My dog licks his swollen penis when I leave. Is it separation anxiety?

Poor Brownie! Yes this looks inflammed and painful. I recommend using a cone to stop the excess licking of the area and taking him in for an exam of his penis and a urinalysis. He may have a urinary or prostate infection, or an infection in the sheath or on the penis. I don't want this to get worse and him to get dehydrated from not eating or drinking so please get an exam soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Brownie.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Diesel. I suspect that his skin of his prepuce is irritated from the recent grooming appointment. You can start by bathing that area with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner such as an oatmeal or fatty acid based formula to soothe the skin. You may need to place an E-collar on him to prevent any further licking. If these measures do not help, then he will need to see his veterinarian. I hope this information helps!

Max's penis is definitely irritated. Most importantly, make sure he is able to urinate normally. If he is straining to urinate or unable to produce urine or urinating blood , he may have a blocked bladder, and this is an emergency. Otherwise, continue to monitor him for signs of pain or discomfort. It may be a good idea to have a urine sample tested by your veterinarian to make sure he doesn't have a urinary tract infection or evidence of bladder stones.

Hi and thank you for your question on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! He may be licking himself near his genital area because he is painful near the area. Although it is hard to say exactly what the problem is without seeing Taco in person, I can offer a few possibilities: The redness near the tip of his penis may indicate a mass (tumor) or a urethral prolapse. Failure to retract the penis for a prolonged period of time (more than 15 mins), is an emergency and needs to be treated as soon as possible at a veterinary hospital. It is possible a mass or urethral prolapse is causing the penis to not retract fully and this can alter his ability to urinate normally which is a concern. A veterinarian will be able to examine Taco and make an accurate diagnosis and will be able to treat Taco accordingly. I hope this helps and I hope Taco can be seen soon and make a swift recovery!

Causes of licking the prepuce/penis area could be a urinary tract infection, crystals in the urine, stones in the urinary tract, or trauma to the area. It is important that you make an appointment to have Mako seen by your veterinarian as soon as you can to help determine the cause of his behaviour and to start treatment. If you notice him straining to urinate/unable to produce urine, this is a medical emergency and he should be seen by a vet immediately. I recommend you put an e-collar (cone) on him to help prevent him from biting/licking at the area as this may help reduce the risk of infection

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If the swelling is transient and goes away after a few moments this may be normal arousal in an unneutered male. However if it has lasted more than a few minutes I recommmend having Beethoven checked by a veterinarian. Prolonged swelling can be an emergency if it affects circulation to the penis.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The increased urination you describe could be due to a urinary tract infection, urinary stones, metabolic condition, a tumor, among other possibilities. I agree with you that if this is something relatively new, it may be due to a medical reason. I recommend that you have Opie evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Further diagnostics would include abdominal imaging and lab work. Treatment would be based on findings. Good luck and have a great day!