Why Are My Dog’s Balls Black?

In this research you will know the answer to the query “Why Are My Dogs Balls Black?“.

If you’re a responsible dog owner you need to watch out for your pets health including his balls. You need to make sure that nothing is amiss the moment you discover any change down there.

Why are my dogs balls black? is one of the most common questions pet parents have. We’ll examine the many causes of your dogs darker scrotum but the short answer is that its most likely nothing serious.

What do healthy dog balls look like?

It is important to first consider what healthy dog balls look like to understand if there is a problem with your dog. A dogs scrotum which holds its testicles varies in color from animal to animal.

The color of the scrotum should generally be grayish. In any case the color of the tattoo depends on the level of skin pigmentation in the area. If the skin on your dogs underbelly is dark so will the scrotum be.

Pinkish spots can also appear on the balls of many puppies which is totally normal.

Your job as a pet owner is to keep track of the color of your dogs balls so you’ll notice if theres anything different. Lets take a closer look at what might be happening if your dogs privates change color.

Why are my dog’s balls suddenly black?

Age

Dogs’ scrotums become darker in color as they age. It is normal for a dogs balls to become black as he matures due to increased levels of skin pigmentation. It occurs gradually though. Its reasonable that you do not check your dogs balls every single day. Who does that?

A few days later you discover the dogs balls turned black and you freak out when he lies on his back waiting for you to scratch his belly. Theres a good chance it did not happen overnight it isnot that they suddenly turned black its just that you werenot paying attention.

You may also notice black spots on a dogs testicles as he ages possibly many small ones or a few large ones.  Whatever the case this is just another sign of pigmentation changes and it is completely normal.

Injury

Alternatively if the color changes suddenly you should check his scrotal area and monitor his behavior. This might indicate bruising if your dogs balls suddenly turn dark blue or black. If the dog appears to have injuries such as scrapes cuts or punctures then it may have been injured while playing or chasing another animal. Look for any signs that the dog is in pain by gently feeling the balls.

You should take your dog to the vet just to make sure it hasnot hurt himself seriously if it seems like he has. You can however give it a day or two if he does not seem in pain or bothered by the balls. It may take a while for the bruising to disappear and the scrotum to return to its usual color.

Why are my dog balls peeling?

Dog owners sometimes notice skin peeling around the balls when their dogs’ balls turn black. In most cases this occurs when the dog is irritated. Often the skin on his scrotum starts peeling because it becomes too dry.

Dogs with dry skin will often obsessively lick their privates in an effort to relieve the itching. Unfortunately licking the skin only provides temporary relief and it will become even more irritated.

After examining him you may conclude that he has a dry skin issue that can be treated with coconut oil or Vaseline. Although both substances are non-toxic to dogs oily substances can help with dry skin by locking moisture in.

Black balls after neutering

There are a lot of pet owners who complain that their dogs balls appear swollen and black after neutering. In spite of a small incision to remove the dogs testicles it still means damage to a very sensitive skin.

Its probably nothing to worry about if the dogs scrotum appears very dark during the first few days after neutering. Look for signs of infection like redness. Make sure your dog wears the cone the vet fitted him with so he would not lick his by now missing balls.

You can also expect swelling for a few days after surgery. The sack will make contact with the dogs skin and become flat. When swelling does not disappear in a few days and the dog appears feverish (check his nose! ) he might have developed an infection after neutering although such complications are rare.

Why are my dog’s balls red?

When your dogs scrotum is red you should take it seriously if you notice black balls. The dogs balls turn red when they are infected. If the dog is intact the infection could be the result of an injury or a problem with the balls themselves.

There could be a bladder infection spreading in the dog. Check to see if the dog urinates more often or seems to have trouble urinating. Instead of treating the infection yourself you should see a veterinarian.

Testicular torsion is one of the most common causes of red balls which is not only painful but also dangerous. Testicular torsion occurs when one or both balls become twisted causing irregular blood flow. They also appear swollen and tender.

Testicular torsion should be treated by a veterinarian as soon as possible. It is important to determine the cause which can be a trauma to the scrotum or an infection called brucellosis.

Testicular torsion can also be caused by many other types of bacterial or fungal infections. Antibiotics will be given to your dog while ice packs will be applied to reduce swelling.

If only one of the testicles is affected the doctor might recommend removing it before the infection spreads.

Does cancer cause black balls in dogs?

Some pet owners wonder if this might be a sign of testicular cancer when their dogs balls turn black. Hyperpigmentation however is only one possible sign. There are other early symptoms of testicular cancer as well: asymmetric testicles penile atrophy swelling of the prepuce hair loss or brittle hair or changes in the way the dog urinates such as squatting instead of raising a leg.

Check your dogs testicles regularly if his testicles are intact. Look for a change in the way they feel to the touch as well as swelling. The dog cannot tell you if something is odd so you need to take care of this.

Dogs’ balls are usually soft like a grape. One or both might feel harder than the other which could indicate cancer and you should consult a vet. There might also be some swelling in the affected testicle while the unaffected testicle shrinks.

In most cases a dogs cancer will be treated by castration immediately after a cancer diagnosis. The dog will only need chemotherapy or radiation therapy if cancer has spread.

Why does a neutered dog appear to have swollen balls when excited?

The empty sack of a neutered dog isnot swollen since his testicles have been removed. Even castrated dogs can get excited not necessarily sexually and the mysterious bulbus glandis will swell. In contrast to its name bulbus glandis the structure at the base of the penis is not a gland it is an erectile tissue structure involved in mating.  It appears as two swollen bumps on either side of the penis when the dog gets excited and since they’re close to the scrotum this may confuse the owner.   

While we’re there we should mention that neutered dogs can still have sex. In many cases they lose much of their sexual urge after neutering but occasionally they will become aroused when they meet a female in heat. 

In some cases the bulbus glandis may become obvious even if the dog is just really excited to see you and only wants a belly rub.

Conclusion

Your dogs balls do not need to be black just because you just found out. A change in color is usually caused by higher levels of skin pigmentation in an adult dog. Still if the dog is licking himself like crazy and the skin on his scrotum is peeling he may have a skin condition. Coconut oil or Vaseline can be applied to the wound and if the condition does not improve you should visit a veterinarian.

In any case if the dogs balls appear red he might have an infection and should be checked out as soon as possible.

If you want to read more about dog health tips read here: Dog Health Tips and Tricks.

Why Are My Dog’s Balls Black? (Watch Video)