What is wrong with my squirrel?

[millerr4r]

:help For a while now my squirrel, Ray Ray who is 2 and 1/2, has been having a problem with his penis. Its like his penis is just hanging out and not retracting. He seems to be urinating fine its just he doesnt like to lay down, obviously b/c his penis burns. I have attached some pic's so you can see what im talking about. We have been putting vaseline on him so it wont get dry. Other than that he eats fine and doesnt have any other problems. Does anybody have any suggestions on what this could be or how to treat it?

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[Mars]

It appears to quite red and inflamed. Is it swollen? How long has this been going on?

[millerr4r]

Ray, Ray is in a large three tier ferret type cage. He eats pecans, spring mix, fruits, sweet potatoes, snow peas. He does have a full spectrum light. We have had him since he was about 12 weeks old when he obviously fell out of the attic. He is such a joy. We just have no clue what to do about this. He is not quite as active because I think his penis hurts when he climbs. But we have been getting him out and cleaning the area. He sleeps on a fleece type blanket that we change often.

[millerr4r]

Yes it is swollen. We first noticed it about a month ago. But it has not gotten worse nor has it gotten better.

[millerr4r]

this has only been going on recently...hasnt gotten any worse or any better.

[Mars]

Is there any itching or scabbing? Is his urine discolored or clear?

[millerr4r]

i have never seen him itching it nor is his urine discolored. We live in the DFW area in Texas...is there somewhere we could take him to have him checked out?

[Mars]

I'm way up in the northeast and am not familiar with Texas. I would suggest contacting Muffinsquirrel by PM as she is one of our members in Texas and would be able to answer that question. :)

[Mars]

There's not a lot for me to go on here but I may be able to suggest a homeopathic remedy that could help. If you are interested let me know and I will PM you with the information. :)

[millerr4r]

I am very interested!!

[muffinsquirrel]

Do you have a vet up there that you trust? Foxers and greys are illegal to keep in Texas so some vets might not treat him, but if you have one that you use regularly for your dog or cat or something, I'd try him. If you know a wildlife rehabber up there, they might could tell you who to go to. Your main problem is going to be the fact that foxers are illegal, and whoever you take him to could possibly turn you in to Parks and Wildlife. Call some vets and ask if they would treat him - you know...'I have a friend that has a fox squirrel and is looking for a vet that will treat him'. Sound them out and see who sounds friendly.

It is too late tonight, but tomorrow I will try to get hold of someone that may know what you can do for him without a vet. Also, I have a vet here that sees my squirrels, but I'm quite a drive from you - I live about 25 miles above Beaumont.

I'll see what I can do tomorrow and either post or PM you with what I find out.

muffinsquirrel

[hazel]

Has it been like this constantly for a month or does it just happen occasionally and then correct itself??

Please answer. Once I know, I may be able to help.

[millerr4r]

it has been constant...somedays look better or worse than others..but it is constant

[hazel]

OK. Stick around...I'll call my hospital. Hopefully they won't be too busy with emergencies to talk.

I'll be back.

[millerr4r]

well its 1 AM here and i gotta get up in 5 hrs. so im gonna go to bed and check this as soon as i wake up..

[hazel]

Talked to the vet. Sorry it took so long.

This is a condition called paraphimosis. In chinchillas it is often caused by a ring of hair that has encircled the penis - loose hairs that have been shed. There is an erection, the penis moves forward and the prepuce moves back (the skin that normally covers the penis) but then the prepuce becomes trapped because of the hair ring which needs to be manually removed. This condition also occurs in dogs, usually because the erection is sustained or because the opening to the prepuce is too small.

The main concern in Ray Ray's case is that the tissues have been in this position for such a long time. The worst case scenario is that surgery would be required.

Try this. Mix a solution of sugar and water - use plenty of sugar. Apply this to theclean tissues and allow it to sit for a couple of minutes. Then try to move the prepuce forward. Be sure to rinse the solution off when finished.
This often works for animals who have had this condition, but generally it has been going on for a much shorter length of time.

I would encourage you to follow any suggestions that Mars has for you.
Please keep us informed and good luck!

[millerr4r]

okay thanks you guys!..i will try this as soon as My daughter and I get home from work this evening and let y'all know the results.

