Scabbed hemipenis

[rosybreeder]

My corn snake has a scab on his vent. I brought him in to a retile expert, and said the vent scales were damaged, and to apply neosporin to the scab until the scab falls off, and if the scab looks ready to take off, then just pluck it off. After a week of doing this the scab looked ready to come off (It was protruding outward, only a bit left on the scales) but when i tried to take it off, I found out that the scab was actually the damaged end to one of his hemipenis. I am bringing him in again tomaarow, but I just wanted to hear all of your thoughts, and if he could possibly have trouble pooping. He's my breeder male, and has breed with my female earlier this year. Some of you will probably want pics, I'll get them by 5/15 (Thur.)

 

[bchbum11]

I don't think it will give him problems with going to the bathroom, but would be worried about an infection. The damage most likely came from when you bred him earlier in the year. Sometimes during a lockup the male will get substrate stuck to his hemipenis that can lead to irritation/infection when drawn back into the body. The best ways to prevent the problem are to either remove both animals to a cage with paper towel as substrate for introductions, or to just use paper towel in whichever animal's cage hosts the introductions until your last attempt for the season has been performed. Hope everything worked out well with the return vet visit.