She stinks up our cage within an hour of a clean, ugh! perhaps she had an infection in her uterus or cancer. Mine only likes me when I have food in my hand or I bring him outside, Guinea Pigs - Cutiecavies Guinea Pig Forum, What you need to know if you have decided to keep a Guinea Pig, Important Stuff, Hints, Tips, Advice & Other Help, Cavy Safe Medicines, their uses and dosages, Holiday Boarding & Small Animal Transport, Mid-Summer Pigture Show (WINNERS ANNOUNCED), Cutiecavies Xmas Online Pigture Show Results, Wildlife Parks, Zoos, Farms & Nature Reserves, Items For Sale/Wanted (Housing & Bedding), Items For Sale/Wanted (Feeding & Other Accessories). Hi, I'm a new pig owner and I am having trouble understanding what a "normal" pig grease gland and an "abnormal" (or one that needs cleaning) looks like. Normal Guinea pigs excrete a milky white liquid which lubricates their eyes and is used to help them clean their faces. I touch my pigs oily spot all the time and didn't even know what it was until this article. Hello, I have 2 7day old boars. The perineal scent gland and social dominance in the male guinea pig. Sorry, new cavy owner here! IMPORTANT. These odor-messengers indicate information such as status, territorial marking, mood, and sexual power [clarify].The odor may be subliminal—not consciously detectable. I'm not saying this will make him completely comfortable with handling but one step at a time, hope this helps. Click here to remove banner ads from this forum. cuddly once i pick him up but he detests being picked up and is always shy and a bit skittish. A grease gland is a dime-sized area which locates above the anus and secretes an oil used in scent marking. Welcome Guest. Does anyone get on here anymore? How often do you go through your "grooming routine"? PMID: 4431841 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] They are relatively easy to care for and will return lots of love and affection. What you need to know if you have decided to keep a Guinea Pig. The degree of severity can vary and in this case it is extreme. Prevention of Scent Gland Problems There is no real way of preventing the development of a tumour but it is true that males kept together in large groups do tend to scent mark more and the constant friction on the gland can cause local damage which may predispose to … Guinea pig grease gland smell. If coconut oil alone works to break up the build up does it need to be washed off? bald scent gland. Some guinea pigs are born blind, while others can go blind as a result of old age. 1974 Nov;13(5):669-73. It may also reduce waxy scent gland build-up (although, psst… a dab of coconut oil is a way more affordable solution). However, the past two days he's been a little sneezy and has a patch of matted under his 'tail' (extra vertabre) We think it may be his scent glad over reacting but wanted to be sure. Habha I think my boar is still hoping he can one day make a break from me. I have had many rescue piggies with problems. So sorry for your loss. hey I was wondering, can you use locker shelves like for school to build a loft in a cage instead of c&c grids? Guinea pigs have scent glands over their backs, at the base of their tails, that in older animals often become impacted with secretions, making their skin appear greasy there. IMPORTANT. I have a few on hand and thought i'd ask. Yes, the coconut oil absolutely does need to be washed off - it's a high fat food that can have a negative impact on cavy health if ingested. HA HA! it would have been quick. A typical guinea pig’s grooming routine consists of the brushing, nails trimming, bathing, teeth checking, weight monitoring, grease gland cleaning and eyes, ears, nose cleaning.It looks like a lot of things to do but all of them have a specific grooming schedule. And I lived :-). Look for it about half an inch away from their genitals, about where you'd imagine a tail to be. He is adorable! Your guinea pig is more uncomfortable with the sweaty smell than you. Staff Board. It shouldn't require very frequent cleaning if you check on it every so often. I need some desperate help! I think he broke a foot, because he is limping awkwardly and is moving but resting for now. Production also depends on rank within a herd: dominant males produce more sebum. Yes, guinea pigs grease glands can produce a foul smell sometimes. Guinea pigs can suffer from a wide variety of health problems Although there are a lot of guinea pig illnesses, guinea pigs are more likely to suffer from some issues than others, so it’s advisable to be on the lookout for bloat, bladder stones, cysts, uterine, tooth, foot or scent gland problems, stained urine and parasites. Blind guinea pigs are usually able to live relatively normal lives. Just wash your hands and move on. Caging Guinea pigs need a large enclosure that provides plenty of room for exercise. Introduction to Guinea Pig Care Canobie Lake Veterinary Hospital Guinea pigs are wonderful pets. To clean the sweat glands: Hold your guinea pig in a manner so that you can clean their genitals. In some cases, the scent gland becomes over-active and releases such quantities of oil secretions that the fur around the area becomes matted, and if not trimmed back the skin underneath becomes sore and red due to a fungal and/or bacterial infection … How to clean your guinea pig’s grease gland when the grease builds up. If your guinea pig is nearing the end of his life, there are some things you can do to help make his last moments as … Fluctuations in hormone levels may lead to many problems, such as hair loss, high blood pressure and increased urination, increasing the the risk of diabetes. Hi Maddie, that's a good question! The Guinea Pig Grease Gland might not be something all guinea pig parents are aware of. Im new here, how do I create a discussion? Thank you. Found my 20mth female pig collapsed in her run; no signs of illness prior. What you need to know if you have decided to keep a Guinea Pig. Giving some snacks to distract their attention is a good idea. Let me get back to you on that - I'll be writing a post about it soon so check back :). Perfectly normal and the best thing to clean this with is swarfega or good ole fairly liquid. I've had mostly girls and never had a problem with any of my pigs grease glands. Gas chromatographic-mass spectroscopic analyses of the volatile components of the secretions show complex mixtures comprised primarily of fatty acids, alcohols, and ketones. This makes it easier to see the area especially if your pig is of the long-haired variety. 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