Wondering if he's really a he!

Ok, I know I'll need pics for this. I thought I put them on photobucket already but I didn't so I'll put them up when I get home from work. But I figured it couldn't hurt to go ahead and start getting some opinions. My little runt boy (or so I assume) has yet to recieve his manly attributes like his brothers. The other boys got there's about a week ago - I swear they showed up over night :giggle: Up to this point I have always been confident he was a boy. Never any sign of nipples. Distance from urethra to anus longer than when compared to the girls. He has been slower to develop than the others in other ways as well (eye opening, walking, etc). I poke and prod the poor little guy daily trying to see if I missed a tell tale sign. So I'm starting to get nervous that he still doesn't have them. Then I read somewhere this morning that sometimes the vagina on a baby rat isn't obvious until they have had their first heat cycle (is this true?). The fact that I have only been able to find one opening on him as well as no nipples, was my deciding factor in putting him with the boys. Has anyone else had a late bloomer? Or does it seem as if I may have made a terrible error? He will be 6 weeks old tomorrow. Hopefully if I'm wrong, it's still early enough and nothing has happened. :?

Still no nipples? I'd say a boy. Better yet, flip him over on you, and gently press down on what should be the penis. If the sheath goes down to reveal the penis inside, then he's a dude.

He may have undescended testicles.

Ok, I applied gentle pressure and either that was a penis or I totally broke a girl! But just to be on the safe side, I'm still posting pics. Oh I also wet his fur and went on another nipple search. Found nothing. It's a good thing little Percy is very patient. He gets extra broccoli for the humiliation he's had to endure. The other boys' are just SO prominent, I keep having doubts about Percy even though I'm pretty sure.

resting pic


laying on his back


dangle


Sorry, phone pics. Husband is on the computer where the clearer pics are saved.

Hmm Moon might be right...kinda looks like undescended testicles.

I vote for boy, especially if he has a penis!!! If he's been slower than the other ratties for developmental milestones, then maybe he's slow in this arena too...

How long have you had this rattie?

Hopefully his testicles will descend. As Joanne said, it may be because his development is a bit slower then the others.
But it kind of looks like small testicles in one of the pics

If they don't descend you will need to consider surgery ... godmother and I each had a boy with one undescended testicle.
The boys needed surgery to remove them (ie they each had a neuter).
All the vets consulted were unsure if leaving a testicle in the body cavity would cause serious health issues as the boys aged (cancer was mentioned).

Looks like my Ralphie when he was young, his testes didn't descend for a while, hopefully your little guys will soon!

Rachael said:

How long have you had this rattie?

Click to expand...

I've had him since birth. I was a new rat owner for 6 days then suddenly, I had 13! I now know where I should NOT get a rat :emb:

I definately see goolies!

Thanks everybody! It helps put my mind at ease to get different opinions. I hope they make an appearance soon. He's so tiny I've been debating how safe it would be to get him neutered anyway (assuming I can ever find a vet) but if it has to be even more invasive, that's really scary. The exotics vet I've always used has stopped doing surgeries.

Those look like itty bitty balls to me too! I bet he'll be dragging em around in no time.

If they don't pop up, I don't think you need to run out and neuter him ASAP, since I imagine some vets will want them to be 100% physically mature before attempting an unusual neuter.

I remember reading a thread on goosemoose once where a male was discovered in a cage of females after quite some time together and no pregnancies. They'd always thought he was a she! So it's not unheard of. I don't think he needed a neuter in the long run, but might be safest in the long run.

Moon said:

I remember reading a thread on goosemoose once where a male was discovered in a cage of females after quite some time together and no pregnancies. They'd always thought he was a she! So it's not unheard of. I don't think he needed a neuter in the long run, but might be safest in the long run.

Click to expand...

Males with undescended testicles (cryptorchids) are typically sterile or have reduced fertility (due to warm body temperatures affecting sperm motility i think among other things) however they still have the hormones etc (thats why in dogs it is still very common to neuter cryptorchid dogs) It is more invasive as the testicles have not descended outside the body as in normal individuals, and I would imagine that as in dogs (As they have similar testicles) that you could have inguinal cryptorchids as well as abdominal cryptorchids - where abdominal crypts are more invasive as the testicles are still retained within the abdominal cavity (as testicles usually descend through the abdominal wall, through the internal and external inguinal rings and into the scrotum)

I just realized how badly that post of mine flowed.... must remember not to leave the screen part way through a sentence without looking back at what I've already written!!!

Percy is deeply offended that I only posted pics of his nonads. He would like for you all to admire his lovely face :giggle:

Aww... nice to meet you sweetie.

:heart:

Hmmm... that first picture does look like little testicles "hiding" under his tail, but the second two pictures look like a girl with fatty deposits (more typical in older females than younger ones). If you think you got a penis to pop out, then "he" is really should be a he.