Embarrassing but must ask - yorkie penis problem!
 

Up late with my 19 mo. old male Lil Bit. He is 4 1/2 #'s and is not feeling too well. He has been restless and I got up and noticed his lymph nodes in his neck were swollen. He is still restless, so I stayed up and posted a question on the sick forum. While waiting to see if anyone is up this late, I decided to ask about another problem he has had. I noticed that he was very timid one day, hiding and moving very strangely. I picked him up and looked him over. I found that on the right side(looking at his privates) there was a huge bulge going down to and including his right testicle, which was also extremely large. How could such a small dog have such a large male organ?? :eek: I immediately called my vet and was told his penis "locked" inside the skin. I laid him on my lap and just gently rubbed his tummy and bulging abdominal area. It did go back to normal within the hour. Yes, an hour! This has happened several times since then. I was told not to worry by my vet, but really.. is this normal??? He is very uncomfortable when this happens and shakes and is so pitiful. Would laugh at the size of him and his predicament except he does seem to hurt so! Sorry for such an odd question..searched the archives but did not find anything similar asked before! Would appreciate any info.

I hate to hear he is in pain and I really don't know what to say. Maybe if you call another vet for a second opinion, it couldn't hurt.

I've never had that happen to one of mine. If it's happened several times and is making him uncomfortable I would recommend taking him for a second opinion.

I never heard about that before, maybe you should seek for a second opinion, I think it's something serious, it's not normal.

So he is not neutered~correct?

Having an erection in a male is not uncommon and Bogey who has been neutered for 2 years will still have small erections when he plays with Doodlebug. We even humps the air and that is when I step in and stop them.

Are you sure that the lymph nodes are swollen or is that just a guess? Swollen lymph nodes could mean so many different things and you really need to speak to your vet about this concern.

Let me see if I could find the infamous lipstick thread.

Here you go:

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sic...-lipstick.html

My maltese, Casper, was neutered but he still had this one stuffed bunny that he liked. (Loved). Anyway, he would get himself in the same condition, maybe once every few weeks or so and it would take a while to go down. He would lick himself and have trouble walking; all the things you describe. After about half or so, he would be back to his old normal self.

It drove my mother INSANE, which is probably why I allowed him to continue. Plus, he REALLY liked that bunny.

Good Luck!

hahahaha!!!

Too funny!

Embarrassing problem..
 

Yes, correct. He is not neutered. The "lipstick" question I did read, but the problem differed as my Lil Bit's "color" does not come out of the tube when this problem happens. He does hump occasionally, but not accesive. (I did have a yorkie years ago that humped anything-always!) I do keep him clean and trimmed on his privates and have looked for stuck hair.. He was restless most of the night, but this morning his neck glands were not swollen!? Was wondering if allergies? A big cold front did blow in yesterday, and as I live on an island in S. Texas, we have very little pollen here. North winds do blow in pollens from Central Texas and bother many people. My Lil Bit did eat his breakfast (in this picky manner he has when not too hungry) and has been a bit sleepy today, but he(lol-we) did not sleep well last night. The embarrassing bulge problem has happened 5 times in the past 6 months, but never after seeing him hump. I really like my vet. Have taken all my yorkies to him over many years, but he is human and it is impossible for anyone to know everything! He did however seem to know what I was talking about and knew what - but not why this was happening.. Second opinion sounds pretty reasonable. Most of us Yorkie parents are very vigilant at staying on top of their health. They are so small and can be so fragil. The "over worrying" most think I have do not understand how quickly a little one can go from "just not himself" to serious - or realize how much we love with these beautiful spirited babies! I plan on getting my Lil Bit a check up tomorrow - just in case there are other lymph nodes swollen that I am not aware of. I will also research to find a vet to get a second opinion on his "battle of the bulge." There is only one here on the island - which is not the vet I use, so I must search elsewhere. Thanks to all. So nice to chat with others that have a real understanding of loving and caring for such a tiny pet that always becomes a family member! Once again, thank you all.

funny!

Have you had him checked for an inguinal hernia? A unilateral bulge that went back down with some rubbing would suggest to me this is something to look for. You also said he shakes and shivers when this happens, which could be an indicator of pain. I would photograph it the next time it happens and show your vet. If he has one, he could be at risk for strangulation.

Brilliant point. This makes perfect sense when applied to the OP's description of the problem. Here is a link to the condition:

Inguinal Hernia in Dogs

This also makes sense to me after reading that page about inguinal hernia. I'd go for a second opinion right away.

