Why Do Dogs Lick Their Balls

All dogs lick their balls almost every single day. All dog owners want to know why and we can say the same for most people who do not own a dog. Why do dogs lick their balls is therefore the most common question of them all. Yes, as always there are more answers and we will cover all of them right here.

Why do dogs lick their balls?

He is cleaning himself

Why do dogs lick their balls? Because they clean themselves. This is the most common reason and almost all dogs do it for this particular reason. An interesting fact is that dogs know that this is the most sensitive area of their body.

That’s why they must keep it clean at all times or it can get infected. Another, equally interesting fact is that they will spend more time and effort in this area due to the same reason.

Dogs and cats do this as a part of their regular grooming. The easiest way to tell is this the case with your pet is to look will he lick the balls during the grooming process. If he does, you know why he is doing that.

He is bored

Most dogs will lick their balls when they are bored. If he is doing this after or without licking any other part of the body, it means that he is not grooming. He is simply bored and you need to do something with your dog. Take him outside or for a walk.

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In the lack of a better word, this reason is one of the most common and it affects almost all dogs and all dog breeds. They lick balls frequently in order to make time pass by. After that, they will fell asleep or they will become nervous.

Due to epididymitis or/and orchitis

Epididymitis is a condition in which the testicles of your dog are under inflammation. This causes them to each and a dog is licking them to scratch the balls, as simple as that.

Sadly, it is a common condition and it comes with other, symptoms and side effects so you can tell if this is the case. Epididymitis occurs inside the testicles in the small tube where the sperm is located.

Orchitis is another yet similar condition. In this case scenario, the whole testicles are under inflammation. It is a more severe condition that once again, does need help from a veterinarian.

Almost all male dogs, regardless of the breed can develop either one of these conditions. There are no breeds that are more prone to the conditions. There are a few symptoms you need to worry about. These are swollen testicles, a tired and dog that doesn’t want to walk, refuses food, infertility, and more.

The conditions are common in adult dogs at age 4 but it can happen to younger and older dogs as well.

Inflamed or infected anal gland

Here we have another, rare but serious issue. Dogs may lick their balls because of the inflamed anal gland. If that happens, you will need to take him to a vet. The gland can rupture and an open wound will appear on the rear. This is a severe issue because it can get infected and require complicated and expensive treatment.

Once you take him to a vet, he can examine the dog. He may empty the anal glands and start with antibiotics. You will want to talk to a vet and see are antibiotics needed. In addition, he or she can show you how to empty the gland all by yourself so you can do it at home and make sure the infection doesn’t appear again.

This condition won’t go away all by itself and it does need fast and accurate veterinarian help. Luckily with time and treatment, your dog will be fine. Just make sure the condition doesn’t appear again and try to help your pet maintain proper hygiene.

When do you need to take a dog to a vet?

If your dog is licking his balls frequently, but they are normal state, there is no need to take him to the veterinarian. He is doing this because he is bored and as a part of his grooming. There is no condition, allergy, or infection to worry about. Try to remember that all dogs do this at some point so it is perfectly normal.

But, if the testicles of your pet are red, raw, swollen or he is licking them all the time there is a reason to be concerned. In almost all cases it means that there is some condition, infection, or inflammation that cause pain or itching and a dog is just trying to solve that by licking.

The best thing to do is to take him to a vet as soon as you notice either of these things. In most situations, you will first notice red and raw testicles. These are the first signs that something isn’t well and that your pet is in pain. Look for sadness, depression, refusing food, and anxiety.

These are also known symptoms that are common when some condition is present and when your dog needs help.

Luckily all treatments for the related conditions are simple and safe. There are no issues or complications of any kind and you don’t have to worry. Your dog will be perfectly fine in a short period of time.

The final word

You probably have more questions but the one here isn’t one of them. Why do dogs lick their balls question has been answered and now you know all the answers. All you should remember is that your pet is likely doing this as a part of hygiene and grooming.

If there are other symptoms and issues, it means that some condition or more severe reason is present. In that case, you do need help from a vet. If he is doing this as a part of grooming or boredom, there is no need to do anything.

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