Impacted?

[lizzie_71]

On my thread about very smelly boys, someone mentioned that one or both of them may be impacted. I just wondered how I can tell? I had them out of the cage today for cleaning out, and the cage is now fine but one of the boys in particular stinks to high heaven, despite a bath only 2 weeks ago.

This is the same boy who has a hernia so I daren't squeeze his bum in case I hurt him.

He has definitely lost weight despite still eating and drinking, but there is no point taking him to the vet because they basically said they would put him down, and whilst he is in no pain and seemingly happy, I don't want that.

 

[ajb]

Oh dear, that's tricky. Is the hernia actually in his bum? if it's elsewhere, maybe you could feel for an impaction without disturbing it. It would be just behind and above his anus. It would likely be relatively obvious if you just slide your fingertips on his skin, without even pressing.