Can dogs get blue balls or epididymal hypertension as it’s also known? Blue balls are a medical condition associated with humans where male genitals develop a bluish hue due to increased blood flow. This condition is common when males experience extended arousal without releasing it, causing discomfort and pain in their testicles. But what about animals, do they experience it too.
Technically dogs can’t get blue balls. Since dogs have different physiology to their sexual erection than humans, blue balls due to extended arousal are not viable. However, medical conditions, such as testicular infection and torsion, can cause discoloration, leading to the assumption that your dog has blue balls.
These testicular conditions can cause problems for your dog, and it would be best to treat these issues early. This article will help you understand the causes, symptoms, and treatment options of these medical conditions.
Can Dogs Get Blue Balls – Everything You Should Know!
So without further ado, let’s get started.
Why Do Dogs Develop Blue Balls?
Dogs can develop purple, red, or blue discoloration on their balls primarily due to two specific reasons – testicular torsion and infection. While the testicular infection is not a serious issue and may require minimal medical attention, testicular torsion might require aggressive medical management by professionals.
However, you can manage testicular torsion in dogs by taking proper and scheduled veterinary care. These conditions are preventable, and the best way to counter them is to look for symptoms and identify underlying causes.
Testicular Infection and Blue Balls
Testicular infection or orchitis is an inflammatory condition that affects your dog’s testicles. This medical condition can be unilateral or bilateral, depending upon the number of affected testicles.
Orchitis is a bacteria-borne condition where bacteria enter the testicles via prostatic secretions, blood, or urine. However, other pathogens and viruses are also responsible for the condition, including canine distemper virus or viruses breeding on ticks.
Furthermore, fungal infections may also cause testicular infections. Your fur friend may develop fungal infections since exploring gardens and yards is common dog behavior.
Testicular Infection Symptoms
Testicular infection is preventable, but only if you spot it early. A dog having this medical condition will exhibit specific symptoms, which will help you to diagnose the condition at the earliest.
Here are the symptoms associated with testicular infection:
- Dullness or inactivity
- Pain
- Fever
- Appetite loss
- Swollen testicles
- Testes discoloration
Diagnosis
Testicular infection diagnosis involves a physical inspection of the testicles and various diagnostic procedures. A veterinary expert will run various tests to determine the complexity and treatment options for the medical condition.
Here are the procedures used in testicular infection diagnosis:
- The vet will analyze and determine whether your dog’s urine and blood contain any pathogen or bacteria.
- B. Canis is one of the most common infections in dogs, so vets perform Brucella Canis serum tests before using other procedures.
- Since testicular infection can be unilateral or bilateral, doctors need to determine the scale of infection. Ultrasonography and scrotal radiographs are the perfect methods for this job.
- Cytology and testicular aspirate, involving syringe insertion, help doctors analyze an aspirate from your dog’s testes. This process helps vets to understand the problem and provide better treatment.
- Vets also perform a biopsy if they have doubts about the infection. For instance, doctors will remove tissue and examine it to determine the root cause of the infection. This procedure helps the doctor provide the right treatment option for your dog.
How Do You Treat Testicular Infection in Dogs?
The treatment options depend on the severity and condition of the infection where doctors might even consider hospitalization. Thankfully, antibiotic therapy is enough for most cases, preventing extensive medical procedures for your fur friend.
Since exploration is common dog behavior, fungal infections are common as well. Antifungal medications can help reduce fungal infections and aid the recovery process.
Vets perform various testing during the diagnosis period to determine the best antibiotics for your dog’s testicular infection. These tests also help them identify the pathogen type and which medication will ensure a quicker recovery. Additionally, stimulant or non-stimulant anti-inflammatory drugs can help reduce swelling and decrease inflammation.
Although these treatment options are effective in most cases, sometimes they can fail to provide a complete solution. In such cases, neutering your dog will significantly decrease treatment periods and prevent future infections. Besides, fungal infections can be contagious or spread to internal organs like the bladder and prostate.
In short, neutering is an effective way of keeping your dog safe from testicular infections and is undoubtedly worth considering.
