What is Retract Penis in Cats and how do they work?
Paraphimosis is a serious medical condition that requires immediate attention. However, phimosis usually poses no medical problem unless it is breeding.
Paraphimosis or phimosis can be a medical condition that affects a male cat’s penis retractibility. Paraphimosis refers to a cat’s inability to retract its penis into its sheath.
This condition usually occurs after an erection. Phimosis refers to a medical condition in which a cat can’t protrude its penis out of its sheath. This can lead to problems with breeding and urination.
Cats with Retract Penis : Signs and Symptoms
Paraphimosis is most often seen immediately after semen collection or breeding. Paraphimosis can be characterized by:
- Frequent genital licking
- Fluid accumulation (swelling) in genitals
- Excessive hair around your penis
- Trauma to the penis
- Pain in the genital region
- Dry skin in the genital region
Phimosis symptoms may not become apparent until the cat tries to mate with a female. These symptoms include:
- Inability to extrude penis
- The genital area is the source of urine that seeps out as drops.
- Excessive genital licking
- Failure to breed
Cats’ Retract Penis Causes
Paraphimosis is most commonly caused by hair getting entangled around penis. It can happen during breeding, or when long hairs roll under the penis.
Entanglement causes the penis‘ circulation to stop and it to swell, which prevents it from retracting. This condition can also be caused by trauma, cancer, foreign bodies, trauma, small preputial openings (the skin covering the penis) or inflammation.
A preputial opening that is too small can cause phimosis. Although it is most often due to a birth defect or scar tissue, cancer, inflammation, and other causes, phimosis can also be caused by a small preputial opening.
Diagnostics of Retract Penis in Cats
After physically inspecting the cat, the veterinarian will determine if the cat has paraphimosis. The veterinarian will inspect the cat’s preuce and penis areas during the exam.
This exam will allow the veterinarian to easily diagnose phimosis and paraphimosis. The veterinarian will then determine the cause of the condition. The veterinarian will then determine whether the condition is caused by cancer or bacteria.
These tests can include blood tests, Xrays, and/or ultrasounds. A urinalysis can be done to check for a blocked urine flow if the paraphimosis/phimosis is causing a blockage in the flow of the urine.
Cats with Retract Penis Treatment
Neutering
If phimosis is caused by a birth defect, it is not recommended to breed cats with phimosis. However, if urination is not affected and breeding is not possible, then the cat should be neutered. This will stop future arousal.
Surgery
Surgery may be necessary to expand the opening or remove scar tissue.
Surgery can cause infection and may not work in all cases. Therefore, it should be avoided in the most extreme cases.
Hair Entanglement
Paraphimosis can be treated by getting rid of the entangled hairs that are causing difficulty in retraction if caught early. To keep the cat relaxed, a mild sedative may be administered to it during hair removal.
With trimmers, the veterinarian will remove any hairs around the prepuce. After gently cleaning and lubricating the penis, the vet will replace it within the prepuce.
Once circulation to the penis has been restored, swelling should subside.
Amputation
If paraphimosis isn’t treated quickly and severe swelling results from loss of circulation, penile necrosis may occur. This is when the skin loses its oxygen supply.
This will require a partial or complete penile amputation.
Medication
Paraphimosis cases may require the use of antibiotics to treat inflammation and prevent infection.
The penis shaft should be treated with the ointment at least twice daily or as directed by your veterinarian.
In the event of phimosis due to infection, antibiotics will be prescribed to treat the infection and reduce inflammation.
Cats’ Retract Penis Recovery
An Elizabethan collar will be required for cats who have had surgery or an amputation. This will prevent them from biting or licking the sutures.
To ensure that the cat doesn’t get a post-surgical infection, they will need to see their veterinarian regularly.
Paraphimosis can be caught early and is likely to make a full recovery. Paraphimosis can be prevented from recurring by keeping the cat’s hair cut around its prepuce.