Strange Behaviour

[ktn]

My old boy (I'm only guessing his age is around 8-10 years) has been having an erection while pooping. Is this normal ageing behaviour? Most of the time I see um, an inch or so, but he has occasionally had the full thing come out. It goes right back after the poo.

It's been consistent so far, for over a month now since I noticed it. I don't think he's straining more than before, and poo is normal looking, I got him 2 years ago.

We've had an ultrasound before and his prostate is enlarged, but not to be alarmed about according to my vet.

[shantiah]

I had a dog do this many years ago. His prostate was very enlarged and he needed to be desexed

[persephone]

Is he actually getting an erection? If he is then the penis would NOT slip straight back into the sheath again...it would be very large and take time to get back to normal size.

What is possibly happening, and happens with a lot of dogs I know,both entire and desexed.. is that when they crouch and strain, the penis just slips forward a bit, and becomes visible for a minute or so... then retracts.

It happens frequently with Hamlet- he is desexed.

A dog's penis is normally not 'soft' as such, as it contains a bone.

[oakway]

Their has been a strong thought that it also can be connected with prostrate problems

when the penis slips forward while the dog is in a straining position.

I have seen this happen to young dogs also but it appears to be more prone to

older dogs.

[puggy_puggy]

Agress with 'persephone'.

ktn I don't believe your dog is having an erection whilst pooing. It is just that his penis is coming out of it's sheath whilst he is straining.

When I first read the title of this thread I was thinking enlarged prostate which is what you confirmed. Apart from drugs to try and reduce the enlargement you could add more veggies or even flaxseed oil to his diet to make his poo a little easier to come out.

[Jayman]

I have seen that in male dogs before, and also children (curiously). I guess it makes sense either way, straining pushes the penis out of its sheath and/or the movement of the stool past the prostate stimulates a slight erection (or engorgement may be more accurate). Sorry, don't know if it's a health concern in dogs but it's perfectly normal in boy children.

[persephone]

When working in kennels it happened frequently with young desexed dogs.. I would not have thought they all had prostate problems ?

[puggy_puggy]

When working in kennels it happened frequently with young desexed dogs.. I would not have thought they all had prostate problems ?

Yes I have seen it happen in young dogs, both desexed and undesexed. Whilst I think that an enlarged prostate adds to it I just think it happens if a dog is straining to much.

[ktn]

Thanks for feedback - i'll try adding more fibre in his diet for his 'engorgement issue' while he's straining.

Good idea to keep an eye of the prostate size - my vet didn't think it would be an issue, but i'll make sure it hasn't gotten any larger. He's desexed late in age.

When I did a quick googling i saw that it's happened to men before. Which is why I thought of ageing, where one can't control their bodily functions anymore.