Testicular Torsion and Blue Balls
Unlike testicular infection that requires minimal medication, testicular torsion is a serious issue. Testicular torsion requires aggressive medical attention and management and the treatment plan involves surgical correction.
So, how severe is testicular torsion? This condition develops when your dog’s testes rotate and twist around the bundle of blood vessels, ducts, and nerves known as the spermatic cord. The rotation hinders the blood supply, leading to extreme pain and discoloration.
Testicular Torsion Symptoms
Besides extreme pain and discoloration, your fur friend may exhibit various clinical signs for testicular torsion. These symptoms include:
- Vomiting
- Dullness and inactivity
- Lack of interest
- Appetite loss
- Increased body temperature
- Hesitance to walk or stand
- Gonad discoloration
- Scrotal and abdominal pain
- Swollen testes
- Shock
It would be best to seek professional help and veterinary assistance to resolve this issue if you witness any of these symptoms in your dog.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of testicular torsion is similar to most medical procedures and involves a complete physical examination. The vet will inspect the affected area and determine the following procedures, depending on the complexity and severity of the issue.
Here are the approaches followed by vets to diagnose testicular torsion.
- Blood analysis – Vets analyze blood samples to determine the biochemistry profile and blood count. This analysis helps vets evaluate the infection and determine whether the dog is healthy for surgical treatment.
- Ultrasonography and scrotal radiographs – These reports help the vet identify the affected area and determine the severity and complexity of the problem.
- Urinalysis – Vets inspect the urinary tract to identify crystals or infections to determine your dog’s health profile.
How Do You Treat Testicular Torsion in Dogs?
As we mentioned earlier, testicular torsion is more severe than testicular infections and will require surgical correction. After performing a detailed diagnosis, vets will evaluate whether the dog can anesthetize. If the dog is weak, vets can advise resting your dog before the procedure.
The treatment begins with vets anesthetizing the dog and performing the surgery to correct the twist. Since the spermatic cord is a delicate area, vets must ensure that they get everything right.
However, if the vet finds significant tissue damage, he may remove one or both the testicles to stop the infection from spreading to other sensitive organs. Once the procedure is over, you can give pain killers and antibiotics to your cuddly fur to fight the pain.
Is surgery the only option? Although surgery remains the top option for veterinarians to treat testicular torsion, manual repositioning may be possible in some cases. However, you will have to detect this medical condition early to perform a manual reposition.
In short, keeping a close eye on testicular torsion symptoms can help your dog to stay out of the surgical procedure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can dogs experience testicular torsion even after surgery?
Testicular torsion can become your dog’s worst nightmare, as it tends to reoccur. Once a dog develops this condition, it may experience it again, which can cause concerns.
So what can we do? The best solution would be to take proper care of your dog and neuter him under anesthesia. Additionally, you can look out for testicular torsion symptoms to avoid the condition from becoming severe.
Can you treat your dog’s testicular conditions at home?
Although testicular conditions like infection may require minimal medication, you will have to take your dog to a vet for proper examination and prescription. Vets conduct a thorough physical examination and determine the ideal antibiotic for the job.
Testicular torsion is a serious condition and requires aggressive medical management that might even lead to the removal of both balls.
Why do dogs develop red balls?
Red balls are the aftermath of cuts, rashes, or mild inflammation, which can occur for multiple reasons. You can consult a veterinary expert or apply antibiotic ointment or aloe vera to treat the condition.
Why do dogs develop purple balls?
A dog’s scrotum can have different colors and can have colors like black, grey, purple, or even pink. While purple balls are okay, dark purple balls may signify testicular torsion. It would be best to consult a veterinary expert if your dog has dark purple balls.
Final Thought
Testicular conditions may occur in every dog’s life once, so neutering your dog becomes crucial. While you can treat testicular conditions like infections with minimal medication, other severe concerns like testicular torsion may require urgent medical attention.
If you notice discoloration or other unusual formations in your dog’s testes, it would be best to seek professional help to sort the issue. Additionally, check for clinical signs and other symptoms to identify testicular conditions early.
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