Why Are My Dog’s Balls Red?

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Most dog owners get more exposure to their dog’s private parts than they’d care for.

Even if you try to ignore your dog licking himself, sometimes you cannot help but notice there’s something wrong.

Why are my dog’s balls red and peeling?

Why are my dog’s testicles red and raw?

Why is my dog’s scrotum pink?

Whether you like it or not, this is a concern you must address. What if the dog is sick?

You need to do something. 

The good news is that in many cases it’s not a serious problem.

A minor irritation can make your dog’s ball red and it will go away on its own.

However, changes in your dog’s scrotum appearance can be a sign of medical condition that requires immediate medical attention.

Here’s all you need to know about your dog’s ball turning pink or red.

What you will learn from this article:

  1. What does it mean if my dog’s testicles are red and raw?
  2. Why are my dog’s balls red and swollen? 3 reasons
  3. Why are my dog’s balls pink?
  4. Why are my dog’s balls red and dry?
  5. Why are my dog’s balls red and raw after neutering?
  6. Are some dog breeds more prone to skin problems?
  7. How to treat a dog with red balls?
  8. Closing thoughts

What does it mean if my dog’s testicles are red and raw?

The scrotum is the pouch that houses your dog’s testicles or used to, if your pet was neutered.

The skin of the scrotum is very thin and hairless. It is also easily irritable.

As you may have noticed, licking his balls appears to be any dog’s favorite pastime.

It’s a pleasurable activity for him and, since they’re there, easily accessible, why not? 

Excessive licking can make your dog’s scrotum red and raw.

If he’s been at it for the past hour what can you expect?

Try to examine the dog’s testicles for any sign of injury, such as scratch, puncture or insect bite.

Also, and this is very important, check for any swelling. If you see nothing of the kind, you probably have no reason to worry. 

What you need to ask yourself is why is your dog licking himself so much. Besides, the obvious reason, that is. 

Your dog’s sudden obsession with his nether parts can be a sign of boredom or of a psychological problem.

If your dog lacks mental stimulation, he will entertain himself as best he can.

You can easily cure him of his boredom by increasing the duration of his daily walks.

Take him to a doggy park and buy him some mentally-stimulating toys. Even a chew bone will relieve the boredom.

On the other hand, your dog might be suffering from anxiety or depression.

Dogs are not immune to such problems.

Try to find the causes of his psychological problems.

Have there been any changes in your household recently?

Did someone he was particularly attached to leave?

Is there a new baby in the house? Does your dog feel neglected? 

If your dog is licking his balls red and raw just for fun, he could use some training.

Commands like ‘Leave it’ should be extended to leaving his balls alone.

Why are my dog’s balls red and swollen? 3 reasons

Swelling is a clear sign there’s something wrong with your dog. Here are a few medical conditions that might cause this problem. 

[1] Injury

If your dog hurt his underbelly while playing or running around, this might cause his scrotum to appear swollen. A scratch or a puncture opens the way for viruses, bacteria or fungi to infect the scrotum. If there’s some sort of inflammation the dog’s  testicles will look bright red and swollen. 

An acute inflammation of the scrotum is called orchitis, and it can also be caused by internal problems, such as an UTI or an inflammation of the prostate.

Once again, examine his scrotum. If you find any wound, you should use an antibiotic ointment. The infection should go away in a couple of days. However, if it doesn’t appear to be working, you should take him to the vet. They will perform some tests to determine the exact nature of the infection and prescribe a targeted treatment. Your dog might need oral antibiotics. 

[2] Brucellosis

If you thought STDs were a problem exclusive to humans, you were wrong. Brucellosis is a sexually transmitted disease and it is very difficult to treat. The disease is caused by the Brucella canis bacteria. To be fair to dogs, they can pick up this dangerous bacteria simply by sniffing the urine of another infected dog. 

In male dogs, the disease manifests itself through an enlarged testicle. Or the whole scrotum can appear swollen. Dogs with brucellosis commonly develop a skin rash on the scrotum, so your dog’s balls will be both red and swollen. If the dog doesn’t get treated, it can cause infertility. Long term, the testicles will atrophy and they will shrink.

Your vet will prescribe powerful antibiotics to treat your dog, but once your dog gets brucellosis he will never be completely cured. He will continue to shed bacteria intermittently, even though there won’t be any visible symptoms, such as red swollen testicles. 

Since this disease affects the fertility of dogs and it’s extremely contagious, it needs to be reported to federal authorities.

The good news is that even if your dog has brucellosis, you won’t get infected, so there’s nothing to worry about. 

[3] Testicular torsion

You probably noticed your dog’s balls are quite loose in their pouch. The only thing that holds them in place is a bundle of connective tissue that supplies blood to the scrotum. It can sometimes happen that one or both testicles become twisted on the connective tissue, a condition known as testicular torsion. This can be associated with an inflammation blocking the blood flow inside the connective tissue. 

Testicular torsion can be caused by an external cause, such as a blow to the area. Your dog’s obsession with his balls might also cause one or both testicles to rotate and become entangled in the connective tissue.

Your dog’s scrotum will appear swollen and red. Other symptoms of testicular torsion include tenderness in the scrotal area, unwillingness to walk or lethargy.

Testicular torsion is a condition that requires swift medical care. Left untreated, the condition might cause the testicles to die and your dog might go into septic shock.

