Sticky matted hair

[joe_stas]

Our pig hair a really really sticky patch of matted hair where his tail bone is.. It doesn't smell and I have NO idea what it is! Have had to cut a lot of hair away but I can't get that close to the skin.

Any ideas about this or how to get rid of it?

Perhaps he sat in something? I have no idea what it could have been though!

 

[guinealove07]

Guinea pigs, usually males get that in that area. It's from a gland that they have that omits a greasy substance sometimes used to "mark territory". Do not be alarmed - I'm pretty sure its just from his gland. When you give your piggy a bath make sure to clean that area well.

 

[Sue G]

It could be the grease gland, which can get over-active sometimes. My Basil has this, and as well as trimming away the fur, last weekend I actually gave him a half bath - shampoo'd his back end, and it certainly made the fur much softer, and I suspect more comfortable for him.

 

[piggiesforever]

Yes my boars get this too, the older one much worse I loosen the muck with a little olive oil and then apply the shampoo and rinse his backend

 

[Goldie]

Yes, it is typically a boar thing ... it is greasy and sticky and you need to remove it gently with either olive oil, or I have heard that sometimes people use pure washing up liquid dabbed on, then obviously rinsed off with warm water.

It is nothing to worry about, although it is best to remove it to prevent the pores getting clogged up.

 

[rw3399]

Yeah, agree with what people have said. It's the grease gland. You can remove it with swarfega or vaseline. Clip the fur away from the area so the fur doesn't get matted to it.

 

[Jon]

I like the vaseline idea, I never thought of that!

 

[Goldie]

You can remove it with swarfega or vaseline.

I was going to say swarfega as I couldn't remember how to spell it :red

I often have found that there isn't much hair on the part of the boar's body and you may have to basically gently scratch the grease off the skin. I usually pop a little savlon on the skin afterwards.

I don't have that now as my two boars are castrated but I guess little Junior will eventually get this! rolleyes

 

[rw3399]

If you use savlon the spray is better as it contains iodine to protect the area. Chrissie from GG recommended this when I was treating my piggies foot as she had an ulcer. Cream can make hay and things stick to it.

 

[Goldie]

If you use savlon the spray is better as it contains iodine to protect the area. Chrissie from GG recommended this when I was treating my piggies foot as she had an ulcer. Cream can make hay and things stick to it.

I had never thought of that ... thanks rw3399.
I always keep a little tube of it in my shed, but I will buy the spray instead now.

 

[Sue G]

I don't have that now as my two boars are castrated but I guess little Junior will eventually get this! rolleyes

Basil is neutered, but we still have the problem.