My dog's penis is black and he's itching it. Should I see a vet?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

Without being able to perform a close physical exam or view an image, it's hard to say for sure what these might be. Some dogs will have black skin pigmentation in this area that can appear as black specks, especially if they have a history of allergies or itching in this area. I would recommend having this examined by a vet to be safe - it may not be anything concerning, but it may also be a skin infection of some kind or even early signs of a skin tumor such as a [melanoma](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/malignant-melanoma/). Your vet can take a look and let you know if it is a cause for concern or not.

If you look at it closely, you should be able to see legs if it is a tick. I cannot tell because when I enlarge the photo it gets too blurry. The other options as to what it could be is a cyst or a tumor. I really think you need to have him to your vet for an exam. It is better to be safe than sorry. I can appreciate your financial constraints but maybe you can get assistance from one of these organizations: ( https://www.dogingtonpost.com/need-help-with-vet-bills-or-pet-food-there-are-resources-available/ ) Since you did not post your accurate location I cannot help you in finding a low cost vet clinic. You can a do a search online yourself or call your local Humane Society as they often know of the more affordable clinics in your specific area.

Unfortunately it is a little difficult to tell exactly what is going on without being able to examine Bear in person, but I am concerned that this looks like severe bruising and potentially even necrosis of the skin of the prepuce. Something like this could happen secondary to trauma, or potentially an infection or spider or snake bite. Even though Bear is in pain I think he really needs to be seen by a veterinarian - he may require sedation for something like surgery or antibiotics. If there is necrosis of the skin it could progress quickly. If you are worried about moving him you could use a large blanket to lift him into your car. You may want to use a muzzle if he is extremely painful and you are worried he may try to bite when moved due to pain. Good luck!

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

Something is definitely bothering him back there. This is often a problem with the anal sacs. These can become full, or infected; which is painful and can cause a dog to act like what you are describing. Since he is not neutered, it's also possible that he is having a prostate gland issue. I recommend taking Tonka to the vet for an exam. They can easily check for these issues in the exam room and will be able to provide the appropriate treatment. I hope that helps and Tonka gets better soon.

It sounds like he could have a bacterial skin infection and may need an antibiotic. Have your vet take a look at him to determine the cause and prescribe medications to treat. He may need an antibiotic, anti-histamine, and/or corticosteroid to help. You could aslo bathe him with a medicated dog shampoo, like Epi-soothe, to see if that helps.