Hemi injury from sperm plug?

[MzLaurie]

Ok got up to this issue today. My 3 1/2 year old male veiled was hanging there trying to get to a cricket and I saw the first three pics. It looked like it possibly had a hard scab with dried blood on the tip. So I made him a warm soak, put on gloves toook him to the sink and he was battling me so hard that when I went to touch it to see if it was as hard as it looked, he pulled away from me and this came with it. The last two pics. Since he was not going to go in the soak, I rinsed him off and put 100% vegetable glycerine hospital grade on it and let him go back into his cage. What do you all think? Am I right in my summation that it’s a stuck sperm plug? I will keep a close eye on him in hopes that it will retract once he relaxes. I already have an appointment set up for him on Thursday. If it doesn’t retract I guess I will move that up if I can.

 

[MissSkittles]

I think that’s a plug, but not 100% certain. I would try somehow getting some sugar water soaked on his vent to help shrink the tissues. If not able to hold his butt in it, try holding some saturated paper towel or cloth to the area. Avoid warm water though as it could feel scalding to him but fine to you. Then a water based lubricant to the vent. Hopefully all will go back in on its own. You might want to double check your humidity and ensure it’s in range to prevent recurrence. Hope he’ll be ok. Keep us posted.

 

[MzLaurie]

Thanks for replying Miss just checked on him and it’s shrunk almost to normal so the glycerin worked. The plug is shrinking up so I am sure it’s a plug! He is really pissed at me so later I will put some of the glycerin on a wet cloth and let him sit on while I watch tv. Good idea. Thanks. Btw glycerin is sugar based derived from vegetables. I get the hospital grade lubricant so no alcohol is in it.

 

[MissSkittles]

Thanks for replying Miss just checked on him and it’s shrunk almost to normal so the glycerin worked. The plug is shrinking up so I am sure it’s a plug! He is really pissed at me so later I will put some of the glycerin on a wet cloth and let him sit on while I watch tv. Good idea. Thanks. Btw glycerin is sugar based derived from vegetables. I get the hospital grade lubricant so no alcohol is in it.

I never made the connection between glycerin and sugar, yet it’s right there in the prefix, glyc-. lol I can be such a dolt sometimes. Anyhow, glad it’s worked and is shrinking down his ‘stuff’. Do make sure to double check humidity so it won’t happen again…or maybe check his vent end every now and then. One of my geckos has had a plug problem and after every shed or two I gently feel to make sure nothing is abnormal.

 

[Beman]

It is a sperm plug but that is a build up which means he has not been shedding them regularly. So they are building one on top of each other and becoming solid masses. This is tied most commonly to lack of correct hydration and humidity levels.