to take Lukas into your vet. Best of luck.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Klaus. If you are unable to retract his penis back into the skin covering, I recommend that he sees a veterinarian tonight. He could sustain longterm damage if it is exposed too long or if he traumatizes by biting or licking. You can try applying a lubricant such as KY jelly to see if you can replace it. If not, he will need veterinary care. I hope this information helps!

Yes, I would be concerned this may be serious, especially if it has grown quickly. The broken surface is very high risk for infection and I recommend an urgent assessment by your vet; biopsy and possible tail amputation may be required. In some male dogs, a hormone dependent condition can cause similar masses and castration can be helpful in these situations

It may be a benign mass or a malignant tumor. The only way to know which s to have Max physically examined by your veterinarian. A fine needle aspirate can be done in the clinic to collect samples for pathology. If Maxi is due for a dental cleaning any time soon, the mass could be taken off while he is under anesthesia. Monitor for rapid change or growth. If Max licks or chews at the lump, place an e-collar (cone) on him until he sees the vet.