Hasmsters penis out, help?

SecretlyDying · 10-29-2014, 05:33 PM

Tonight while doing my daily health check on my hamsters i noticed my Syrian had a little pinkish red thing, which i assume is his penis, out. I know their penis should be retracted due to research and that if its out it could be because of a list of things. I've done some research and i understand a vet is probably necessary but its 00:08 where i am so a vet isn't possible at the moment. Is there anything i should do now though? Like change his bedding (which is wood shavings), should i put a towel in his cage so his penis doesn't get irritated more or just watch him until i can get to a vet? He's eating and drinking and generally doing what he does every night. My Syrian is a year old i think (estimated birthday is in July)...

katmick · 10-29-2014, 05:40 PM

I wouldn't worry...I think it's just a male thing..maybe it is a bit worm in a room?! Did you start to heat more?

Skeever · 10-29-2014, 05:45 PM

I wish I knew what to advise. Hopefully someone with more experience with hamster will know exactly what is going on and whether it is normal or requires vet care?

Here's hoping it was just an awkward moment for Mr Hammy.....seeing him in that state....maybe it does happen and usually, thankfully, not around us. Yanno, mixed messages and all

Don't depend on what you find, but maybe a broad Google of the topic and related topics will let you know if this happens occasionally....and if not what to do about it. Keep us posted. As a person who checks their hams regularly, there are so many things that happen that I wasn't told about in Ham Parenting classes.....let's hope its a normal, temporary, abnormality.....

Keep us posted. Even if its nothing.... it would help other hamster owners coming across the same situation in the future! Fortunately, everything else seems normal, so, here's hoping its nothing....

Skeever · 10-29-2014, 05:47 PM

A bit 'worm' in the room......paging Dr. Freud......

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

I'm guessing someone here on the forum who deals with hams as in breeding them, may shed some light on the topic though. In the meantime, I would see what came up on Google....without assuming whatever comes up is right or even accurate.......could be fairly normal for all we know....

katmick · 10-30-2014, 04:55 AM

Message to Skeever : ... I meant to say " a bit warm..." ha ha ha...

... no Freudian slip there,or am I wrong ?!

SecretlyDying · 10-30-2014, 10:25 AM

Update: i checked on him this morning and his penis was gone (retracted), i cleaned his cage (bad timing but it needed doing) and left him to settle for a while. I've just checked him and his penis is back out o_O I don't understand whats happening tbh, could it be laziness?

Shannonmcn · 10-30-2014, 10:39 AM

Lol I don't think its "laziness" maybe he just really likes his nice clean cage!

SecretlyDying · 10-30-2014, 11:18 AM

I've had him for a year and i've never once seen his penis till now, i really dont think its normal, am i just worrying for no reason? :'3

NiceCrocs · 10-30-2014, 11:28 AM

Does the, er, 'area' look irritated, or is there any discharge or other red flags? Male hamsters can get infections or other maladies, like tumors or cysts, on the genitals.

If all that is ruled out, it could be nothing, but my advice would be to monitor it and seek a vet if there's any indicator of infection or other problems.

katmick · 10-30-2014, 12:00 PM

Ok...I have to admit,my Percy had his penis out on few occasions..Usually when I surprised him and came into room...he would be sitting up and all would be out on a display..He is in great form though,and I just laughed when I saw him like that...I think it's just a male thing...I had only a female before so I accepted it as something new..I really wouldn't worry.
It only happened maybe only three times. I think,you shouldn't worry,but if you do,bring him to a vet and get him checked out.