:thankyou

[muffinsquirrel]

I notice that you are wearing heavy gloves in the pictures of him. How tame is he? Can you handle him without gloves when you play with him? How much 'out of cage' play time does he get? Do you have a full spectrum light for him? Just light through a window or screen won't help. I keep a full spectrum light on in our squirrel room all day - they need this to utilize calcium in their body. Otherwise, he may end up with MBD (Metabolic Bone Disease) some day, and that can make them very ill, and even lead to death.
I haven't gotten in touch with my contacts yet, but am working on it. Hazel and Mars are both excellent, so do whatever they reccommend.

Good luck,

muffinsquirrel

[millerr4r]

he is very tame I just had to put on gloves b/c his nails were pretty sharp and he didnt like us touching that area so he would get kinda squimish obviously b/c it hurts but we take him out for play everyday. we also do have a full spectrum light that we put on him everyday.

[hazel]

:thumbsup

[Secret Squirrel]

Poor little fellow.....that has got to hurt like crazy. I hope you and your daughter can do the proceedure hazel suggested. Do you or can you get some rescue remedy by Bachs into him before you do this ???? It works well when you got a stressed out animal. He will be very stressed out during and after the process too.

Hazel....what is the long term fix for Ray Ray and his winky ??? :dono

[millerr4r]

Secret Squirrel

What is the rescue remedy you are talking about.

[hazel]

Rescue Remedy is a wonderful product as are all the Bach Flower Remedies. I recommend that you do NOT use Rescue Remedy at the same time as the homeopathic remedy that Mars suggested. These are both vibrational medicines and so should not be given at the same time.

I urge you to follow Mars homeopathy recommendations and to try the sugar water. In fact, I've been thinking that it may be best to give the homeopathic remedy first, and after waiting the appropriate amount of time for the symptoms to improve, then apply the sugar solution and hopefully that will finish the job.

As far as the long term fix, let's wait and see how far these first steps take us. :)

[Abacat]

Just wanted to say :Welcome
Hope Ray Ray is doing better, poor little guy. He's adorable! :Love_Icon

[Skippynut]

First let me say :Welcome to TSB! Poor little Ray Ray, that has got to be painful for the little guy. However you will receive the best advice and the best care here! These folks are awsome!!!:thumbsup Best of luck to you and Ray Ray. :grouphug Please keep us posted on his wellbeing and post pics of him please. He's absolutly beautiful!!!:jump

[Secret Squirrel]

miller4r, How is Ray Ray today ?

Thank you hazel for the advice about not mixing the rescue remedy with the homeo meds that Mars was suggesting. :thumbsup
By the way the posts were going it was hard to tell if miller4r did indeed talk to Mars at all.:thinking
Maybe we need to post to the thread if a rehaber is dealing with a member off thread. Just MHO.

[millerr4r]

Just to let everyone know I feel that the swelling is going down after using the Cantharis 30. It is still not enough yet to follow Hazel advise and use the sugar water. I will try to post some pics later to see if everyone else can see the improvement or if it is just me. After giving him the first dose late last night, he actually seem to be in alot better spirits although he has never really acted terribly bad just on the uncomfortable side kinda like he did not want to climb or move around too much but for now I think the swelling and redness has gone down some just not quite enough.

Thanks for everyones help. I wish I had known about this site earlier.

[millerr4r]

here are some pics we promised....the redness seems to have gone down but i can not really see a difference in the swelling..maybe just a little...where should we go from here??....
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[Mars]

Have you repeated the Cantharis?

[millerr4r]

we repeated once yesterday morning...should we do it again?...we didnt know how often was too much..what do you think of him?

[Mars]

I think the coloring is much better. I would repeat once more then try the sugar water soak. You must remove the hair ring that is causing the problem to make really better. :)

[millerr4r]

Okay so we are going to go do the cantharis...so how long should we wait to do the sugar water after the cantharis?

