Answer

Thanks for the question XXXXX,

If your dog's penis is swollen, red, and his foreskin retracted then it could be a situation called paraphimosis. The usual problem is that he is unable to retract his foreskin because of an erection. The trapped foreskin then can prevent blood flow from the penis and more swelling will occur and the penis will stay protruded.

1. The first approach would be to lubricate the shaft of the penis using a lubricant gel if you have any or lots of soap and water if you do not and then gently try and retract the foreskin and return it to its normal position.

2. However if that does not not work there is another approach. Make up a warm saturated sugar solution and place the dog's penis in it if this is possible say using a large glass, otherwise just poultice the penis with the solution but saturate the whole area. This very often works because of an osmosis effect of the sugar will reduce the swelling, you have to do this for about twenty minutes but I have known this work so it is well worth a try.

3. If you cannot resolve the situation by the above common sense means then you should have your vet take a look, sooner rather than later before permanent damage occurs which is possible in some cases.

If I have not covered your question fully enough or you would like to ask more I will be online for the next hour or so and I will be at your disposal.

Scott Nimmo BVMS MRCVS