Willy Problems: Why Is There Green Stuff Coming Out?

We  must admit that this isn’t a subject we had thought to write about, but  when one of you requested it…1) we were utterly embarrassed that we  didn’t know that this particular subject matter had an actual name, and  2) we couldn’t help but come up with some ridiculous graphic!  

(Jade,  we’ll have you know that we spent an unnecessary amount of time trying  to create a willy with green stuff, but in the end, we just settled for  the star!  Probably a little more social media friendly this way!)

So,  boy hound owners!  How many of you have done the awkward and up close  willy check on your lad because there has been some questionable  coloured discharge coming out?  I bet you all have at some point or  another!

This delightful  substance is called ‘smegma’…and what a horrible word that is!  It is  something that regularly panics new hound owners, because quite  honestly, it can look a little concerning!  Typically, green discharge  is never considered to be a good thing in normal circumstances!

But, what is it and why does it happen?

Smegma  can occur in both female and male hounds but is most commonly occurring  and noticeable in the boys.  The often-questionable coloured substance  is a combination of dead/shed skin cells and oils, and the moisture that  accumulates within their gender specific regions!  We’re quite sure we  don’t need to delve into an anatomy lesson here…

Smegma  presents as a yellow-green, sometimes white, discharge and is often  quite smelly if you have had an up close and unnecessarily personal  interaction with it.  This accumulation and expulsion from the body is a  perfectly natural process, and overall, nothing to be concerned about.

The only time it should be of any question is if there are excessive amounts which could suggest an infection.

Your  hound will naturally keep this clean…usually VERY loudly during the  early hours of the morning, and quite often an hour before your alarm is  due to go off.  This unfortunately loud and persistent licking (whether  of their private areas or otherwise) is known as ‘glopping’ and it is a  behaviour greyhounds are so very fond of.  If only to annoy their  owners.

But that’s neither here nor there.

Back  to the Smegma.  Is it a concern?  Not really.  If you choose to, if  there is regular or a lot of discharge (as some boys are prone to) and  it is then getting all over their back legs when they lay down, you can  help keep them clean by using pet wipes or other damp, soft clothes if  they will let you.

But, if you  are concerned about the quantity and regularity, you can always check  with your vet to make sure there are no underlying issues going on.