HELP needed asap!!! (solved, yay)

[sketchi]

I'm pretty sure Poppet has paraphimosis! his penis is all stuck out and red. I just noticed today!! I don't know when this happened, since there was a friend's birthday party yesterday and I didn't have time to play with my rats (other than feeding). I know for sure he didn't have this even two or three days ago, so what's happening??

what do I do! it's sunday, places are closed, and I'd like to find a place near steeles and leslie to go to asap! from what I understand this is a simple thing to fix, if only in the proper hands!

or if you guys have any DIY suggestions I'm all ears! please help!

 

[lilspaz68]

Do you have metacam, or liquid ibuprofen?

 

[sketchi]

no. ): I only have vaseline and q-tips.

 

[victoria]

I would run out to a drug store and pick up some infant ibuprofen.

 

[sketchi]

I got that and am now figuring out dosage! thanks to patient people helping me in chat. *whew*

 

[PitLuvs]

No advice but watching as I have males too! Good luck!

 

[jorats]

KY jelly... if you got it lather him up with it.

 

[smilez_n_hugs]

Ouch...poor guy. I know the area is really sensitive right now but are you able to push the penis further out to make sure there isn't a hair or anything wrapped around the penis causing this issue?

(Sorry if this has already been covered in chat.)

 

[lilspaz68]

She checked for a penis plug already...he's just a baby. Good idea though, glad you suggested it in the thread :thumbup:

 

[Moon]

That is something I hadn't thought about, something being wrapped around the penis. Hopefully he's feeling better now.

 

[Joanne]

My little guy had it recently. I found that the KY jelly worked much better than the vaseline. It is water-based instead of petroleum-based. He also got Metacam, but I would think that Ibuprofen would be an equivalent.
Good luck - I hope it resolves overnight. If not, tomorrow the vet's should be open...

 

[sketchi]

it's all better now!!
gave him ibu as directed by Shelagh, and applied vaseline whenever I could. if this ever happens again I will for sure try out KY! the vaseline didn't seem to work all that immediately, and he kept licking it off.
it still pops out (a little) from time to time but just a dab of vaseline and it goes back. I'll have to see how it fares in the morning to decide vet-visit-or-not, but for now it's definitely OK. thanks so much to everyone in chat!! don't know what I'd have done without all the useful advice.

he was so sweet, kept licking my face, letting me hold him upside down without much fuss, and taking the medicine like a champ. he may be my densest rat (still doesn't know his name!), but he's really the most docile. I wonder what started this episode? is it just something that happens to some males, sometimes? all randomly? or is it because it's too dry these days? would a humidifier help prevent this in the future? what do you guys suggest?

 

[LA]

When unaltered male rats get older they don't clean themselves well enough. This causes that exact problem. Rats especially with hindend degeneration get this because they can't clean well enough. So it becomes our job to help them out. Good idea to keep an eye out and make sure it's always clean.

 

[sketchi]

he's 7 weeks old... 0.0 it wasn't dirty, it was just... stuck out.

 

[lilspaz68]

Glad to hear his little manly issue has resolved. It sounds like ideopathic paraphimosis (meaning no one has any idea why it happens).

 

[kscanuck785]

glad your little guy is doing better!!!

 

[mamarat]

Glad he's doing better.

 

[Sharlees rattakisses]

:shock: I didn't think about a 7 week old baby rattakiss having this issue.
I am going to check Cesar, Wylie, Sheldon & Nathan and make sure they are okay.
Give Poppet a smooch from his Auntie Shar. :heart: