Swollen, stuck sheath (update)

[Nekopan]

Pip is a 22 month old (best guess) unneutered male. Recently he has lost some weight, and has HED. I check him for plugs on a regular basis, but he's really not happy with letting me mess around down there. I noticed yesterday that he was trying to clean himself with more urgency than normal. When I tried to check today, I noticed the area was a bit swollen and I had trouble pulling his sheath back. I thought it was just due to him struggling and maybe a plug in the way. Digitalangel suggested I soak him in warm water to try to loosen it. After soaking and trying to pull it back again, it seems it's his penis that's swollen, and there's some blood in there. I can't get his sheath down to take a look, and I don't want to stress him out too much.

We have a vet appointment on Thursday, that's the earliest I could get in.

Any suggestions?

 

[jorats]

I'd get some vaseline and try and spread it around the penis, hopefully that might get it feeling better. But do keep an eye on it and him, you might have to tell the vet it's more of an emergency and bring him in sooner.

 

[lilspaz68]

Oh poor Pip. Sounds like a case of paraphimosis without the actual penis stuck out yet. Do you have any pain relief like metacam or ibuprofen to help with any swelling/inflammation as well?

 

[Nekopan]

Thanks guys. I don't have any Vaseline, but I might try to pick some up today. I gave him some Tylenol last night, hopefully it will help with the pain. I think I'll head home early to check on him.

 

[lilspaz68]

I would switch it to ibu since tylenol has other good properties but doens't have the same type of help for swelling.

This is Goli's paraphimosis post...I don't know if it would help since you say the sheath is swollen not the penis?

viewtopic.php?f=21&t=4242&hilit=goliath+paraphimosis

 

[smilez_n_hugs]

Poor guy...have you called your vet and told them its more serious than you originally thought to see if they can get you in any faster? If not then I hope you can get vaseline or lubricant. When I has issues after one of my boy's neuters the vet used lube to help slide the penis back in.

 

[Nekopan]

Wish I had read about ibu before going shopping. I knew tylenol didn't have much in the way of anti-inflammatory properties. :emb:

He still looks swollen. I can't tell if it's the sheath or the penis. When I got home today, I managed to pull a bit of plug out, but it looks like the blood has crusted and dried it closed. :gaah: I've smothered the area in vaseline, hopefully that will help. Here's a picture before I applied the vaseline, I don't know if you can tell anything from the picture.

 

[Rissa]

I hope Pip is okay, sending my love <3

 

[lilspaz68]

Are you checking waaaay down at the base of the penis for plugs? If you sniff him is there a foul smell?

 

[Sharlees rattakisses]

Are you checking waaaay down at the base of the penis for plugs? If you sniff him is there a foul smell?

I too think it's a penis plug.
Unfortunately I have had A LOT of experience with this stinky problem. :smiling:
Gently draw back the sheath to expose the penis, you should see a white plug at the tip.
Remove with soft damp cloth.
Ratties tend to neglect this as they get older. :roll:

 

[lilspaz68]

It seems Pip has a mass in his abdomen, and its pushing things around...it's growing fast and he likely doesn't have a long time. I am sorry Neko. :sad3:

 

[victoria]

I'm sorry Neko :sad3: Sounds like a really crappy trip to the vet.

 

[Sharlees rattakisses]

I am SO sorry!! :heart:
I wish It was just a penis plug.
:cuddle:

 

[mamarat]

How sad, I'm so sorry.

 

[SQ]

I'm so very sorry

:hugs:

 

[Nekopan]

Thanks everyone for your condolences. As Shelagh said, Pip has a large mass in his abdomen that is probably cancerous. It has likely metastasized as he also has a sarcoma on his knee and a smaller lump near his boy parts. My vet said that it may also be in his lungs, causing his laboured breathing. She gave me some doxy and baytril to help him out a little bit, but I will probably need to take him in for a euth soon. I am waiting for my boyfriend to come with me - he really loves Pip and isn't quite ready to let him go yet. I don't think Pip is quite ready yet either, since he still has bursts of activity and enjoys eating. Hopefully he's not in too much pain and I can manage his condition until it's time.

 

[Joanne]

Aww, that so sucks. Enjoy every second you have with him...

 

[Nekopan]

Pip appears to have an abscess inside of his sheath. It was getting progressively more swollen, and today I squeezed it gently and some nasty-smelling liquid came out of it. I got as much as I could out of it, but I can't treat it properly because he starts to go into respiratory distress if I mess around with it too much (mouth open, gasping). Thankfully he is on doxy and baytril already, and hopefully it will help. He can still pee as evidenced by the puddles all over my bathroom counter.

I feel so bad for the poor little guy. :/

 

[lilspaz68]

Pip appears to have an abscess inside of his sheath. It was getting progressively more swollen, and today I squeezed it gently and some nasty-smelling liquid came out of it. I got as much as I could out of it, but I can't treat it properly because he starts to go into respiratory distress if I mess around with it too much (mouth open, gasping). Thankfully he is on doxy and baytril already, and hopefully it will help. He can still pee as evidenced by the puddles all over my bathroom counter.

I feel so bad for the poor little guy. :/

that could be the cause of this particular issue. Pain meds and if you can get him back to the vet for a proper look-see.