hemipenis will not retract

Hello all,

I have an 8 month old Ambilobe Panther (Lego) and he is having a bit of a problem. His right hemi penis will not retract. since Tuesday December 9th (over a week ago). I took him to the vet Monday and the vet said that it may be an impacted seminal plug, but we need to get the swelling down to make sure. I have been pulling white soft boogary stuff out of the left hemipene and it seems to be getting much better on the left side. the right side however will not retract and I am worried it might be plugged up. I can feel a solid mass in the base when everted.

I should say that the vet prescribed him with a 1 oz jar of all natural non pasturized honey to be applied twice daily along with a mal-otic ointment to be applied once daily between honey treatments.

today, I noticed some dead skin building up, so out of curiosity that maybe the plug may be a bit deeper, I everted him in the same manner the vet did and noticed that at the base of each of the cilia covered domes, there seems to be a little white string that almost looks like the head of a seminal plug. I gave it a slight tug with my fingertips, but out of fear that it may be part of the organ, didn't tug too hard.

I guess my question is, where does the semen come out of? I mean, does it come out of 2 different places in one hemipenis, or is it excreted from the fold down the side? I do not know anything about the anatomy and don't want to hurt him, but at the same time, its hard to see him dragging his right hemipenis around as I feel he might hurt himself or get infected.

Please, any suggestions would be appreciated.

BTW, I am new to this forum. Thank you for having me. I have done a lot of research from this site in the past and you provide a great portal for information!

Zig

Welcome to the forums. I'm sorry to hear about your Cham. Does your vet have chameleon experience? This is how I handle prolapse: Soak in cold water with as much sugar dissolved in the water as you can get. Soak 5 minutes and take out for 5 minutes and apply KY Jelly, then soak 5 more minutes and then apply KY. Continue to do this until either he pulls it back in or you get him to the vet. If he doesn't pull it back in on his own he will probably need it amputated. You can try to help him get it back in after you have soaked it for awhile and the vet will try to get it back in. If it's been out for awhile the chances of him or the vet getting it back in are slim and he'll probably need it amputated. Most do just fine after the amputation.

The cold water trick has worked for me once a long time ago. As for pulling out that plug, your call but I'd find a solid reptile vet if you are unsure of how to handle that. Pay attention to the vet so you can learn in the process.

Soaking and plain KY works for mine.

By soaking do you mean to submerge the backside of the chameleon in a bowl of cold water and sugar, or just use a piece of soaked paper on the hemipenis?

Sana

You would need to submerge the backside of the chameleon in a bowl of cold water and sugar.

the key is to keeping it moist... if it dries out then you have problems. Prolapse happens often with the Green Tree pythons and sometimes you have to push it back in if the method Jan described does not work. The first time is the hardest

frikitiki said:

the key is to keeping it moist... if it dries out then you have problems. Prolapse happens often with the Green Tree pythons and sometimes you have to push it back in if the method Jan described does not work. The first time is the hardest

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At least a cham doesn't have those fangs! I doubt doing this to a GTP would be much fun for anyone!

Carlton said:

At least a cham doesn't have those fangs! I doubt doing this to a GTP would be much fun for anyone!

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Oh ya... you learn quick with GTP the first 3 steps when dealing with them:
1: immobilize head
2: check that head is immobilized
3: check that you checked the head is IMMOBILIZED!

frikitiki said:

Oh ya... you learn quick with GTP the first 3 steps when dealing with them:
1: immobilize head
2: check that head is immobilized
3: check that you checked the head is IMMOBILIZED!

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Forgot first step...

0: let "friend" hold

update

Thanks for all of the replies. Yes the vet was recommended by the lady that owns the local reptile shop, so he does have experience, but unfortunately he is only in Mon-wed, so I need a little guidance on whether or not to take him in tomorrow (monday).

Since I last posted, Lego has made a turn for the worst. I have been applying the honey and Mal otic ointment as prescribed by the vet. Unfortunately, he still has not been able to work his right hemipenis back in (although the left one appears better). It has started to go necrotic and he is looking very weak today. Up until today he was eating fine but I have noticed he has been drinking an abnormal amount of water. He started shedding yesterday and was looking good. However, I came down this morning to find him very shaky and weak. He won't eat now but will not stop drinking.

