Skip to main content
Home

Painful Daily Erections in a Neutered Maltese

by A reader

Reader Question
Five years ago my male Maltese began having abnormal and painful erections. Different vets have suggested they were seizures and tried several anti-seizure medicines, pain medicines and other drugs, without improvement. The episodes are painful, he cries out when they start, and they happen every day, often when he first gets up. He licks to try to make them stop, and until the penis goes back in, he can't walk or get up. Then he lies very still. Testosterone levels have been checked. Otherwise he is a healthy, loving pet.


Answer from Our Team

Repeated painful erections are rare in dogs. Possible causes include a problem with the nerves of the spine or pelvis, which can trigger erections and pain, inflammation or a growth affecting the penis or prostate, a blood flow problem in the penis, and less often, conditions that make blood thicker.

Ask your vet about a referral to a veterinary neurologist, along with an MRI of the lower spine, and to a urology or reproductive specialist for an ultrasound of the penis and prostate. Bringing videos of an episode helps specialists a lot.

In the meantime, if the penis stays out, keep it moist with a water-based lubricant and contact your vet if it stays out for more than about 30 minutes.

See dog penis problems.

This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.

Click here to post comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to General Invitation.