Foreign object in cloaca?

[Rackiera]

Hi all,

I realised today when lifting my skink's tail that he seems to have a foreign object of sorts in his cloaca region. It is very hard to tell if its within his cloaca or just outside, but it almost looks like fecal matter.

However, he had just defecated not too long prior and urinated shortly before, so I feel he would've passed this piece if it was normal.

It is slightly green-brown in coloration, appears only in the right side of his opening, and falls apart very easily. I had tried to gently remove it and I merely removed a piece, which smelled foul.

I later used some tongs to try to gently remove it, but stopped at any sign of resistance, not wanting to cause harm.

I looked up images of skink cloacal openings and all are pink/slightly red/clear of debris, so Im concerned about this odd blockage. It doesnt prevent him from passing things, though, as he went earlier, and he is acting fine otherwise.

My guess is it is some old fecal matter or perhaps some shed that got wedged in and isnt being passed.

Im letting my skink rest, as I don't want to stress him out too much, but I thought I'd ask here to see what people think. If nothing changes in the coming days, does anyone suggest / know a way to flush the cloacal opening?

Thanks for reading! If images are wanted, Ill try to take some once he's had time to rest.

[mb606587]

This sounds like something a vet should see. I wouldn't attempt to further remove it either.

[Rackiera]

Yeah - as an update, looking today, its actually a hemipene. It had a coating of feces yesterday from him having just defecated, which is what came off on my fingers.

I had examined it today and it appears to be a hemipene with a scabby end. Somehow he must've injured one and the scab is preventing retraction.

On the upside, it *looks* like a healthy scab and its healing. It doesnt smell foul or have any signs of being necrotic. I'm going to keep an extremely close eye on him and if there's no improvement, he's taking the 1.5hr ride to the vet.

I attached an image of his cloaca + scabby pene. I'll also be asking my sister (vet tech) if it looks like it's anything more than a scab. Ill keep you guys posted

( Edit: Dont mind his odd colored feet, it's scarring from a now-treated foot infection )

Edit 2: He's got an appointment next Friday. My sister says it just looks irritated, not infected, and I'll be cleaning it out daily. Poor boy must be uncomfortable.

[Rackiera]

Update!

So his vet appointment was today. It was, mercifully, not a prolapsed hemipene, but rather, hardened discharge from his right pene. The vet gently worked out the biggest chunk of discharge, then flushed out the rest.

The vet's advice for those facing discharge buildup:

Soak the lizard in a warm bath and gently massage the area (behind the cloaca, towards the hindlegs) to try to dislodge it and remove it from the area. You can also flush the cloaca with warm water.

[Janella]

Thanks for the update!