Boy Dog Bumps – The Mysterious Bulbus Glandis

Your happy puppy – now bored and confused that you keep staring at his belly – bounds off and grabs one of his favorite chew toys, seemingly unphased by this new problem. You then pick up the phone to call your vet and when they start asking you to describe these mysterious new bumps, you go back to look at your puppy and the bumps are completely gone. “I can’t find them anymore”, you say “but I swear they were there by his penis and REALLY big.” Luckily, your vet tells you not to worry, because these bumps are a normal part of your boy dog’s anatomy – called the bulbus glandis.

So why do dogs have a bulbus glandis?

Contrary to the what the name implies, the bulbus glandis is not a gland at all, but actually functions during mating to complete the “coital tie”, which keeps the male and female dogs somewhat locked together until mating is complete. Luckily, when the bulbus glandis swells it does not cause any discomfort to your pup and does not require any medical intervention. However, if you notice any unusual areas of swelling on your dog, it is never wrong to seek the advice of you veterinarian.