pus on tip of penis

Hi Jose Maria,

A small amount of discharge from the penis is quite normal providing it is a creamy colour as this is called smegma, and is produced as a combination of discharge from the prostate as well as exudate from glands at the tip of the penis and from the skin cells under the foreskin. It is not unusual for this to start with male greyhounds around the 8 to 9 months of age as that is the age when hormone levels start to increase and this part of the body becomes more active.

It is only when this discharge becomes a pale green colour that an infection under the foreskin should be suspected. In some instances if an infection is present in this area and it is one that causes itching, it is highly likely that the discharge could be tinged with blood as the dog will worry at the area and do damage in the process.

In some situations where this part of the animals welfare has been neglected, the infection can become severe enough that the discharge produced by the infection will adhere to the inside of the dogs hind legs and there cause a staphylococci skin infection that can leave peeling skin and small weepy blisters.

Treatments:
In most instances an infection under the sheath can be cleared easily by flushing this area with a weak Betadine antiseptic liquid solution of one teaspoon of betadine to half a cup of lukewarm water.

Method:
Using a 5 ml syringe without a needle, the tip of the syringe is placed just in the front of the penis and the foreskin pulled over the very small end of the syringe and held so that the skin forms a seal around the syringe.

The solution is slowly injected under the foreskin, and after removing the syringe but holding the end of the foreskin closed as best as possible, the solution is then guided towards the origin of the penis at which point the foreskin is no longer held closed at the tip, and the solution is allowed to run out.

This procedure is repeated twice more and in the process flushes out the exudate accumulated under the foreskin.

Repeat this treatment daily for 4 days after which on day 5 instead of the betadine solution 1 ml of baby oil is injected and spread under the foreskin to lubricate the area and reduce the chance of the problem reoccurring quickly.

If there is a skin infection present high on the inside of the hind limb this is best treated by three times daily applications of undiluted betadine antiseptic solution until it has been clear for three days.

Cheers,
Tom