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My unneutered dog has a swollen, painful scrotum. What should I do?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Pit Bull Terrier | Male | unneutered | 5 years and 3 months old

My dogs scrotum Is swollen and he's in pain..squeals if I even brush across them. Eating and urinating regularly. Is standing as laying down seems to

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

Published on June 26th, 2016

I see that your dog is unneutered - one condition that can come on suddenly and be extremely painful is called testicular torsion. Basically, one of the testicles becomes twisted inside the scrotal sac, cutting off the blood supply and causing swelling and intense pain. Based on your description, I would be concerned about this possibility and would recommend getting your dog to a vet as soon as possible, since he is in a lot of distress and there is really nothing that can be done at home to help. Other possibilities would include a scrotal or testicular infection, a tumor, or even a scrotal hernia.

9Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS
Veterinarian
Dogs that aren't neutered are prone to developing tumors on the testes. He could also have an inflammation of the epididymus called epididymitis, or inflammation of the testes themselves which is called orchitis. Epididymitis and orchitis can also be triggered by infectious organisms, as well as by other conditions, including viral causes (i.e., distemper), infections associated with inflammation of the prostate (prostatitis), and inflammation of the bladder (cystitis). Your dog needs to see a vet to diagnose the problem and properly treat it. Keep in mind your vet will likely recommend castration, as that will cure inflammation of the testes and epididymus, and scrotal tumors. It will also significantly reduce the chances of prostate diseases when he is old. Take him into your vet first thing Monday.
7Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Shaneez Wallani, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on February 8th, 2019
Poor Bear! Bear may be dealing with testicular torsion, which is a medical emergency involving swelling of the testicles and potentially loss f blood supply to the area. Please have him seen by a veterinarian right away, as if it is testicular torsion, it is extremely painful. He could also be having some sort of allergic reaction, which would be less likely, but still needs medical attention right away. Good luck, and I hope he feels better soon!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Lauren Jones VMD
Veterinarian
Published on May 11th, 2017
Your dog could be experiencing a hematoma (essentially a blood filled scrotum), infection or a testicular mass. He will need to be evaluated by a vet immediately to assure that there are no signs of active bleeding. The vet will also be able to examine his prostate and will discuss the likely need of neutering him to remove the source of the problem.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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My dog has sudden swollen testicles, but shows no pain. What's wrong?

Swollen testicle can be due to torsion, allergic reaction or infection. i would recommend having it checked by your vet ASAP, if the swelling is too large you will need to take him to the emergencies if your vet is not open today.

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My neutered dog has painful, disappearing swelling near his genitals.

It’s possible that Gunner may have an inguinal hernia where there is a rift in the abdominal wall near the genitalia where intestines are able to protrude out. This can be a life threatening condition where the intestines may become strangulated/twisted and start to become necrotic. Other possibilities include scrotal hematomas (the empty scrotum filling up with blood) and abscesses (pockets of infection). As he is painful, the safest option would be to take him to an emergency veterinary hospital. If it is a hernia, emergency surgery would likely be indicated. Good luck!

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My dog's scrotum is swollen after neuter. Is it infected or painful?

Poor guy...that does look uncomfortable. It may be infected, but I would suspect a discharge at the incision or a fever, lethargy. It is more likely that this is a scrotal hematoma. These typically do resolve in their own, but it can take weeks. Keep his activity level as low as possible to discourage more swelling, continue the anti inflammatory medication, make sure he cannot bite or lick it by using a “cone” if needed. It can provide some relief if he will allow you to do a cold compress on the area. Try wrapping an ice pack with cloth and apply to the area for 15 minutes..three times daily. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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My dog's scrotum is red and swollen. What home remedies can I try?

This may be a skin infection of the scrotum, or an infection of the testicles. This is not uncommon to see in unneutered males, but can be somewhat difficult to treat. Unfortunately, without examining Ace it's not possible to diagnose the specific problem and recommend treatment. It's best if you can take Ace to a vet within the next day or two, so they can have a good look and recommend the best treatment. For now, I recommend cleaning the scrotum with a medicated wipe or shampoo (can get this at the pet store) twice a day in case the scrotum is infected. Avoid rubbing or squeezing the area, because this can cause more damage than good. I hope that helps and Ace gets better soon.

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What to do for a stray dog with swollen, infected testicles?

Unfortunately, it is illegal for us to prescribe any medications without physically examining the pet. Swelling of the scrotum could be caused by a bacterial or viral infection, tumor, wound, or an abscess. The treatment for these varied problems depends on the cause. I would recommend that you call your local animal control office so that they can catch the stray and get him the care he needs to prevent suffering.

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Could my older unneutered dog's swollen, warm scrotum be cancer?

Poor Oscar! His scrotum does look quite swollen and sore. Yes, unfortunately this could definitely be caused by testicular cancer, as this is a fairly common problem in older intact male dogs. He could also have an infection of the scrotum or testicles causing this swelling. I would recommend taking him to the vet to have this checked as soon as you are able to. He/she can take a biopsy if needed to help determine exactly what's going on, and may recommend surgical removal if cancer is suspected.

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My dog's testicle is swollen and he's acting weird. What should I do?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am worried about this. I would advise that you go ahead and give a dose of the Benedryl and then get him into the vet as soon as possible- tonight with the ER vet is ideal. This could signal an allergic reaction, or a viral/bacterial infection. But I am most worried about something extremely painful such as a testicular torsion (where the testicle twists on itself, cutting of blood flow and causing swelling). If you can’t get to the vet tonight, ice the testicle for 5-10 minutes every 2-64hours to help with pain and swelling. Place a paper towel or thin cloth between the ice pack and his scrotum. Best wishes to you and Boi!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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