Why is my guinea pig's penis swollen and he's not cleaning himself?

I am sorry to hear about your guinea pig. A photograph may help us better evaluate the area. If you are certain the area looks swollen (meaning you have viewed the area previously and it now appears altered) I would recommend a visit to the vet for your guinea pig. If you aren’t positive the gender of your guinea pig it’s possible this is a male starting to sexually mature. You can read about determining gender at http://www.guinealynx.info/sexing.html

It is hard to tell from the photo but the swelling may just be his testicles they can retract them, so sometimes you won't see them. If there are 2 swellings then it will be tested, if not or you are unsure best to have it checked at the vets.

Hello there, and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The growth you pictured is rather large, and considering its location, I do recommend having Glottis examined by a veterinarian to determine if it could potentially obstruct his urination. Cauliflower-like lesions are usually papillomas - a type of growth that can pop up on the mucous membranes and genitals and is generally caused by a virus. While the virus itself is usually not life-threatening, the growths it causes can be a nuisance. This would make sense since his cagemate also now has similar symptoms and these viruses can be contagious. There is no treatment for papilloma virus, but unruly growths may be removed by a veterinarian (though they do have the potential to grow back). There is also the potential that the growth is not a papilloma but a malignant tumor, but less likely as his cagemate has the same thing. As long as Glottis is still urinating currently, this is probably not an emergency, but I strongly suggest having him evaluated as soon as possible to prevent future issues. Good luck, and I hope that your piggies stay happy and healthy!

The two most common causes of facial swelling in guinea pigs are abscesses in the jaw or a dental problem. Check your guinea pig's chin and mouth area. If she is drooling or the fur is wet, those are both signs of a dental problem. If a tooth is abscessed or growing abnormally into the area behind the eye, there can also be a discharge from one or both eyes, so check for that as well. Abscesses or tumors in the nasal cavity can also cause swelling like this to happen. All of these conditions must be treated by a vet. I suggest you find an exotic vet in your area to check him out.

Thanks for reaching out about Teddy and including photos. This could be a sebaceous cyst or abscess. For now, wash the lesions with a mild soap, such as Johnson Baby Shampoo or Dawn dishsoap. If the lesion continue to grow or appears to be bothering Teddy, a veterinary visit is recommended. Good luck.

It sounds like your rat may have had some trauma to his penis or he may have a urinary tract infection. If he is housed with other rats I would recommend separating him for the time being. I would also recommend taking him to the vet to be checked out. If he does have a urinary tract infection he will need to antibiotics to help clear it up. Your vet can also prescribe some pain medication for him.

Hello, sorry to hear about Pepe. You can put a frozen bag of veggies or an ice pack wrapped in a thin cloth or plastic zip lock bag in the area for 5 minutes or so, 2-3 times per day for the next 3 days. He likely has normal post-operative swelling that should resolve within 2-3 weeks. If it is not getting better, if the area is painful, if the swelling is worsening, or if Pepe no longer eats and seems lethargic then have him evaluated immediately. Hope this helps and best of luck.