The skin of the penis will be damaged from the constant dragging. [4] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source In severe cases, the penis will turn a dark red due to a prolonged lack of blood flow. A penile prolapse can be extremely painful for your mouse, so he may flinch and become very sensitive to you touching the affected area. ef> Be very gentle with your examination.
An inability to urinate can lead to serious medical problems. If your mouse is not urinating, take him to your veterinarian as soon as possible.
A complete lack of urination also indicates a severe case of penile prolapse. Penile prolapse becomes severe if left untreated. Early recognition can prevent the prolapse from becoming severe and requiring intensive veterinary treatment.
Purchase chlorhexidine to disinfect your mouse’s penis and prepuce. If it is not available at your local pharmacy, ask your veterinarian for recommendations on other disinfectant solutions. Have a few clean towels on hand to keep the treatment area clean and dry. To reduce the swelling, make a small icepack (ice in a plastic bag) or put a small amount of granulated white sugar in a bowl. [7] X Research source You will also need some oil (e. g. , olive, vegetable, canola) to lubricate the penis and keep it from drying out. If the prolapsed area looks infected, you will need some human triple antibiotic ointment, which is available at your local pharmacy.
Place him gently on a clean towel.
If you are right-handed, you will scruff him with your left hand. When you have him his back, tuck his tail between your fingers to keep it out of the way.
Be extra careful around areas of damaged skin (cuts, bite wounds). Patting the area dry with a cotton ball may not be a good idea, since the fibers of a dry cotton ball could get stuck on the skin. Apply some chlorhexidine (or other recommended disinfectant solution) with another piece of gauze or some cotton balls, and pat dry again. You may need to treat the penis for several days with a disinfectant and antibiotic ointment to adequately treat the inflammation. Your veterinarian can provide you with guidance on how long to treat.
The effect of the sugar may not be immediate, so be patient as the swelling goes down. You can also apply a small, wrapped ice pack to your mouse’s penis to reduce the swelling. Apply the ice pack in short intervals to prevent your mouse from getting too cold.
Depending on how much pain your mouse is in, he may not let you do this.
Take your mouse to the veterinarian if your mouse is showing any signs of illness or discomfort following your treatment.
Your veterinarian may also inject a substance called hyaluronidase to further reduce the swelling. [15] X Research source The puncture technique requires anesthesia.
Surgery is not without risk and may be expensive. Talk with your veterinarian to decide if surgery is a practical treatment option for your mouse.
The white towels can also let you know if your mouse is urinating. Take your mouse to back to your veterinarian if the penis has prolapsed again, or you notice that the surgical area is bleeding or looking infected.
