Why is my puppy bleeding from his penis on allergy steroids?

Hi there. Bleeding from the penis would not be expected as a typical side effect from any of these medications, so it's more likely that this is an unrelated problem. Bleeding from the penis in an intact male dog is often caused by benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), but could also be due to a number of other causes such as a bladder or prostate infection, bladder stones, an injury to the penis or urethra, or even a systemic bleeding disorder. Your veterinarian will likely examine his penis and prepuce (the sheath of skin that covers the penis) to check for any obvious abnormalities, and may recommend a urinalysis, x-rays and/or ultrasound of the bladder and prostate, or other testing if needed to help diagnose the problem. Costs will vary quite a bit depending on where you live and what clinic you go to, so I can't really give a knowledgeable answer for what prices are like in your area. But, your veterinarian should be able to give you a detailed estimate for any recommended testing after the initial exam.

Bleeding from the penis indicates a serious problem. In an unneutered dog, it could be a prostate infection, enlargement, or tumor. Some other possibilities include a urinary tract infection, bladder stones, or a systemic bleeding problem (coagulopathy). I suspect that his paw biting is unrelated and may be due to allergies or a hot spot, but he should definitely be seen by a veterinarian to determine the cause of both issues and come up with a good treatment plan. Best of luck!

IF the blood in the urine started after he was put on steroids then a UTI is the most likely cause (steroids reduces the immune system increasing the risk of infections in general.), your vet should start him on a course of antibiotics ASAP. your vet should also check Ceaser's prostate, as a prostate disease can also be the cause of bleeding from the penis.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Lucky and for providing pictures, they are very helpful. His penis does look a bit red and irritated. It may be worth getting checked out by a vet to be safe. I'd take him into a vet today. Best of luck.

I see that your dog is not neutered - I'm not sure how old he is, but in middle-aged or older unneutered males it is common to see blood dripping from the penis as a symptom of an [enlarged prostate](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/prostate-enlargement/). That is normally the first thing that I would check out in a dog with this problem. Other possible causes include an injury or tumor on the penis or the penile sheath, a bladder or prostate infection, bladder stones, kidney disease, or even a systemic bleeding disorder. I would recommend taking him to a vet for an exam - they will probably want to collect a urine sample for testing, check his prostate during a rectal exam, and examine his penis closely outside the sheath to look for any problems. From there, x-rays and ultrasound can be used to look at the prostate, if needed. If the problem is due to prostatic enlargement, this can normally be improved with [neutering](https://www.petcoach.co/article/benefits-of-neutering-castrating-male-dogs-puppies/) and does not typically cause any long-term problems.

It looks like Spanky might have a urethral prolapse in your picture. I would recommend having him examined by a veterinarian right away since the prolapsed tissue could become damaged and it could affect his ability to urinate normally. A veterinarian might place some suture around the penis if they are able to reduce the prolapse, but other times more in-depth surgery is needed.

Blood from the penis can be a result of a urinarh tract infection, prostate issue, bladder stones, or trauma. I recommend having Nemo examined by a veterinarian and having a urine sample checked to see if an infection is present. He may need X-rays to rule out a bladder stone. It would be best to have him examined as soon as possible as these issues can progress quickly. He may need a prescription medication like an antibiotic to treat the underlying issue. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and I hope Nemo is feeling better soon!