Hi, I got home tonight and realized that my dog is licking at his 'sheath' and that's not normal for him. I looked and it is red, no lumps, bumps, swelling, or discharge. It just looks irritated, I have put a bit of Vaseline hoping it would deter the licking. Is this something that could be alarming?

Updated On December 7th, 2023

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Large (61lb +) | Male | neutered | 12 years and 6 months old | 87 lbs

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Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM

Veterinarian

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Hello, thank you for using PetCoach. Sorry Duke it having this issue. Typically a dog will constantly start licking a specific area if it is causing pain or discomfort. Remember, they cannot verbally tell us something is wrong so, often times, you have to go by their behaviors to tell you something is amiss. There may be something inside the prepuce (sheath) that is irritating, he could have a urinary tract issue/infection that is causing the licking, etc. The vet will need to check him penis, a urine sample and explore the prepuce. I do think you need to take him to your vet for an exam, however, I do not think it is an emergency. In the meantime though, you should put a cone collar on him to prevent the licking. Vaseline will not deter licking. ( https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/contech-procone-soft-recovery-collar-1558315 ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.

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