Four penile and preputial problems turn up again and again in male dogs: balanoposthitis (inflamed penis and prepuce), phimosis (the penis cannot come out), paraphimosis (it cannot go back in) and priapism (a persistent erection). They look alike to owners but differ in urgency and treatment, and the NAVLE expects you to tell a trapped flaccid penis from an erect one at a glance.
Key facts
Penile disorders (balanoposthitis, paraphimosis, priapism, phimosis) at a glance- Species and system: male dogs (also cats); reproductive and lower urinary tract.
- Balanoposthitis: excessive, often mucopurulent preputial discharge and licking; usually secondary to another problem. A small amount of mucoid discharge is normal in mature dogs.
- Phimosis: preputial orifice too small for the penis to be extruded; often found when a stud cannot breed.
- Paraphimosis: the penis cannot be fully retracted into the prepuce; most often after manual semen collection. Swelling and drying worsen with time, so treat promptly.
- Priapism: persistent erection without sexual stimulation (over 4 hours in the usual definition); nonischemic is more common in dogs, ischemic is the emergency.
- Zoonotic or reportable: no. Consider Brucella canis in any breeding male with genital disease (orchitis, epididymitis), though it is not a classic cause of these four problems.
What's inside
13 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Functional anatomy you need
- Balanoposthitis
- Phimosis
- Paraphimosis
- Priapism
- Differential diagnoses
- Prevention
- Prognosis
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 7 tables, 3 figures, 3 self-test questions and 19 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
The full guide is part of every NAVLE plan, with diagnosis and treatment tables, figures, a quick review and self-test questions. Start a free trial to try the question bank, or log in if you are already a member.