What is Dog Smegma? Smegma is a white, yellow, or green fluid found in the space between the penis and the prepuce. It contains a combination of dead skin cells and proteins. Smegma serves to lubricate and protect the penis, and it is completely normal.
What causes Smegma? Urethra problems – Tumors, trauma or stones. Bleeding disorders – Thrombocytopenia (a decreased platelet count) Allergies – some dogs produce smegma when they have issues with contact allergens, affecting the skin.
The penis itself is covered with a mucous membrane, which makes it appear moist and bright pink or red. A small amount of yellowish-white or even slightly green-tinged discharge can collect around the opening to a dog's prepuce. This is called smegma and is normal.
All male dogs have a yellow-green discharge. It's actually coming from the sheath, not the penis. Quantity can vary from undetectable to a drop, but it's all normal.”
How to Clean Dog Smegma. Most dogs clean their own smegma by licking away excess discharge from the prepuce. If your dog is not cleaning their smegma and your vet has determined there is no underlying medical problem, you can use a warm, moist washcloth or tissue to wipe excess smegma away from your dog's prepuce.
Smegma is a mixture of dead skin cells, oil, and moisture. If your male dog is still intact, this helps make a lubricant for intercourse. Neutering your pet will decrease the amount of smegma that is produced.
Untreated, smegma pearls can be transformed into a smegmolith, a solid stone-like form, owing to mineral accumulation and persistent irritation [5]. This condition happens before the retraction of the foreskin in children or if the prepuce is not retracted regularly to clean the glans in older boys [6].
Smegma is normal and harmless. It is not a sign of an infection. It is produced in small amounts throughout life. Smegma can build up under the foreskin.
Smegma is a naturally occurring substance found on the genitals. It is the result of a buildup of skin cells, oil secretions, and moisture. If left to build up, smegma can become smelly or lead to an infection.
Dogs with UTIs generally attempt to urinate very frequently whenever they go outside. They also may strain to urinate, or cry out or whine when urinating if it is painful. Sometimes you might even see blood in their urine. Dripping urine, or frequent licking of the genitals, may also signal that a UTI is present.
It is generally not a cause for concern unless it builds up and causes issues in the genital area. The easiest way to prevent any problems from smegma is by regularly bathing and keeping the genital area clean.
It has mixed bacterial flora, including the smegma bacillus (Mycobacterium smegmatis) in 50% of man. Smegma is the natural secretion of the prepuce, like other body secretions, such as earwax.
Smegma also contains bacteria. Usually, these bacteria are healthy and beneficial, but harmful bacteria sometimes grow out of control in smegma. An overgrowth of unhealthy bacteria can cause a bad smell and may play a role in certain infections, including UTIs.
Use mild soap and warm water to clean the area, and wipe away any smegma. You only need to clean the area once or twice a week. Around age six, teach your child how to retract their foreskin and clean it while bathing. Regularly washing the area helps prevent smegma and infections.
Mild cases can receive therapy with topical antibiotics such as mupirocin 2% cream TID for 7 to 14 days. In severe cases or when phimosis prevents topical treatment, therapy should commence with oral antibiotics such as cephalexin or erythromycin for one week.
Eventually, the foreskin should be retracted far enough during urination to see the meatus (the hole where the urine comes from). This prevents urine from building up beneath the foreskin and possibly causing an infection. As long as the foreskin doesn't easily retract, only the outside needs to be cleaned.
“Female sex partners of uncircumcised men are at increased risk of bacterial vaginosis,” says an epidemiologist at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Dr. Supriya Mehta.
If your dog doesn't need a full on bath, you can use a washcloth or wet wipe to get your puppy's privates clean. Be sure to clean both the genitals and the backside. Always wipe from front to back to avoid spreading bacteria to the genitals.
Preputial discharge is common in the male dog. In health, it is referred to as smegma, and represents an accumulation of sloughed cells and glycoproteins within the preputial sheath. Its amount and color vary between individual patients.
Dogs keep relatively clean. In addition to cleaning their legs and body, both male and female dogs will also lick their genital areas in an attempt to remove dirt, discharge, or debris. Excessive licking in this area may indicate a medical problem and be a cause for concern.
Smegma culture
The most commonly isolated gram-negative uropathogen was E. coli (8, 25.8%), and the commonly isolated gram-positive uropathogen bacteria were Enterococcus faecalis (6, 19.4%) and Enterococcus avium (4, 12.9%) (Table 2).
These skin cells may form smegma. This change can occur at various ages; however, it tends to occur before the age of 5. The change may, however, occur earlier – even before birth or shortly after – or later – around the teenage years. It is important not to force the foreskin back in order to remove smegma.
Balanitis is most common in uncircumcised males due to poor hygiene and the accumulation of smegma beneath the foreskin. Smegma is a whitish sebaceous secretion composed epithelial cells (dead skin) and the sebum (oily secretions) produced by the sebaceous glands of both male and female genitalia.
The only way to know whether you have a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection is to be tested for them by a qualified medical professional. Many common ailments such as diarrhea or pneumonia can be caused by either bacterial or viral infections.