Penis plug---always sign for concern?

[JohannSebastianRat]

I've had two rats in the past that got frequent penis plugs after they developed hind-end paralysis. I had to clean them up 2x daily.

Well, now I have a 2-year-old boy who had that gross cheesy smell, so the past couple of days I checked him, and sure enough, some plugs. But he doesn't have hind-end paralysis. Is there another reason to be concerned, or is he just getting lazy about grooming himself? Maybe he would have taken care of it if I hadn't jumped the gun on him.

Mike

[Marybelle]

It's possible he's just having trouble reaching that area.  Try holding him on his back, and seeing if he'll take care of the problem himself if you give him the support to reach.  I've had to do that with a few of my boys.

[JohannSebastianRat]

Well, Finni refuses to be held on his back. But now that I look closer, I think it's obvious he is losing flexibility in his hind end. Whether paralysis or arthritis I don't know.

Had a very large penis plug last night. Guess I will have to start checking 2x/day.

Mike

[scout]

My boys that didn't like to be on their backs were okay standing up in my lap. I'd hold them facing away from me with one hand and do my business with the other. It took a couple of tries to get it coordinated (and for the rat to learn that relief was on the way). But it eventually was easier on both of us that way.

[JohannSebastianRat]

Holding him on the back was not to remove the plug myself, but to see if he would remove it himself. That didn't work. So I'm holding him standing up facing away, like you say.

Mike

[trattus]

hi

i want to add to this...

so, i have a really old man with hind-end paralysis and i was wondering the same thing...

is this a sign of a problem that's more severe?

he def. isn't acting like anything is wrong as far as i can tell, but he seems not to be drinking that much--so i try to give him watery things to eat...

anyway, is it normal to have this be a daily thing? that is, a daily thing to remove the plugs?

or should i have him checked out?

[rattie love]

OMG, What is a penis plug??

[Addicted2Rats]

Umm... its this gross cheesy stuff that accumulates in the folds of the skin of the penis, and ends up blocking the opening of the penis so that the rat can't urinate.  It usually happens because a rat is too fat to be able to clean himself properly in that area, or may be to weak from old age to properly do it.  I don't know if you're familiar with horses, but it's called "debeaning" when you clean a horse that has that.

Deb

[scout]

Penis Plugs

[jeepharm]

hi

i want to add to this...

so, i have a really old man with hind-end paralysis and i was wondering the same thing...

is this a sign of a problem that's more severe?

he def. isn't acting like anything is wrong as far as i can tell, but he seems not to be drinking that much--so i try to give him watery things to eat...

anyway, is it normal to have this be a daily thing? that is, a daily thing to remove the plugs?

or should i have him checked out?

This is totally normal for an old man with hind end paralysis.  I've had 2 old men with that and My Nobel is trending in that direction.  I'm alreading checking him daily, just to be sure.  I don't want him to get a UTI.

Ann & my gorgeous boys Nobel, Ridley, D'Marco, Gino & Nunzio!
Enjoy the yogie bar Efram!
Co-founding Partner/Secretary
Pittsburgh Rat Lovers Club & Rescue

[anita1216]

Fergus had the same issue as he aged. I would help him clean up and we just went along,. He had some pretty severe hind end issues in the last couple months of his life. I always thought it amusing that he enjoyed cranberries so much, maybe it helped with urinary issues? I know its helpful for humans.

[rattie love]

Kinda sorry I asked...