Inflamed penis?

[OkiDoki]

When I cleaned the boy parts of neutered boy yesterday (I only used to clean the pocket, didn't know you had to clean the penis as well until recently ), I had to clean away quite a bit of smegma, but didn't find anything like hay or bedding stuck in there. Underneath all the smegma, his penis seemed to be quite red, and the skin at the base also a little. I have just taken this photo. Is this inflammation? It's no problem to take him to a vet, just don't want to cause all the stress of a trip to the vet if it's completely normal.



This is the best photo I could take.

He hasn't shown any signs that something could be bothering him. He hasn't lost his appetite, has been walking, sprinting and popcorning as usual (at 4,5 years old).

Hope someone has some advice for me.

 

[PigglePuggle]

Its always difficult to say from a photo, especially as boy bits vary quite a bit and we dont know what is mormal for your boy! But if you are at all concerned pop along to the vet just to make sure. Try not to over-clean boar bits, although it may be needed in some older boys then often a quick visual check of things is fine, no need to go popping the little chap's penis out and cleaning it too often!

 

[Claire W]

It looks normal to me but I agree that taking him to the vets will do no harm if you are concerned but you don’t need to keep cleaning the penis. I have a neutered boy and have never had to clean his penis

 

[OkiDoki]

Thanks for your replies.

I wasn't planning on cleaning it too often, but when I checked yesterday it all seemed swollen (and the skin very tight) because of all the smegma, seemed very uncomfortable, that's why I cleaned it. Now everything seems to be back to a normal size again, compared to two younger neutered boars that are staying here for a few months - they have black skin, though, so I couldn't compare the redness of the skin.
I'll check again tomorrow, and if I'm still a bit worried I'll have him checked out by the vet.

 

[Bradshaw Piggies]

With the above. I have quite a few boars, it doesn’t look like there’s anything wrong to me. But definitely a vet check if it helps to put your mind at ease

 

[Wiebke]

You want to keep on top of a big build up of smegma if you have a boy who is prone to it (my Dylan is prone to it), but in most cases a monthly check is enough (just feel the penis area for any signs of hardness or swelling weekly re. semen rods or smegma build-up) unless you have a very messy teenage boar, a cauliflower penis case or an impacted oldie.
Boar Care: Bits, Bums & Baths

 

[OkiDoki]

I checked today and the redness was gone, everything looked normal again. So perhaps it was the build up of smegma causing the redness. Casper was happily doing zoomies and popcorns when I changed a few hideys in the cage, so he didn't seem to be bothered by anything. I don't think I'll have him checked out by a vet, as everything looks ok again, but will keep an eye on it.