Most cases are resolved with antibiotics and applying packs of ice to the scrotum. In some cases, the vet might suggest the removal of one or both testicles if they are past saving. 

Why are my dog’s balls pink?

It’s just a question of shade. It doesn’t matter if your dog’s testicles are red or pink, the causes are the same. Maybe your dog has a lighter skin and when inflammation is present their scrotum appears pink rather than red. 

Speaking of shades, if your dog’s balls look purple verging on black, it’s also a sign of an infection or injury. If they’re also swollen, you should see a vet.

On the other hand, pink spots are quite common on a puppy’s scrotum. There is no medical significance to it. The pink spots are caused by varying pigmentation levels and they will disappear once the puppy grows up.

Why are my dog’s balls red and dry?

Dryness of the skin is commonly associated with cold weather, but it might also be a sign of skin irritation.

If the sensitive skin on your dog’s scrotum becomes dry, you can try applying some aloe vera, coconut oil or vaseline. None of these substances are toxic to dogs so it won’t be a problem if the dog licks himself. If the scrotal skin is well moisturized, the peeling or flaking will disappear in a couple of days, 

Your dog’s skin irritation might also be caused by an allergic reaction. For instance, if the dog takes a nap in the garden and your lawn was recently treated with pesticides, the contact with those substances might cause an allergic reaction. Skin rashes are the most common symptom of an allergy. If there are no other worrying symptoms, you can relieve the itchiness by giving your dog a bath with a hypoallergenic shampoo. 

Why are my dog’s balls red and raw after neutering?

The simple answer is that he’s got a skin irritation caused by the rough manipulation of a very delicate area, not to mention a reaction to the substances used during the surgery. Neutering only requires a small incision but it’s usually enough to cause the dog’s balls to become red and raw. 

However, you should monitor your dog closely over the next few days, as he might develop an infection at the site of the incision. Your vet probably fitted your pet with a cone to keep him from licking himself, but you cannot prevent the dog from lying down on the floor or outside in the dirt and some pathogen might enter the skin. 

Are some dog breeds more prone to skin problems?

Besides their respiratory issues, bulldogs are also prone to skin problems. This applies to any type of bulldog, French, English or American. Wrinkly dogs are more susceptible to skin problems because their numerous skin folds are an excellent breeding ground for nasty bacteria, viruses and fungi. 

When the dog licks himself he can carry whatever bacteria is multiplying happily in the skin folds on his face to the scrotal area. As the skin on the scrotum is very sensitive, the bacteria will have no trouble penetrating inside and causing inflammation.

How to treat a dog with red balls?

As we have stated earlier, there are five possible reasons why your dog might have red balls.

And each of these will require a different treatment.

Let’s go over these reasons again and explain about treatments.

[1] Boredom

If the main reason that your dog has a pair of red balls is because of some psychological reason such as boredom or anxiety, then it is up to you to change it.

The easiest way to cure boredom is to spend a bit more time walking or playing with your dog.

If a dog is better exercised physically and mentally that will help them to relax more or spend more time asleep and hopefully stop some of the repetitive behaviours such as licking their balls.

[2] Anxiety

If your dog is spending too much of his time focusing on his balls because of anxiety then you need to know what is causing the stress.

Once you have done this, you need to either eliminate the cause of stress or help your dog to get used to it.

And either way will require a bit of effort.

There are some situations that your dog might struggle with that simply can’t be changed.

If your dog is reacting badly to the arrival of a new baby in the house or the loss of a loved because of a family break up or worse a death, then these are situations that your dog is going to need to get used to.

With your help.

Other anxiety inducing situations can be changed and need to be eliminated however hard that can sometimes be.

One such situation is shouting and I speak from experience here!

Shouting really stresses dogs out and in most situations it is unnecessary to boot.

Next up we will look at what the treatment for a testicular injury is.

[3] Injury

In most cases an injury which is bad enough to cause swelling and angry redness will require a visit to the vets.

Hopefully a single visit should be all that’s required as you are then sent home with some painkillers and perhaps some antibiotics.

[4] Brucellosis

Let’s just hope that this isn’t what your dog is suffering from because this disease is notoriously hard to treat.

If you are in the unlucky position to have a dog that has this condition, you might be spending lots of time at your local veterinary surgery.

[5] Testicular torsion

Once again you would be incredibly unlucky to have a dog with this condition because it is so rare in dogs.

Key signs to look out for are swollen testicles and a dog who doesn’t seem able to walk.

Not only will this condition require a visit to your local veterinary practice but because it is a medical emergency, you will need to act fast as only surgery can fix this problem.

Closing thoughts

If your dog’s balls are red, it might be that he has a skin irritation. This might be caused by excessive licking, an allergic reaction, an injury or an infection. If the scrotum doesn’t appear to be swollen, there’s no cause for immediate alarm. Make him stop licking his privates, apply some ointment and see if the situation improves. On the other hand, if the dog’s balls are red and swollen, give your vet a call right away. Your dog will probably need antibiotics to treat whatever it is that’s bothering him.

Sarah Pulsen

Hello, I have been in love with dogs since I was a little girl. I became even more infatuated with them when I was told by my Mum that I couldn't own one. Since I left home there has rarely been a time in my life when I have lived without a dog. My current dog is a Collie Terrier cross, called Ian.