Like Megansmomma says, it happens. Kaji was neutered over a year ago and he has all the "symptoms" you are describing. Really, I would say it's 100% normal. If your uncomfortable or not convinced, ask your vet. I wouldn't say it happens with Kaji all the time, but it has happened frequent enough that I know he's just excited. His penis doesn't come out of the shaft but it is swollen (for lack of a better word). When he tries to walk and his penis is in that state, he walks like a cowboy that has been on his horse for way too long. Think of it this way, if you had something swelling in between your legs, would you be walking normally? Sure they're uncomfortable, but what can you do? It's part of having a boy, especially an un-neutered one.

Oh and the problem with the hair being stuck wouldn't cause his penis to swell. That problem presents itself when the penis is out of the shaft exposed and is having problem going back in. That's when you check to see if any hair is in the way making it hard for the penis to slip back in.

I have never in my life typed the word penis so much. I'm starting to feel dirty. :p

LOL. Some of these threads should really come with a Parental Advisory warning. :D

Embarrassing problem..thanks for the replies!
 

Thank you YT members! Will check out the link now! My Lil Bit is a frail baby. Has been sicky since the day I received him as a gift from my son. He bought him for me to try and make me feel better over the loss of my first Yorkie, Harley Joe. Upon his arrival, he seemed ill. My son thought he was scared and said he got very car sick. (Which he still does every single time, despite trying many things vet recommended.) The next day I rushed my new baby to the vet. Pneumonia.. It took 4 weeks and much care to nurse him to a healthy state. Did make me wonder if previous owner fibbed about why selling this tiny 6 month old sweetie.. Next we found he had liver shunts. Again, massive vet bills (but he IS family!) and is doing well again. Now, this "bulge" and yesterday and today, swollen lymph glands in neck. Vet again tomorrow to check this out. Maybe your link will give me more info to give my vet about his "private" problem. Once heard this saying, "God only gives special babies to special families." I am sure God knew I would take special care of my new baby! Again, thank you all.

Oh my that made me laugh out loud. You are so BAD!

I have had males for years and never had any penis problems. I would recommend next time it gets like that call around and see if you can find a vet that will look at him before it goes down.

Are both testicles the same size?

Same here. If he is in pain, I would never say it's "normal". I would get another vet's opinion.

I had an appointment for a check up for my Lil Bit today, but vet is still out with the flu.. Thankfully, neck glands (lymph nodes I are not swollen today-which is why I was taking him in. I did plan on asking him to check out the "bulge" problem again. The hernia suggestion was something I wanted him to check for also. The "bulge" has happened about once a month over the past 5 months. I am too far from a vet to get to one before it goes down, but the suggestion of taking a picture was a good idea. Yes, his testicles are normal and same size until the "bulge" problem. The bulge is always on his right side(looking at his privates when he is on his back) and it always extends from about 1/4 down from tip of privates all the way down to right testicle. The right testicle is then very hard, swollen, and elongated - as in not side to side, but swollen looking more long from up to down. I thank you all and will post when able to vet appt. In the mean time, I am researching for another vet to get a second opinion. I live so far from any vet, mine is 45 min away, as living on the island, ferry is slow. I have called a few vets, but such small towns in surrounding area and none so far have seemed to think they need to examine him to give second opinion, as they tell me my vet is very good. I agree - I wouldn't change vets, just thought the second opinion would not hurt. Going to try a larger city farther away. Hate to wish for my baby to have any pain, but I do wish I had a picture of what was going on to show exactly what's going on.

The only experience I've had with swollen lymph nodes was in a nine year old Italian Greyhound. I noticed the glands under her neck where swollen, and they didn't go down the next day. She was diagnosed with lymphoma. I lost her after two years of chemo.

So the bulge isn't on both sides at the base of his penis? That sounds different from what I initially thought you described. What I was trying to describe is when they have, like your vet said, locked inside the skin. There is a bulge on either side of the base of the penis and the penis is swelled up. Not exposed, but swelled inside that sleeve of skin.

There I go being dirty again. :rolleyes:

You are constantly impressing me with your attention to detail and sleuthing out potential problems. If not THE problem at least one that needs considered seriously by the vet. I think maybe you missed your calling! The vet community could use a mind like yours! Diagnosticians are hard to come by! I find myself saying, "Aha!" and "Yes!" a lot when I read your posts. I am glad you are here to provide insight. I am willing to bet you have helped a great many pups -- probably a lot more than you know. Just reading your posts is an educational experience for many! Just want to say THANKS!

Update to embarrassing problem..
 

Not sure if I this is repeated..new computer, please excuse if repeated. Finally got in to see the vet. Lymph nodes are fine.. Swelling was off and on, but he tested him anyway. All good! No hernia, but still unsure what causes this problem. I appreciate the replies and wanted to update. Thank you all, I learn so much on YT!