Awkward topic ... dog erections

[BabyReba]

So here's a kind of weird one ... I hope Button doesn't hate me for violating his privacy.

Button is going to be 5 in November. He's never been a dog to get erections or crowning much (very occasionally maybe a little bit, but nothing compared to a lot of male dogs I've seen), and he has absolutely never been a humper of anything at all. But the past week he's had two weird situations where he ended up with an erection that didn't go away for quite a while and it definitely freaked him out. The event itself doesn't bother me -- stuff like that happens to Doc all the time, the dog walks around with a boner half the day, but he never seems concerned about it -- I just find it weird that it happened that way and that it seemed to bother him enough that he wasn't sure what to do with himself.

First time, a few days ago, he put his front paws up on the couch then started humping the air, then ran off to the other side of the room and stood there, awkwardly, air humping and looking miserable. His "issue" didn't resolve for about 5 minutes, and I tried to change his state of mind by offering him a treat or letting him out, but nothing happened. He just sort of stood there awkwardly until it finally passed and then he felt better again.

Then yesterday, it happened again and he stood off to the side of the patio just waiting for it to pass, his back was arched and he looked uncomfortable. Not miserable but not happy either. He's definitely not enjoying this. It's not super-alarming, but this is totally new. Is it normal for a male dog to suddenly have this kind of thing happen at almost 5 years old? Could Prozac that he's on be making this happen? Left a message with my vet to ask if the meds could be making it happen, but I'm not looking forward to the conversation. Maybe somebody here has some insight?

[twisted]

if its out of the norm like you say something has to be triggering it. is he neutered? maybe there is a dog in heat near by?

[GoingPostal]

poor button , he's got no idea what's going on. I only have one male and afaik he's never had that problem but he did the same age as Button suddenly discover humping which seemed odd, although now that I think about it he was on meds for his seizures at the same time and has been off them for several months now and I really haven't noticed him humping lately. Maybe just due to us correcting him but interesting coincidence. He was on phenobarbital and was fixed at one, he tried half heartedly mounting Jersey at the shelter meet and greet but he was a year old, intact and was harshly corrected by her.

[Amie]

I don't know why it's happening, but sugar will make it go away. (The literal kind, I'm not suggesting you find him a date to give him a little sum'n sum'n)

[tiva]

I don't know why it's happening, but sugar will make it go away. (The literal kind, I'm not suggesting you find him a date to give him a little sum'n sum'n)

Sugar? You feed it to him? Or something else? The mind boggles.

Vanya has this happen maybe once a year or so. He staggers around looking bewildered for a minute or too, and then it goes away for another year.

[Poohs Dad]

I'd blame the neighbors cat...it's probably slipping viagra into Buttons water bowl.

I don't know, maybe a hormone inbalance..

[Amie]

I don't know why it's happening, but sugar will make it go away. (The literal kind, I'm not suggesting you find him a date to give him a little sum'n sum'n)

Sugar? You feed it to him? Or something else? The mind boggles.

Topical application to the affected area. Honest.

[BabyReba]

Sugar! Good to know! Thank you! Poor kid doesn't really know what to do when it happens, so he just stands there with his back arched and waits for it to go away.

And to whoever asked, yes he is neutered. He's never humped anything in his life, either, which makes this so unusual. Maybe he's going through delayed puberty. He is developing a possible thyroid issue, which we are monitoring. Wonder if that could have anything to do with it.

[BrokenAquarian]

Wouldn't the sugar crystals be quite uncomfortable??

[Amie]

They're water soluble, maybe they dissolve quickly. That's what our shelter vet recommends, and a staff member uses the trick regularly on her dog. He never seems bothered by the sugar, and it fixes the problem.

[jamielvsaustin]

The sugar is what I was going to suggest too...but my source isn't so credible.

Remember those Road Rules, Real World shows on MTV? I think it was the one based in Hawaii...they picked up a dog, a week or two later he had this problem so they called the vet. There were two guys on the phone laughing hysterically-I'm surprised the vet could understand them. The vet recommended sugar. And it worked.

[Misskiwi67]

:dunno: They're water soluble, maybe they dissolve quickly. That's what our shelter vet recommends, and a staff member uses the trick regularly on her dog. He never seems bothered by the sugar, and it fixes the problem.

You can use honey instead for something gentler with the same properties to reduce swelling, and of course all the other awesome properties honey has.

[JisforJohnathan]

...this is hilarious but good to know. thanks!

[AllisonPitbullLvr]

Obi has, on occasion, gotten an erection and starts air humping totally out of the blue all while looking completely bewildered and embarrassed. Usually it goes away on its own and only sometimes does he do it in public. (Like the time my boss took him to a school presentation and the kids asked if he was "dancing". Uh, yup!)