[Mars]

Try the soak in the morning. Be gentle, it may not work the first time. We don't want to cause more irritation. Let us know how it goes. We can always work up a plan "B" if needed. :)

[Secret Squirrel]

The poor fellow....I agree the sugar soak is the way to go. Follow Mars since you are doing homeo. I would also PM hazel or post to her and get as many tips as you can from her before you do it. Let her walk you through it...it's always better when trying something for the first time to have a buddy to ease the jitters of being a squirelly mom. :thumbsup Maybe you can exchange phone numbers. :Love_Icon

[Skippynut]

Beautiful little foxer you have there!!:thumbsup. He looks so happy. Love the pic were he's getting a face rub!! To CUTE!!!!!! Prayers to you and Ray Ray he'll be better soon:grouphug

[squirrelfriend]

Hi,

I have had this happen with my squirrel, Squirrelie about a year ago. He seemed to get erections that he couldn't get to go back in. I didn't notice any hair getting in the way with his. It seemed that it would just go erect then dry up so that it couldn't get back in. All I did was keep moistening it with water and work it back into the skin for him. This went on for a month then just stopped on it's own. It hasn't happened since.

[millerr4r]

Squirrelfriend,

we have been keeping it lubricated but our problem is his winky is swollen...was your squirrel's winky swollen?

[squirrelfriend]

No swollen winky. It didn't get to that point. Are you able to get it to go back in? IT takes a little effort but it can be done. It is irritated because it is dry. As long as it is stuck out it will keep getting dry. I know it seems gross and a little weird but it has to be worked back in. Are you able to get it to go back in?

[Luv4scratty]

Looks like you have a nasty problem here. Has it gotten any better? And does it look infected?

[squirrelfriend]

How's Ray Ray doing?

[hazel]

How's Ray:)Ray doing?

[Secret Squirrel]

:dono Did Ray Ray's tool get put back in the shed ?????:dono Every day that passes is a day waaaayyyy too long for Ray Ray....ahhh....ummmm...tool. :D

[fritzp]

I just got on line to see this and you already have good information. As a vet I would recommend that if the sugar water does not help in getting the swelling down then try a sugar paste (just enough water to dissolve but remain thick) and let it sit for about 5 minutes (easier said than done, I know). I have used that to replace huge prolapsed uteruses in cows. The big danger is further trauma (and swelling) or swelling of the urethra so he can't urinate. That is an IMMEDIATE emergency. Also keep the penis moist as you have been doing. When trying to massage the penis back into the sheath you actually need to extend the penis first (this will also show if there is a hair around it) and then try to work the sheath over it. The penis has an S shape bend to it-straighten the S to extend the penis. Hard to explain. Best would be if he was tranquilized-much easier to work with. Sorry I can't help more-keep looking for a vet or rehabber who can sedate him and do surgery if necessary. Good luck with you little buddy-I know how attached we become to them!

[susanw]

Hi, Fritzp! Nice to have a vet. on the board! Hope you stick around!:)

[hippiesquirrel]

He might just need a mate to get his winky back in.Why don't you go out and find him a female foxer he needs a little tail once in awhile.

[Skippynut]

:Welcome Fritzp to TSB! Hope you stay around too. A caring vet would be an awesome addition to the forum:D

[fotheloveofsquirrels]

How is your little guy?

[FLUFFYTAILNUT]

Oh...oh..my..thaat..really looks painful!!!
Ouch..poor fellow...how's his Mr.winky doing....all that pullen and soaking..any of it working yet??
I hope, I hope!!!!
I feel. so sorry..for him...in all..he looks like he's still given lovens....is he able to urinate okay??
Im so, sorry for him....and oyu..for having to see him like that!!:Love_Icon :Love_Icon

[Secret Squirrel]

Has anyone been dealing with miller4r by PM ?? :dono
I am wondering why we havent heard any new news. :thinking

This is a very urgent matter for Ray Ray and lots of us are very concerned. We are here to help.
Do you need more help miller4r.....what can we do to help Ray Ray and you ???
We can form a chain of support and try to get someone in your area to lend you assistance if thats what you need. :grouphug

[Mars]

I have not received any responce to my PM's. Sorry I am blind to what is happening here. :shakehead

[Mrs. Jack]

here we go again... please check in and let us know how he's doing :) if he's doing well, we can be glad with you, and if he's not, we can lend some more help..

[4skwerlz]

Please let us know how Ray Ray is doing. We are all worried about him. :grouphug