Let’s Talk About Dog Lipstick — a.k.a. the Dog Penis

Dog lipstick has a singular, and barely ironic, skill to spoil the temper. Imagine assembly a happy-go-lucky, tail-wagging canine who rolls over onto his again for a stomach rub from his new finest pal (that’s you). When this specific canine exposes his stomach, nevertheless, you get an eyeful, and it’s not simply his stomach that you simply see. Also on view is a moist, pink, fleshy, and — should you’re share the opinion of most individuals — disgusting protuberance, a.okay.a. his canine penis. Again, should you’re like most individuals, you’ll lose the need to provide that canine a stomach rub.

Dog Lipstick, Dog Red Rocket and Dog Penis — Are They All the Same Thing?

That protuberance “within the space of the penis” goes by various names. “Dog lipstick” and “crimson rocket” are two widespread colloquialisms. But the precise, applicable title for the protuberance is: canine penis.

To perceive canine lipstick you will need to first know a bit about doggie anatomy. That benign, evenly hair-coated appendage in your canine’s underside that you might have thought was his canine penis shouldn’t be, in reality, his penis. It’s his prepuce. The prepuce is a sheath that protects the canine penis from trauma on a day-to-day foundation (it additionally protects our eyes from the sight of the penis).

The canine penis itself — or what some folks name the canine lipstick — is pink, moist and fleshy. Most folks don’t just like the sight of it. To add insult to harm, a small quantity of nasty yellow fluid known as smegma (the title of the fluid principally quantities to onomatopoeia) normally coats the penis itself.

Why, Then, Do Some Dogs But Not Others Frequently Show Off Their “Lipstick?”

A variety of issues may cause that canine lipstick to emerge from the prepuce. The first is arousal, and never simply that sort of arousal. In drugs, arousal refers to any type of pleasure in any respect, similar to may happen when a canine meets a brand new individual. Dogs experiencing normal arousal could, in flip, develop just a bit little bit of the opposite sort of arousal. In different phrases, excited canines typically develop slight erections. Erections trigger this canine lipstick to emerge. The canine lipstick phenomenon is extra widespread in however is on no account restricted to un-neutered canines.

Other canine lipstick sightings happen as a result of innocent (to the canine) anatomical anomalies. A measurement mismatch between penis and prepuce, or a canine penis that’s susceptible to “sagging” out of the prepuce could result in frequent canine lipstick sightings. I’ve identified just a few canines whose penises by no means totally match into their prepuces and had been due to this fact perpetually on view. These canines skilled chronically dry penises however got here to no vital hurt.

What Should You Do About a Dog Lipstick That’s Been Out for an Extended Amount of Time?

Although most individuals don’t like canine lipstick sightings, most cases by which the canine penis is briefly seen will not be dangerous to the canine concerned. There is, nevertheless, an exception. The exception is a situation known as paraphimosis.

Paraphimosis is a pathological extrusion of the canine penis from the prepuce. If the penis turns into entrapped outdoors of the prepuce it could swell. Pain and tissue harm — doubtlessly extreme tissue harm — may result. Paraphimosis is a veterinary emergency.

Paraphimosis usually has an look that’s extra dramatic than mere canine lipstick. A big portion of the canine penis usually will likely be seen. It will probably seem visibly swollen, and could also be purple somewhat than pink (these are indicators of insufficient blood move). The affected canine could seem uncomfortable and should try and groom himself “down there” excessively.

Paraphimosis most ceaselessly happens because of sexual exercise. Misdirected sexual exercise, similar to a canine humping a leg or an inanimate object, causes paraphimosis extra generally than true sexual exercise. Because un-neutered canines usually tend to have interaction on this habits, they’re extra more likely to undergo from paraphimosis. However, the syndrome is on no account restricted to them.

Here is the situation by which paraphimosis most ceaselessly happens. A canine engages in misdirected sexual exercise, inflicting the penis to emerge from the prepuce. The prepuce usually has a skinny coat of hair. The hair on the tip of the prepuce can clog the opening of the prepuce, stopping the penis from correctly retracting after the exercise is over. Swelling, ache and different signs then begin.

How to Treat Paraphimosis

Strong-stomached homeowners can try and deal with paraphimosis at residence. A water-based private lubricant similar to Ok-Y Jelly is utilized to the penis, the hair on the tip of the prepuce is gently extracted from the opening, and the penis is re-inserted into the prepuce. Avoid utilizing unique private lubricants that trigger heat or tingling sensations.

Some canines with paraphimosis will likely be in an excessive amount of ache to tolerate residence therapy. Others will undergo from paraphimosis that’s too extreme to be addressed at residence. These canines, or canines owned by extra squeamish folks, ought to obtain veterinary consideration as quickly as attainable (though it’s nonetheless a good suggestion to use lubricant to the penis to forestall it from drying out). They usually require sedation and even normal anesthesia for the penis to get replaced. After I deal with paraphimosis I normally trim the hair from the tip of the prepuce to cut back the danger of recurrence; given the delicate nature of the location, it is a activity that solely an skilled skilled ought to try.

The backside line on canine lipstick

Dog lipstick is unpleasant however normally innocent. Be conscious, nevertheless, that in some cases canine lipstick sightings could also be an indication of a major problem.

Thumbnail: Photography ©Ksenia Raykova/Thinkstock.

This put up was initially printed in 2013. 

Read extra in regards to the canine lipstick, canine crimson rocket or canine penis on Dogster.com: