dog sheath cleaning?!?!

[Pleased_as_Punch]

Tonight i noticed a funky smell coming from my elderly dog. I thought anal glands at first but upon examination he had thick discharge coming from his penis! It’s different from the occasional small drop of goo you sometimes see at the end of their weiner. This was very thick with a definite odor, though not one that definitely smells like an infection.

So I put him in the tub and tried to gently express it. Dog didn’t seem very distressed by that and i hope i got it all. The vet is closed so I thought I’d ask COTH: is this just a smega build up? Have I missed the memo that dogs need their sheaths cleaned too?

[S1969]

I will start with the fact that I am no expert…but having had 3 male dogs in the last 17 years; 1st unneutered his entire life (to 14); 2nd neutered and currently 12; and 3rd unneutered and 4 years old…I have never experienced anything like what you are describing. Furthermore, I have never heard of a dog needing a sheath cleaning.

So I believe that your dog has some sort of infection, and needs a vet visit as soon as they reopen. Good luck.

[Jhein12]

As a groomer, as long as they are getting a sanitary trim and have no infections all should be good. I have NEVER heard of “expressing” their penis. I would suspect infection or buildup due to hair not properly being cleared off of the area if you have a dog with longer hair. But to me this sounds like an infection, especially if there is an odor.

[clarzoo]

I don’t usually post, but saw this and decided to share my experience.

I just lost my older dog last month. But in the last year or so before his passing I had this issue with him. Now, I will state that he had a ureothstomy, which means he did not urinate out of his penis, but out of a different opening created by surgery. I suspect this contributed to his problem as his penis did not get used for urination.

He did develop a thick, yellow (opaque, not clear) discharge. I was able to express it a bit, and like your guy mine didn’t seem painful or irritated by it, though he would lick the area a bit.

My vet put him on a round of antibiotics and checked his penis to make sure it hadn’t become necrotic. It reoccured once again. After that the vet had me flush his sheath weekly with a week iodine and water solution (like 60+ cc’s) and it kept it clean enough that I didn’t have to worry about him needing antibiotics.

So check with your vet for sure!