Morbid engorgement of the penis
Keywords: penis, engorgement, equine, stallion paralysisMorbid engorgement of the penis or penile "paralysis".
Image size: 1152 x 1117 px
Although there is a common association between the use of a phenothiazine tranquillizers and penile paralysis in horses some cases are associated with trauma and in others (such as this case) there is no known etiology.
Although the term priapism is sometimes used to describe this condition, it is probably inaccurate because priapism is a state of persistent erection rather than one of passive engorgement.
As shown in this image on the right side, phallectomy (penile amputation) was performed in this horse to prevent trauma in this stallion. Amputation is considered to be an extreme measure and not always necessary; some cases may resolve through the short-term application of truss supports as shown elsewhere in LORI. In some cases, permanently affected stallions can even provide fertile ejaculates using pharmacological stimulation (ex copula ejaculation) with imipramine and xylazine.
