Switch's manky penis

I came back to find Switch is still having problems with his personal bits. There's now a blood crusting around the area as well as pus when I squeeze it out. Will I just keep going with popping it out and bathing it? Or is medical attention required?

As you were soldier! Keep cleaning it as best you can - if you're very concerned, try some soothing cream. It should hopefully be OK after a short while. If you are still worried, see the vet, and ask about topical or oral antibiotics?

xx

Katherine I love how you delicately referred to his "personal bits" and titled it as graphically as you did on a more empathetic (is that a word?.) note,hope poor Switches bits start improving soon

Haha I know, I was thinking that as I typed it, but it's as well to be clear in a subject line I think

Hi Katherine, I know exactly what you're going through! Oscar is having the same problem lately! I just noticed last week that his pee was smelly so I did a little investigative work and found that he was all clogged up. I squeezed out quite a few solid, cream-coloured, smelly lumps... poor fella did not appreciate me manhandling his bits!! But he calmed down after a minute, he seemed to know I was doing something good for him, even if it was uncomfortable. I gave him his first bath - it was an experience, to say the least

Now though, it seems that the stuff is clogging up inside, kind of behind his penis (I can't really describe it) Like I can see his little thing poking out and I think I can feel stuff behind it but I can't get it out! Should I take him to the vet? His pee is no longer smelly like it was, so maybe I'm imagining it... I read that this is quite a common problem in older male rats, and that we will most likely have to 'unclog' them quite often! How old is your fella? Oscar just turned 1 and a half. Is Switch in any way overweight? I think Oscar is, and this is preventing him from cleaning himself properly. He doesn't eat that much these days, it's just that he has no one to play with anymore so he doesn't get much exercise. It's becoming a real chore to make him exercise, he isn't interested in toys (but he never was, even as a baby)

Sorry I didn't mean to hijack your thread! Just didn't see the point in starting another one about the same thing. I really hope Switch feels better soon! xxx

Sounds like Oscar's is quite a nasty case. If you're really unsure it might be wise to see a vet - as these things can get infected of course.

xx

Hey, don't worry about 'hijacking' at all, we're here to share our problems right? Switch is about 18 months I think (Laura??) and yes he is quite overweight.

Poor Oscar's case sounds really nasty With Switch I dissolve a little bit of savlon or TCP into a basin of water and soak a cotton ball in it, which I use to swab the gunge off. Maybe that would help fight the underlying infection a bit? Though if I were in your case I would probably ask the vet for a topical antibiotic.

I've yet to give poor Switchy a proper bath. I hope it doesn't come to that Good luck, keep us updated

Sorry for the delay in replying!! Thanks so much for the advice Katherine, it has cleared up nicely and no icky stuff has come out in days. I'm taking him to the vet this evening for resp problems (will post in new thread) so I'll mention it then and she might give me something to ensure it stays away. Are Oscar and Switch from the same litter I wonder? Both are 18 month old BF boys... is your boy from Snake and Bella's litter? (So sorry to hear about Bella, Laura :-( I hope you're ok) xxx

Shanty, they're not both BF boys - Switch is an Atlas boy from two BF rats - but although he and Oscar are related, I don't think it's very closely.

xx