Trav's lipstick...errr...red rocket gets stuck on the launching pad

[Pat and Traveler]

This happens in the morning sometimes when he first wakes up.  WTD has he been dreaming!!??  Being alarmingly ignorant about dog problems of any kind, it took a while to realize that this is what's happening.  He stands immobile with his back hunched up, tail tucked, obviously in pain, and his undercarriage is hard as a rock, with two bumps back of the red rocket.  Yes, I actually looked and felt this time!  The rocket returns to the launch pad after about 15 minutes or so.  This was happening in January, and I took him to the vet, thinking he had a UTI.  But his urine was clean and he wasn't...uh..manifesting when the vet saw him.  We got antibiotics, and since there weren't any appearances for a while, I just assumed he'd had some infection that got cured by the medication.

But its happened two mornings in a row now!  I got busy online, trying to find out if anybody else's dog has had this problem, and whether I should rush him to the vet again.  It doesn't seem to be a major problem, unless the rocket stays on the launching pad for too long.  And there are treatments.  Yes, there are.  KY jelly.  Sugar water.  Trim hair.  For serious or prolonged manifestations:  emergency--surgery.

He's 17 mo. old now, and was neutered when he was eight weeks. 

Has anybody else's dog had this problem??

 

 

      

[Pam and Ginger Snap]

I notice how no men are responding!

[Heather & Brinkley]

Brinkley's rocket doesn't get stuck per se but lately his rocket appears EVERY time I come home home from work.  He's very happy to see me! :)  This is a recent development. He's fixed so I don't know what's going on.

[Mustard Seed Ranch]

OK, in ALL my years of owning male dogs this had never happened to me..except now I do have a breeding male that this happens to. There is a medical term for it but I cant remember for the life of me what...though it is NOT common in neutered dogs...in fact neutering is the solution for chronic cases. In this dogs case he needs human intervention often to get his stuff put away...but we dont need to go there...I would just keep an eye on it, unfortunately. You just want to make sure it DOES go back eventually or else debris can get stuck or he could experience trauma to that area. There was even a dog in my town that got frostbite in that particular area  in the winter. Usually though it goes away on its own unless there is some trauma to that area...

[F, Calla & Luca]

Priapism.

[Pat and Traveler]

Interesting to hear how rare this priapism (thanks F Parker!) is, especially for neutered dogs.  Maybe he'll outgrow it.  Still don't understand why this engorgement has only happened first thing in the morning.  Anyhow, thanks for the information, and I'll definitely stay watchful for him.  And I won't let him out in this condition if it's below freezing!   

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I have not seen it in Spud but my last dog did this regularly throughout his life.   It seemed to come in groups~~ happened for a few weeks, then not again for months.

Don't know if he was uncomfortable or what?  I just gave him some peace and space and in 10 minutes the frozen dog with the distant stare would bounce back.   My sons though would carry on like it was Beavis and Butthead encore.  They were young teens at the time.

It always seemed to resolve itself and he lived to a very old age. 

Poor guy.   I think he should talk it over with a man.

Whatever you do, don't tell him about the FOUR HOUR RULE!   That freaks men out.  Probably dogs too.

[Pat and Traveler]

Joanne, maybe there is a pattern developing for Trav too.  He was getting this in January, then a lapse until now.  He really looks like he's in pain, but once things are back in place he's just fine.  I'm glad there are no teenagers around to 'help' me.  :)

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

All I can say is that this is why we did not get a boy dog.  We had a black Lab for 11 years and his was always out.  Every time he sat down it would pop right out.  To the point that I think anatomically speaking, some kind of pressure occurred when he sat down which forced it out.  It was constant embarrassment because I would always make him sit before anyone pet him.  I can't tell you how many times little kids would say "Mommy, what is that pink thing?"  It was a constant embarrassment!!!  When we had him in the car he would sit in the way back of our Explorer.  We would open the back hatch for him to jump out. Well, Rodney really knew when he got in the car by the direction we were heading just where we were going.  He loved to go up to my Mother's to play with Ivan her yellow Lab.  One time we opened up the hatch and he was sitting and unable to stand up.  He was in stage three and had his back thumper leg/foot on it.  Every time he tried to stand up he would step on it and sit right back down.  My husband had to pull his foot away to release it!!!!!!  So...no boy dogs!!! He was neutered at 4 months and was never without a red rocket when he sat down!!!

[Pat and Traveler]

Jeez, Nancie!  Counting my blessings here! 

[Lorraine Bromley]

I am really wondering what HUMAN intervention entails? I see in my head a open hand hammering it back in? The other picture in my head is disgusting and there is no way I am the human that does it!

[F, Calla & Luca]

No, not nice. Some lubricant and coaxing might work though.

[Pat and Traveler]

Lorraine--my mother, may God rest her soul, would find it hard to believe what I'm prepared to do for the sake of my dog.  :)  F Parker--that's what I figured.  Hopefully, things won't have to reach this stage--so far so good.  Thanks again for the information!