Help Smelly Genitals

Hi there,

My buck mini lop, 2 1/2 years old has developed a nasty problem round his gentials (entire).

A couple of days ago I noticed that his genitals were quite swollen and red, with a strong, nasty smell coming from there. We cleaned him up and have kept an eye on him but he has now developed some white, sticky discharge which sits underneath his testicles. Again we have cleaned him up, but it is coming back. On closer inspection, it looks as though where his penis sits, it is very swollen, but his anus and testicles are normal size (tumour?). It appears as though the white discharge is being secreated from his scent glands which would explain the strong smell. He seems fine in himself, eating and drinking normally, hopping around in his hutch/run and no other noticeable signs anywhere on his body. I did wonder if this was Vent Diesease, but having done a little research the symptoms don't quite match up. You can pick him up normally, and he still enjoys fuss/attention but obviously flinches when we clean him as it is sore.

Please help with any ideas what this may be.

We don't have a small animal vet in this area, and I understand that a normal vet won't necessarily be able to correctly diagnose what this could be, and the last thing I want is to put him through unnecessary stress trying to guess what it could be.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Sam

Hi, didn't want to just read and run.

Although I have girls, I know that boys sometimes need their scent glands squeezing to rid them of any excess stuff BUT I don't know how to do it so I advise you wait until someone more experienced gives you an answer.

Poor boy!

He needs to see a vet, in what country and area are you located?

If you are in Britain, a 'small animal' vet doesn't mean rabbits and small furries anyway, it means cats and dogs etc. But any vet is better than no vet - very few people have actual rabbit specialist vets.

He needs to see a vet asap.

Where are you located? Someone might be able to find a vet in the area? I think he really needs to see a vet tbh, sounds nasty.

Scent glands needing cleaned wouldn't case swollen genitals and the discharge would be a browny colour. Sounds like something more sinister to me.

Vibes for the wee one x

Hi All,

Thanks for the advise thus far. Have you any ideas what it could be?

I took him to a vet this afternoon who really didn't seem to know what it could be, apart from 'a million in one things, rabbits are very prone to illnesses of all kinds' which was no help whatsoever. It was suggested I get him neutered but I want to make sure he is well enough to survive this obviously first.

Any ideas would be gratefully received so at least when I take him back I can come up with something.

May just add that not all of his bits are swollen, just seems to be the part where his penis sits, but I am not 100% if this is normal or not.

Thanks

Sam

Is he kept with other rabbits? Has he been used to breed? Perhaps the answers to these will give someone ideas.

Myxomatosis can cause swelling of the genitals, has he been vaccinated and if so when, and is he exhibiting any other signs of myxi?

Could you also provide a clear picture of the problem.

That's a pretty poor response from the vet. Where are you? Someone may know a good vet in your area. If you're in the UK it is pretty much guaranteed that someone will know a good vet somewhere near you.

I think you're right to be a bit annoyed with the vet. I agree, you need to work out what the problem is before neutering. If he's got an infection or similar there you don't want to be making opening wounds next to it!

Did the vet give you anything? If you let us know where you are hopefully we can find you a better vet. I'd be asking for my money back from the first one too if the second diagnoses it.

In the meantime, cleaning it one a day may help. If you press gently just above the penis it should pop out a little so you can clean around it.

It would certainly be worth checking his scent glands too. They are folds of skin, just near his testicles, they can get clogged up and stinky.

Hi,

No he isn't kept with other rabbits, nor in the vicinity of other rabbits, and has never been used to breed. He is showing no other signs of Mixy, nowhere else is swollen, his eyes are fine and he isn't distant at all, still fully alert to everything going on.

The vet didn't prescribe anything, the only advice he gave me was to get him neutered and keep him clean and if it hasn't cleared up in a couple of weeks :shock: to take him back and he would do some tests. Obviously I won't be leaving it that long as I know illnesses in rabbits can take hold quickly.

He genuinely had no idea what it could be, which doens't fill me with confidence for going back.

Will keep an eye on it for two days as it didn't seem too bad last night or this morning, but will be looking for another vet in the meantime.

Just wondered if anyone had any ideas what it could be, so I can go back and suggest them.

Thanks for help so far.

Hi there, just wondered if your bunny was overweight at all? I had a similar problem with my female rabbit the thread is here : http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/s...abbit-with-sore-front-bum!&highlight=bluebell

She was swollen down below and had white smelly stuff. Anyway the vet gave her a good clean with cotton wool diluted hibiscrub and she prescribed a steroid cream to put on twice a day for 7 days and also for me to clean her twice a day with the diluted hibiscub twice a day before I put the cream on. She also made me put her on a diet so now I only give her a small amout of pellets per day. She said that if they put a bit of weight on they can't clean to well down below and it can get sweaty and fungus can also grow. The hibiscrub is an antibacterial/anti fungal so will kill anything lurking down there and the steroid helps to calm down the inflammation.

Animal Hibiscrub - http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/1510...ff11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=65&ff19=0

Samjy said:

Hi,

No he isn't kept with other rabbits, nor in the vicinity of other rabbits, and has never been used to breed. He is showing no other signs of Mixy, nowhere else is swollen, his eyes are fine and he isn't distant at all, still fully alert to everything going on.

The vet didn't prescribe anything, the only advice he gave me was to get him neutered and keep him clean and if it hasn't cleared up in a couple of weeks :shock: to take him back and he would do some tests. Obviously I won't be leaving it that long as I know illnesses in rabbits can take hold quickly.

He genuinely had no idea what it could be, which doens't fill me with confidence for going back.

Will keep an eye on it for two days as it didn't seem too bad last night or this morning, but will be looking for another vet in the meantime.

Just wondered if anyone had any ideas what it could be, so I can go back and suggest them.

Thanks for help so far.

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A long shot I know as this thread is so old but what was the conclusion of this? My Male buns is exactly as you’ve described and the vet is being no help and it’s been a week and it hasn’t cleared up despite daily cleaning and prescribed cream. Just curious what happened next with your guy!

KandTheBuns said:

A long shot I know as this thread is so old but what was the conclusion of this? My Male buns is exactly as you’ve described and the vet is being no help and it’s been a week and it hasn’t cleared up despite daily cleaning and prescribed cream. Just curious what happened next with your guy!

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It's unlikely the person will read your post. I would make a new thread in Health stating your rabbit's problem and someone will hopefully be able to give you some advice.