Grease Gland?

[Merry2018]

Hello everyone,

So I got my guinea pig a little over 1.5 years ago, and he (and his brother who sadly unexpectedly passed away) were my first guinea pigs ever. I just now realized that the part where my guinea pig would have a tail if guinea pigs had them, is the grease gland. I always thought he was getting poo or something trapped there so I try to pick away the gunk and scrub it, but now I realize that I should have researched my guinea pig anatomy! I don’t know how to handle a grease gland nor how a normal one should look. I’m nervous I might have irritated the gland, even though he isn’t expressing any pain, as the gland area is visible to me while he is walking around. I just feel awful I didn’t know how to handle this before, and I want to make sure in the future I don’t do anything that might hurt him. What does a normal grease gland look like, how do I take care of it, and is it a problem I can clearly see where it is now?

Any help is appreciated!

 

[Piggies&buns]

This thread will help you
Bathing (including cleaning grease glands)

 

[Wiebke]

Hello everyone,

So I got my guinea pig a little over 1.5 years ago, and he (and his brother who sadly unexpectedly passed away) were my first guinea pigs ever. I just now realized that the part where my guinea pig would have a tail if guinea pigs had them, is the grease gland. I always thought he was getting poo or something trapped there so I try to pick away the gunk and scrub it, but now I realize that I should have researched my guinea pig anatomy! I don’t know how to handle a grease gland nor how a normal one should look. I’m nervous I might have irritated the gland, even though he isn’t expressing any pain, as the gland area is visible to me while he is walking around. I just feel awful I didn’t know how to handle this before, and I want to make sure in the future I don’t do anything that might hurt him. What does a normal grease gland look like, how do I take care of it, and is it a problem I can clearly see where it is now?

Any help is appreciated!

Hi!

Here is our boar care guide, which also covers grease glands. By the way, sows have them, too; but they are not as often overactive.
Boar Care: Bits, Bums & Baths

 

[Bill & Ted]

Here is a link to everything you should know about boars and their bits including the grease gland and how to keep it clean. My boar pair used to have very greasy glands. Bill sadly died recently so Ted was castrated so he can be bonded with some wives. His grease gland has now calmed right down and is not greasy anymore.
Boar Care: Bits, Bums & Baths

 

[Merry2018]

Thank you all for the help and information!