Why is my male dog's penis swollen and has bumps? Is it normal?

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If the swelling is transient and goes away after a few moments this may be normal arousal in an unneutered male. However if it has lasted more than a few minutes I recommmend having Beethoven checked by a veterinarian. Prolonged swelling can be an emergency if it affects circulation to the penis.

There is no picture attached to your post, so I can't say if his penis looks normal or not. There should be two bumps on the side of the shaft of the penis. They are called the bulbourethral glands, and they become enlarged when the dog is excited or aroused.

If what you're seeing looks like a symmetrical swelling near the base of his penis in front of the scrotum, what you see is likely the *bulbus glandis*. This structure is a normal part of the male dog's anatomy. The *bulbus glandis* swells during [mating](https://www.petcoach.co/article/anatomy-and-function-of-the-reproductive-system-in-dogs) which causes the dogs to tie or 'lock' together during the act. It may swell when the dog is excited, even in a neutered dog.

This is a serious edematous swelling and needs to be seen by a veterinarian today. This may be located in the preputial mucous membrane, or possibly the tip of the penis. Unfortunately I cannot determine this from the photo. Please take Tyson to a veterinarian or PetER today. You may want to put some vaseline on the swelling to keep it from drying out.

An abnormal shape to the penis could indicate inflammation or a tumor. I can’t tell from the photo if Wilie’s penis looks abnormal or not. This is a situation where a veterinarian visit is the best option. I recommend to have Willie examined by the veterinarian to get a better idea of what is going on. If the doctor is worried about a tumor, he may need an amputation. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Thank you for providing pictures of your dog's penis! That is not normal at all, and he could have a severe infection or may have injured his penis. I'm very concerned by the appearance of it, especially the purplish bruised area. It looks very swollen, and in my opinion he needs veterinary care now. Please take him into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website.

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!