My puppy has a groin bulge that comes and goes. Is it a hernia?

This does look like it could be a hernia, although I cannot be 100% certain based on a picture. You can try to gently palpate the area and see if you are able to reduce the swelling by pushing it back in toward the abdominal cavity. If the swelling reduces easily then it is most likely a hernia. If it is firm or painful something else is probably going on. Hernias in young puppies can sometimes resolve on their own but sometimes will need surgery (but not until the pup is older). The danger in leaving a hernia untreated is that a portion of the intestine can become entrapped and lose blood supply. This is usually a life threatening situation. Since you are unable to take him to the vet now just try to keep a very close eye on the swelling. If it becomes firm or painful or if your puppy stops nursing or pooping he will need to be seen by your vet. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

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.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is difficult to say what Mouse's mass can be without seeing a photo. However, a small orange sized mass on a dog Mouse's size is considerably large and warrants a veterinary exam. The lump can be an enlarged lymph node, a mass, or a hernia. I recommend having Mouse seen by a vet as soon as possible - the mass may need to be removed, or a small sample taken to determine the exact cause. I hope this helps and that all is well with Mouse!

Thank you for contacting Pet Coach with your question about Cypress. I'm wondering if this bulge was toward the back of his penile shaft. If it was, then what you likely saw was his bulbourethral glands. These are normal structures of the penis, and they become enlarged when the dog is aroused. Even neutered dogs can become aroused. Given that this bulge is now gone and he's totally normal, that would be my suspicion. There's nothing to worry about here! I hope this helps!

I'm wondering if what you are describing are your dog's bulbourethral glands. These are glands on either side of the penis that can swell, and in a dog the size of Ollie they would appear about walnut-sized. This can happen even if a dog is neutered. If this is what you're seeing, the enlargement will fluctuate in size and at times will nearly disappear. If what you're seeing is more growth-like (and particularly if it's asymmetrical, rapidly growing, etc) then I would be more concerned about it being a possible mass, and would advise having it looked at by a vet. Hope that helps!

That gland is a normal occurrence when they get excited. When they calm down they go away and don’t swell. It is not painful for this process and they are firm to the touch. Getting him neutered will prevent this from happening in the future

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It does look like umbilical hernia. As long as it is not getting bigger, there is no danger for Gracie. Umbilical hernia rarely causes any problems to dogs, unless it is very large (it does not look large in Gracie). This hernia can be surgically repaired, it is usually done at the same time as neutering (during one surgery).