I was able to get him everted the other day and noticed a lot of white dead tissue around the base of his hemipenis. Do you think it needs amputation? And if we aputate, will he have enough energy to recover?

It just so happens my Son is due on the 28th and I am afraid if I do go that route, that I will not be able to provide the care and attention necessary for recovery.

Thanks again for any light you may be able to shed on a bad situation.

zig

If you are not going to provide him with the much needed surgery that he should have already had then the least you can do is have him euthanized so he want have to continue to suffer or give him to someone who can care for him.

jannb said:

If you are not going to provide him with the much needed surgery that he should have already had then the least you can do is have him euthanized so he want have to continue to suffer or give him to someone who can care for him.

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The vet wanted to try a natural less abrasive means of treatment before amputation... it's not that I won't provide it, I am just wondering if he can recover in his current state and my current situation.. I said I was taking him in tomorrow as soon as the vet comes in(as long as he is still alive).....

And for the record, I do not believe he is suffering,just not his peppy self. He is a bit weak and shaky,but it was first thing in the morning, and he was very cold. I put him in his lay box with a heat light on him, gave him an antibiotic and he has his color and looks like he is about 80% now(instead of the 60% this morning). Any positive replies would be appreciated.

What should I do to try to save his life.

Thanks.

Zig

Hey, have you taken him to the vet? I am curious as to how this lil guy is doing! I really feel bad and want to know what is happening in case I ever have to deal with this situation!
Best wishes!

Danzig557 said:

And for the record, I do not believe he is suffering,just not his peppy self. He is a bit weak and shaky,but it was first thing in the morning, and he was very cold. I put him in his lay box with a heat light on him, gave him an antibiotic and he has his color and looks like he is about 80% now(instead of the 60% this morning). Any positive replies would be appreciated.

What should I do to try to save his life.

Thanks.

Zig

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To save his life he'll need to have the hemipene amputated. Its just going to become necrotic and the dead tissue may start a serious infection. He's probably in a lot of pain too. Chams are masters at hiding signs of weakness including pain, so you may not see very obvious signs of suffering. Animals that show obvious signs that they are not 100% healthy draw attention to themselves and are targets for predators. It's instinctive regardless if he's in captivity or not.

Thank you for the advice. I never really thought of it like that.

Yes, he went to the vet believe on the 15th if memory serves correctly. He got prescribed with a once a day Mal-otic ointment (mid-day), and morning and night honey treatments to keep it moist and try to get the swelling under control. The vet said the pouch was not large enough to house the hemipenes.

I had a fresh stool sample ready for the microscope but had forgotten it at my house. He stuck the thermometer in him and wanted to do a smear, but said it was not a guaranteed result, so I opted to bring him one next visit if the treatment failed.

He has an appointment first thing in the morning for another exam. The vet is not a DVM,but does have experience with chams. I am going to ask him if he has ever preformed this procedure, and if my wife happens to go into labor, will he survive 24 hrs possibly(or more) without care after a surgery of that proportion, or if they have a 24 hour care (I know they do boarding for cat/dog) that they can rehab/monitor him in a pinch.

Before I go in tomorrow, are there any other questions I should ask the vet, Or recommendations anyone has? I am running out of ideas and the power of many minds can be the difference between my baby living or dying.

Oh and just an update, he is still drinking like a fish, I was thinking about lacing his spray bottle with Pedia lite to make sure he is staying hydrated in case the antibiotics aare dehydrating him. For the last 2 days, I have not seen him eat anything on his own. Therefore, yesterday I fed him 5 medium crickets and 3 small meal worms by hand. He has almost completed his shed, but as I was afraid of, has not shed his pouch area, and the bottom of his tail stopped shedding last shed now that I think about it as well (probably unrelated).

Please let me know if you have any suggestions.

Thanks

Does anyone know the reasoning as to why this happens? Is there a health condition that makes the hemipenes have a difficult time retracting?

Thanks!

Dusting with viagra?

cHaMeLeOn1987 said:

Does anyone know the reasoning as to why this happens? Is there a health condition that makes the hemipenes have a difficult time retracting?

Thanks!

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Being over weight, parasites, mating and sometimes it just happens.