Penis Protruding
There is one particular problem that some boars get which
isvery uncomfortable indeed and if it is not dealt with can
lead to cystitis and worse. It is when the penis is found
to be extruding.
Nine times out of ten this is because he has become sexually
excited at some stage, ejaculated and the semen has congealed
around the penis and prevented it returning to it's normal
position, sheathed up inside it's body out of harm's way!.
I was once asked by a very precocious child at a school why
a guinea pig's penis cannot be seen. He, it had to be a boy
of course, was obviously trying to put me in the spot, but
not for the first time, his, like many other children's questions,
was one I should have asked myself. The answer came easy enough
for I had been talking about the low centre of gravity guinea
pig have which makes them so stable when they run at high
speeds. If anything dangled it would not only slow it down
it would also be in danger of damage, somewhat.
Guinea pig semen sets like super glue and very quickly too
and this is why this problem sometime occurs. The most likely
scenario is when a boar is suddenly housed close to sows and
becomes over excited.
The penis is usually red raw and in cases where the problem
has not been detected early, it can have hard scabs on the
tip and become pusy. It is usually detected before this if
it has indoor accommodation for it will squeak in pain and
lift it's bottom high when it passed urine for the semen can
restrict the flow when it is clamped around the shaft.
Wash thoroughly in warm soapy water, then extrude the penis
fully. The ring of semen is usually very easy see and has
to be broken off for I have never come up with any kind of
solvent to break it down!. Needless to say this is a bit of
a delicate operation which I am sure the male of any species
would appreciate!. It is wise to make this a four handed job,
with someone to hold the boar firmly and still while ring
of semen is broken with the finger and thumb of both hands.
I coat the shaft in calendula oil and it usually slips back
in easy enough and with obvious great relief to the boar!.
If the penis has become badly infected then an antibiotic
ointment is recommended and it may be advisable for the animal
to be put on a course of antibiotic orally.
