Gala melon smell?

[Deleted member 151640]

This might seem a bit strange but like 1 metre infront of my boars cage all i can smell is a very sweet gala melon smell. When i’m directly above the cage all i can smell is just guinea pig, a bit poopy but generally not bad.
I’ve only smelt it for around 3 days.

I cant find anything about it online, i saw some threads about diabetes but both my boys are healthy. Eating well, pooping often and getting good excercise. One had pneumonia when i first got him and the other had a URI once about a year ago but apart from that they’re healthy. I’ve read that some peoples pigs just having this smell but it’s my first time smelling it.

They get fruit a couple times a week, maybe sometimes once or twice more than they should which is my fault and i will now be making sure i pay more attention for their health as i wasn’t really thinking about it. And when i say that they maybe get a blueberry each every second day and a grape once a week, which i’m now thinking is too much and will make sure it’s only a couple times aweek.

I’ve smelt just about everything in their cage, including them and i can’t really find the scent in one area. One of my older guinea pigs has a slight scent when i sniff really upclose on his back but nothing prominent. Maybe TMI but i’ve just smelt my hand that was holding his upper torso and it also smells sweet. I’ve checked for signs of fungal infection etc. but he seems as healthy as he normally is.

My husband says he smells this scent everytime be comes in but i clean them atleast twice a day not including when i just talk to them and maybe give them a pea flake and i’ve never smelt it before. He describes the cleanliness of their cage in three steps, clean, this sweet starting to get more unclean smell and then just the need to be changed smell which happens at the end of the week when they get changed. It could just be nothing, as i said i’ve read that some pigs just have that scent, but obviously i’m curious if not a tiny bit concerned.

They had maybe a tablespoon between them of some gerties guinea pig muesli as they got it as a xmas present from a family member. And although i don’t use these as generally they are full of things guinea pigs shouldn’t be eating if not full of sugar, but saying that in moderation and i mean maybe once a month it can be a nice treat. They didn’t eat half of it anyway but that’s the only change they’ve had recently.

They are quite active boys in the dominance sense, a lot of humping and chasing and sniffing, but nothing more than usual these past days.

My boys also have had no significant weight change or any ailments in about 6 months.
They seem happy enough to me but i thought i’d just check and see and maybe learn a bit more.
Thanks

 

[Siikibam]

I have not smelt a sweet smell with my piggies before so not a clue why. If you pick them up, can you smell it on them? Do you use any scented cleaning products or perfumes etc that could smell like it? Or maybe the washing powder you use?

With regards to fruit, you are right they’re getting too much. Fruit should be given sparingly as it is high in sugar. I’d say once a week max but recommend you give occasionally as a treat.

I would also recommend you stop giving them the muesli. The first ingredient is alfalfa which they should not have. It can lead to a calcium build up and stones. It was lovely they were gifted this but unfortunately it’s really not suitable for them at all. I think even in moderation is best to leave it. Do they have grass-based pellets they normally eat?

Keep an eye on them regards the smell. Can’t figure out where it could be coming from though. Hopefully it will go soon, it’s annoying when you can’t figure something out!

 

[Deleted member 151640]

I have not smelt a sweet smell with my piggies before so not a clue why. If you pick them up, can you smell it on them? Do you use any scented cleaning products or perfumes etc that could smell like it? Or maybe the washing powder you use?

With regards to fruit, you are right they’re getting too much. Fruit should be given sparingly as it is high in sugar. I’d say once a week max but recommend you give occasionally as a treat.

I would also recommend you stop giving them the muesli. The first ingredient is alfalfa which they should not have. It can lead to a calcium build up and stones. It was lovely they were gifted this but unfortunately it’s really not suitable for them at all. I think even in moderation is best to leave it. Do they have grass-based pellets they normally eat?

Keep an eye on them regards the smell. Can’t figure out where it could be coming from though. Hopefully it will go soon, it’s annoying when you can’t figure something out!

I’ve been searching all afternoon for a origin of the smell, still no luck.

When i sniffed my oldest boar with longer hair, like straight on his back it was a little sweet smelling.

In terms of cleaning products they’re all sensitive and mostly fragrance free as my family have skin sensitivity issues. There has also been no change in these items.

I was aware of the issues with the muesli but it didn’t feel right chucking it out, i could perhaps give it to birds or something, i’ll have a look online.

Thanks for your reply!

 

[Deleted member 151640]

I have not smelt a sweet smell with my piggies before so not a clue why. If you pick them up, can you smell it on them? Do you use any scented cleaning products or perfumes etc that could smell like it? Or maybe the washing powder you use?

With regards to fruit, you are right they’re getting too much. Fruit should be given sparingly as it is high in sugar. I’d say once a week max but recommend you give occasionally as a treat.

I would also recommend you stop giving them the muesli. The first ingredient is alfalfa which they should not have. It can lead to a calcium build up and stones. It was lovely they were gifted this but unfortunately it’s really not suitable for them at all. I think even in moderation is best to leave it. Do they have grass-based pellets they normally eat?

Keep an eye on them regards the smell. Can’t figure out where it could be coming from though. Hopefully it will go soon, it’s annoying when you can’t figure something out!

Forgot to add they do have normal pellets, they get perhaps a tablespoon each a day