Why are my dog’s balls red and raw after neutering?
The simple answer is that he’s got a skin irritation caused by the rough manipulation of a very delicate area, not to mention a reaction to the substances used during the surgery. Neutering only requires a small incision but it’s usually enough to cause the dog’s balls to become red and raw.
However, you should monitor your dog closely over the next few days, as he might develop an infection at the site of the incision. Your vet probably fitted your pet with a cone to keep him from licking himself, but you cannot prevent the dog from lying down on the floor or outside in the dirt and some pathogen might enter the skin.
Why are my dog’s balls red and dry?
Dryness of the skin is commonly associated with cold weather, but it might also be a sign of skin irritation.
If the sensitive skin on your dog’s scrotum becomes dry, you can try applying some aloe vera, coconut oil or vaseline. None of these substances are toxic to dogs so it won’t be a problem if the dog licks himself. If the scrotal skin is well moisturized, the peeling or flaking will disappear in a couple of days,
Your dog’s skin irritation might also be caused by an allergic reaction. For instance, if the dog takes a nap in the garden and your lawn was recently treated with pesticides, the contact with those substances might cause an allergic reaction. Skin rashes are the most common symptom of an allergy. If there are no other worrying symptoms, you can relieve the itchiness by giving your dog a bath with a hypoallergenic shampoo.
What Causes A Dog’s Balls To Be Red?
We’ve already mentioned the most common – and most benign – reasons why a dog’s testicles might be red. However, there are a few other, more severe reasons behind this.
No matter what’s causing your dog’s balls to be red, this is certainly an indication of some sort of discomfort.
The most common causes of red balls in dogs are:
Why Are My Dog s Balls Red? | DogVela
A dogs nether region is usually not the first place people look when hes not feeling well, but its as integral a part of his furry body as any other. Even if your male dog has been neutered, it pays to pay attention to changes in his genital area.
We cant count on our best friend to speak up when hes hurting down there. Its up to us to notice a problem. If you brush your dog, make checking his genitals part of your routine as you brush his rear end and back legs. A belly rub session is also a good time to take a look.
Check for scrapes, cuts, scratches, redness, and swelling. Notice if hes licking himself a lot. If he has genital pain, he may even refuse to walk or eat. If you notice any of this, see if hes running a fever.
The only sure way to know if your dog has a fever is to take his temperature rectally. A dogs normal temperature ranges from 99.5 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
If youre uncomfortable taking your dogs temperature, look for signs that he may be running a fever. They include a hot and dry nose, very warm ears, shivering, lethargy, and not eating.
The scrotum is the pouch of skin that contains the testes, a male dogs two reproductive glands. The skin of the scrotum is thin, hairless, and devoid of fat. It helps to regulate the temperature of the testes by carrying them away from your dogs tummy, where the temperature is several degrees higher. The scrotum can also contract when its cold in order to keep your dogs testicles close and warm.
Scrotal skin can become irritated or injured just like any other skin on your dogs body. Mild inflammation, rashes, and minor cuts or scrapes on the scrotum can be treated the same as you would if they were anywhere else. Soothing aloe vera, antibiotic ointment, or a product containing hypochlorous acid like Vetricyn can be used. However, if your dogs scrotum looks unusually swollen or discolored or if he appears to be in pain and/or is running a fever, its time to get him to the vet.
If your dog is not neutered, a swollen scrotum can indicate that his testes are inflamed. Suddenly inflamed testes are most often caused by direct trauma, but infections and viruses like distemper can also be the cause.
In a neutered dog, a swollen scrotum is also usually the result of trauma, but if youve recently had him neutered, know that its not uncommon for the scrotum to swell after neuter surgery. The swelling can look like he has enormous testicles. You may wonder if the vet actually did the surgery properly, but dont worry.
When your male dog is neutered, the vet makes a small incision in the scrotum and removes each testicle. Post-op swelling is a collection of fluid and clotting and is a normal response to the surgery. It starts to subside in a few days. The scrotum should look normal again in seven to 10 days. If it doesnt, have your vet take a look. Over time, an empty scrotum will shrink in size, and the skin will become wrinkled. This too is normal.
Most dogs scrotums are greyish in color regardless of the skin color on the rest of their bodies. Some are darker, even black. You might see pink spots on the scrotum, especially in a young dog. Minus any other symptoms, these colors and minor color changes are no cause for alarm. However, there is one exceptionâred is not OK.
If your dogs balls are red, this can mean he has an infection. Do not try to treat an infection yourself. Get him to a vet. In addition to the probability of infection, a red scrotum can also be caused by an inflammation of the bladder, a scrotal hernia, or testicular torsion.
Testicular torsion happens when one or both testes in an unneutered male dog twist. It can block blood flow and is very painful. Testicular torsion warrants an emergency trip to your vet or nearest pet emergency clinic.
Always check with your veterinarian before changing your petâs diet, medication, or physical activity routines. This information is not a substitute for a vetâs opinion.