Sheep Swollen Testicles or Scrotum: Causes, Injury, Infection & What to Do

Swelling in a sheep's testicles or scrotum can come from the testicle itself, the epididymis, the scrotal skin, or the tissues around them. Common causes include trauma from fighting, rough handling, fence injuries, breeding activity, or a kick. After injury, the scrotum may fill with blood or inflammatory fluid and become enlarged, warm, and painful. Insect bites, dermatitis, and contaminated wounds can also make the scrotal skin look puffy and irritated.

Another major cause is infection, including orchitis (testicular inflammation) and epididymitis (inflammation of the epididymis). In rams, Brucella ovis is a well-known infectious cause of epididymitis and orchitis. Merck notes that affected rams may develop unilateral or bilateral epididymal enlargement, thickened scrotal tunics, adhesions, and later testicular atrophy. Not every infected ram has obvious swelling, and not every swollen epididymis is caused by brucellosis, so a veterinary exam matters.

Less common possibilities include abscesses, scrotal hernia, hydrocele or fluid accumulation, and chronic scarring after an older injury. In breeding animals, even mild or one-sided swelling can matter because heat, inflammation, and scarring may reduce semen quality and fertility. That is why any persistent asymmetry, firmness, or pain should be checked rather than watched for weeks.

See your vet immediately if the swelling appeared suddenly, is severe, or your sheep seems painful, weak, feverish, or unwilling to walk. Urgent care is also needed for open wounds, bleeding, pus, foul odor, dark or cold tissue, trouble urinating, or rapid enlargement. Those signs raise concern for serious trauma, infection, tissue damage, or compromised blood supply.

A prompt veterinary visit is also important for any breeding ram with scrotal swelling, even if he still seems bright. Infectious epididymitis can affect fertility before the outside changes look dramatic, and some causes may spread within a flock. Isolating the ram from breeding activity until your vet examines him is a sensible first step.

You may be able to monitor briefly at home only if the swelling is mild, the sheep is eating and walking normally, there is no wound or fever, and the area is not very painful. Even then, if it lasts more than 24 to 48 hours, becomes more uneven, or the sheep starts acting off, schedule an exam. Scrotal swelling is one of those signs that often looks minor at first but can have bigger reproductive and welfare consequences.

Your vet will start with a hands-on exam of the scrotum, testicles, and epididymides, along with a full physical exam to check temperature, hydration, gait, appetite, and signs of systemic illness. In rams, careful palpation helps your vet tell whether the swelling seems to involve the testicle, epididymis, scrotal skin, or surrounding tissues. They will also ask about recent breeding, fighting, transport, shearing, injuries, and whether the ram is used for reproduction.

Depending on the findings, your vet may recommend ultrasound to look for fluid, abscesses, tissue damage, or changes inside the testicle. They may also run bloodwork, collect samples from wounds or discharge, or submit testing for infectious causes such as Brucella ovis when flock history and exam findings fit. In breeding rams, a breeding soundness exam or semen evaluation may be discussed once the sheep is stable.

Treatment depends on the cause and severity. Options can include anti-inflammatory pain control, wound cleaning, drainage of an abscess when appropriate, antibiotics selected by your vet, activity restriction, and supportive care. Severe trauma, dead tissue, chronic infection, or a nonfunctional painful testicle may lead your vet to discuss surgery, including castration or removal of the affected testicle in some cases.

Until your vet can examine your sheep, move him to a clean, dry, well-bedded pen with easy access to water and feed. Limit chasing, mounting, and rough contact with other sheep. If he is a breeding ram, keep him out of the breeding group for now. Watch for appetite changes, feverish behavior, straining to urinate, worsening lameness, or swelling that spreads or darkens.

If there is a small superficial wound, you can gently rinse away visible dirt with clean saline or clean water, but do not scrub deeply, squeeze the scrotum, lance swelling, or apply harsh disinfectants. Do not give leftover antibiotics or pain medications without veterinary guidance. Drug choice, dose, and meat or milk withdrawal times matter in food animals.

Good notes help your vet. Record when you first noticed the swelling, whether it is one-sided or both sides, any recent injury or breeding activity, and whether the sheep has a fever, discharge, or reduced appetite. If your vet suspects an infectious reproductive disease, use gloves when handling discharge or contaminated bedding and follow your vet's biosecurity instructions for the rest of the flock.