small black dots on male rabbits penis?

Question
Hi, i have a male desexed castor mini rex and when giving him a once over for health, when i checked his genitals i noticed about 3-4 small black dots. Is that normal? I'm not sure if it's some dirt or something going on with his skin. I tried to whipe them away and couldn't but that could just be that they are sticking too well to the surface if it is just dirt.

Answer
Dear Shannon,

A bunny, like a human, can develop pigmented spots and moles on various regions of the skin with age.  But dark black spots can be worrisome.  I would take a clear picture, if possible, and then keep a very close eye on the spots for the next week or so.  If they change in any way and get bigger (or are raised above the rest of the skin), I would get him to a good rabbit vet for evaluation right away.

Melanomas (skin cancers) can arise anywhere, and if these lesions are cancerous, then they must be removed NOW, before they are so large that they would necessitate amputation of his penis.

I hope this is nothing serious, but you are wise to be a bit concerned.  We have a bunny who developed dark spots on his penis a few months ago.  We've kept a very close eye on the spots, and they have not changed at all.  I hope this is the case for your little guy.

Dana