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Extra active guinea pig grease gland, what to do?

YourPigness

YourPigness

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We have two male guinea pigs. They are about two years old now. One has had a fairly active grease gland since we got them, but ow it is super active. We had the vet clean up his bum and shave the area because so much grease had collected. Well just in a matter of a couple days it has spread over to the hair on the sides and keeps collecting. Cleaning does absolutely nothing. Trimming hair helps, but it's not realistic to keep his bum shaved, and I'm not comfortable doing it myself.

What you see in this image cropped up literally over the course of just a couple days. His right side is hardened, but the left side is still moist but hardening. Even if we clean it off, it still comes back after a day or two.

We asked our vet what we can do about it and asked if the gland can be removed and they said it is a very invasive surgery that they wouldn't recommend it unless it was life threatening. It doesn't seem to bother him a whole lot but it's just dirty and I think it attracts the other male guinea pig because he's started humping him and chasing him like crazy. Well at least more than he usually does.

Any suggestions?

20221104_190935.webp
 
i use original swarga degreaser on very active grease glands,rub it in leave for ten minutes this usually helps.you can use coconut oil,but in my experience if its really bad its not effective.maybe trim the hair short.
 
Thanks for suggestion. Coconut oil didn't do anything. We did shave the back end, but apparently not enough. He's so jumpy with clippers. I have the vet do it but I can't afford to have them do it every week to two weeks.

Where can I get "swarga degreaser" ? I live in USA, and google doesn't show anything, just Swarfega Classic Hand Cleaner if that's what you mean? https://www.amazon.com/Swarfega-Original-Classic-Hand-Cleaner/dp/B0001P0UA4
 
These guides may help you.
The first guide (the newest one of the two) says that swarfega can be used but can dry the skin out so is no longer recommended.

Bathing (including cleaning grease glands)
Boar Care: Bits, Bums & Baths

You say the other piggy is humping him more. Is it all definitely grease or could some of it be boar glue? Boar glue goes rock solid and either needs to be cut out or wait for it to fall off on its own - it won’t wash off at all well
 
YourPigness said:
Thanks for suggestion. Coconut oil didn't do anything. We did shave the back end, but apparently not enough. He's so jumpy with clippers. I have the vet do it but I can't afford to have them do it every week to two weeks.

Where can I get "swarga degreaser" ? I live in USA, and google doesn't show anything, just Swarfega Classic Hand Cleaner if that's what you mean? https://www.amazon.com/Swarfega-Original-Classic-Hand-Cleaner/dp/B0001P0UA4
Click to expand...
Yes swarfega is a hand cleaner
 
I think it looks very pink and sore. Is there no infection? I’ve used swarfega years ago and it did work well.
 
Piggies&buns said:
These guides may help you.
The first guide (the newest one of the two) says that swarfega can be used but can dry the skin out so is no longer recommended.

Bathing (including cleaning grease glands)
Boar Care: Bits, Bums & Baths

You say the other piggy is humping him more. Is it all definitely grease or could some of it be boar glue? Boar glue goes rock solid and either needs to be cut out or wait for it to fall off on its own - it won’t wash off at all well
Click to expand...
It does actually look like boar glue. Boar glue starts off like a thick paste then goes rubbery very quickly, then goes absolutely solid like superglue. Theres no way to wash it out it often needs cut out the fur.
 
weepweeps said:
I think it looks very pink and sore. Is there no infection? I’ve used swarfega years ago and it did work well.
Click to expand...
Vet doesn't seem to think so at least when we had him in last week, but it's just a mess back there.

Julie M said:
It does actually look like boar glue. Boar glue starts off like a thick paste then goes rubbery very quickly, then goes absolutely solid like superglue. Theres no way to wash it out it often needs cut out the fur.
Click to expand...
Boar glue, huh... Is that just from the grease gland? Yeah that's what happens, he'll be fine one day, then the next day he has this huge clump in his fur that's hard as a rock.

Anyone have any recommendations for hair trimmer? I've used safety scissors but always afraid of hurting him and hard to cut out when it's close to the skin.
 
YourPigness said:
Vet doesn't seem to think so at least when we had him in last week, but it's just a mess back there.


Boar glue, huh... Is that just from the grease gland? Yeah that's what happens, he'll be fine one day, then the next day he has this huge clump in his fur that's hard as a rock.

Anyone have any recommendations for hair trimmer? I've used safety scissors but always afraid of hurting him and hard to cut out when it's close to the skin.
Click to expand...

The description of it being rock hard, and the look of the picture looks much more to be to be boar glue and therefore nothing to do with his grease gland.
Boar glue is dried semen. if his cage mate is humping him more, then it could his cage mates semen getting stuck in his hair. They can also get their own semen stuck in their own hair. Boars can be a bit yuck!
 
Piggies&buns said:
The description of it being rock hard, and the look of the picture looks much more to be to be boar glue and therefore nothing to do with his grease gland.
Boar glue is dried semen. if his cage mate is humping him more, then it could his cage mates semen getting stuck in his hair. They can also get their own semen stuck in their own hair. Boars can be a bit yuck!
Click to expand...
Ah, yuck... smh, LOL. I know his cage mate would hump him occasionally... sigh. Surprised the vet didn't mention this. Thanks for your insight.

I found these clippers, they are supposed to be gentle and quiet for animals. I guess I'll give it a try: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07SSRDCHT
 
YourPigness said:
Ah, yuck... smh, LOL. I know his cage mate would hump him occasionally... sigh. Surprised the vet didn't mention this. Thanks for your insight.

I found these clippers, they are supposed to be gentle and quiet for animals. I guess I'll give it a try: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07SSRDCHT
Click to expand...

If it is boar glue then you might do better just to use scissors so it can be a more targeted cut so as to not risk tugging on it. It sets like glue (which is why it’s called glue!) so could hurt him if accidentally pulls on the skin
 
Piggies&buns said:
If it is boar glue then you might do better just to use scissors so it can be a more targeted cut so as to not risk tugging on it. It sets like glue (which is why it’s called glue!) so could hurt him if accidentally pulls on the skin
Click to expand...
Thanks for all your help. I'll do what I can. At least I know it's not the grease gland or anything wrong with his health. He's a very skittish pig, and my kids aren't very good at holding them still, and I can't hold and cut at the same time, or at least it's quite difficult. Distracting him with some veggies helps a bit but any kind of tug on that hair can make him swing his butt out of the way. We'll figure it out somehow. :)
 
YourPigness said:
Thanks for all your help. I'll do what I can. At least I know it's not the grease gland or anything wrong with his health. He's a very skittish pig, and my kids aren't very good at holding them still, and I can't hold and cut at the same time, or at least it's quite difficult. Distracting him with some veggies helps a bit but any kind of tug on that hair can make him swing his butt out of the way. We'll figure it out somehow. :)
Click to expand...
Yes just trim it with scissors. To be honest most general vets don't know that much about guinea pigs. They don't unfortunately get much training about small animals.
 
YourPigness said:
Thanks for all your help. I'll do what I can. At least I know it's not the grease gland or anything wrong with his health. He's a very skittish pig, and my kids aren't very good at holding them still, and I can't hold and cut at the same time, or at least it's quite difficult. Distracting him with some veggies helps a bit but any kind of tug on that hair can make him swing his butt out of the way. We'll figure it out somehow. :)
Click to expand...
You could try wrapping him in a towel to keep him still and give him less opportunity to wiggle. It will be easier for you or even your kids to hold him while you trim
 
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