Pictures of Dog Bulbus Glandis: What it Looks Like on Dogs

This article was updated on November 11th, 2023

The bulbus glandis is a normal part of male dog anatomy. Sometimes visualized as two enlarged, round swellings under the skin on either side of the pen*s, the bulbus glandis is made up of erectile tissue. When a male dog is excited, blood flows into the bulbus glandis causing the characteristic engorgement of these round structures.

Bulbus Glandis is a part of the dog reproductive system that is present in male dogs. It is located at the base of the pen*s and swells during arousal, causing the dog’s pen*s to enlarge and lock into the female’s vag*na during copulation.

How do you recognize bulbus glandis? [with pictures]

When engorged, it will appear as:

• symmetrical,
• round,
• firm
• located on either side of the pen*s.

They are further cranial (towards the head) than the testicles and can appear in both intact and neutered male dogs. When the dog is no longer excited, they will completely disappear.

Pictures of Bulbus Glandis on Dogs

When engorged during mating, it serves to retain the male’s pens in the vagina of the female, just before, during, and after ejaculation. This “tie” during mating may last from 20 minutes up to an hour. It is completely normal for the bulbus glandis to engorge and be externally visible on all male dogs, even if they are neutered.

Is there anything that needs to be done?

If your male dog has an engorged bulbus glandis, there is nothing that you need to do. The condition is not painful for the dog and is a perfectly normal occurrence.

When to call your veterinarian

If the engorgement of the dog’s bulbus glandis persists for longer than two hours or if the pen*s is outside of the prepuce, you should seek veterinary care.

Frequently asked questions

Why do dogs have a bulbus glandis?

This structure is a normal part of male canine anatomy. The bulbus glandis engorges with blood during mating to retain the pen*s inside the female’s vagina before, during, and after ejaculation.

Does it cause any pain for the dog?

No, an engorged bulbus glandis is not painful for the dog.

Does neutering your dog remove the bulbus glandis?

No, the castration (neuter) surgery consists of surgically removing the make dog’s testicles. The bulbus glandis is a normal anatomical feature and will be present in both intact and neutered dogs.

Is what I am seeing swollen bulbus glandis – or is it something else?

The best way to know if the structure you are seeing in your male dog’s groin is the bulbus glandis is to ensure that the structure disappears from visibility when the dog is no longer excited.

If the bumps persist, if one side is larger than the other, if there is just one mass, or if the pen*s is stuck outside of the prepuce, your dog needs to be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible.

These different appearances could indicate an injury or tumor:

1. Hernia

A hernia in dogs can appear as a lump or bulge under the skin. The exact appearance can vary depending on the type of hernia and its location. An example is shown below:

2. One-sided mass

If one side is larger than the other, if there is just one mass, please reach out to your veterinarian.

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