Bulbus Glandis in Neutered Dogs

Neutering your dog does not remove his bulbus glandis. The bulbus glandis, also called the knot, is erectile tissue that is located at the base of his penis, and that becomes engorged when your dog is excited. It is completely normal for the bulbus glandis to swell, even after neutering your dog.

When your dog becomes excited, or aroused, the bulbus glandis swells. A stimulated bulbus glandis looks like two swollen lumps under the skin. When your dog’s bulbus glandis is not swollen, this area is hardly noticeable. This is why some dog owners become concerned when they see the bulbus glandis swell post-surgery. There is nothing to be alarmed about. This is a perfectly natural part of the reproductive process. Despite the fact that your pooch has been neutered, his body is still going to react to stimulation in the natural way. The swelling of the bulbus glandis should fade once his excitement does.

Castration, or neutering, is the process of removing the reproductive organ, or a significantly large part of the reproductive organ. Most of the effects of neutering are positive. For instance, as time goes on, you’ll likely see less of your dog’s bulbus glandis because neutering greatly reduces sexual interest. Neutering can also reduce aggression, fleeing, mounting and urine marking in male dogs. Because testosterone levels fall quickly after the surgery, you may notice a significant reduction in how often you’re seeing the bulbus glandis post-surgery. Conversely, because the reproductive area of your dog's body is being stimulated, some dog owners report seeing more activity from the bulbus glandis after surgery.

Although neutering is a very standard procedure and oftentimes quite safe, responsible dog owners should still watch for symptoms of complications. If you notice your dog is excessively licking his genitals, vomiting or experiencing difficulty urinating, then you need to contact the veterinarian who performed the surgery as soon as possible. These issues can indicate a serious problem, such as urethra inflammation or prostate disease. The bulbus glandis should only be swollen during times of excitement, and this swelling should not last long. Any long-term swelling, accompanied by excessive licking, should be reported to your veterinarian as soon as possible.

Your veterinarian will expect you to follow post-operative instructions. Although neutering is a relatively safe procedure, you'll need to follow after-care instructions for a period of 10 to 14 days. Your veterinarian will provide you with information on after-care, including instructions for cleaning the incision, feeding your dog and restricting his activity. There will be no bulbus glandis-specific post-care instructions because the bulbus glandis has no effect on your dog’s neutering. In fact, you may see the bulbus glandis become engorged while you’re inspecting or cleaning the incision. If this occurs, simply ignore the bulbus glandis and continue following your veterinarian’s instructions.