Do sows have a grease gland?

[Tigermoth]

Daft question maybe but Jenny has a really greasy back end. Could it be her grease gland? I thought they were more of a boar thing. It needs a clean if so but don’t want to get her coconutty if it’s the wrong thing to do.

TIA.

 

[Wiebke]

Daft question maybe but Jenny has a really greasy back end. Could it be her grease gland? I thought they were more of a boar thing. It needs a clean if so but don’t want to get her coconutty if it’s the wrong thing to do.

TIA.

Yes, sows have a grease gland and it can go overboard, too; if less commonly so. I've only had mild one-off temporary issues in or two of over 50 sows so far.

Things often settle down within a couple of days but if it is really bad or over-production doesn't settle down, then please clean it with coconut oil. See a vet if the gland is sore or hard/crusts won't come off for issues with the gland. they are fairly rare but do happen.
Bathing (including cleaning grease glands)

 

[Freela]

Yes, they can, and some do have overactive grease glands. One of my past sows, Sundae, had an overactive grease gland that needed regular cleaning. None of my other sows have ever had an issue, but it can happen!

 

[Tigermoth]

Excellent, I’ll get in that then, thank you!

 

[PigglePuggle]

Yes they do, both my husboars keep their bottoms impeccably clean but a couple of my ladies have noticeable grease glands- especially Piggle, a very active grease gland especially in the summer and she often has a sticky brown patch or stripe on her rear.
Our vet says its fine, just clean it as needed but not too often because Piggle must like it that way otherwise she could clean it herself- she keeps her lady bits and back legs very clean, just likes to wear the bum grease