Active grease gland in sow

[Dilly's Piggies]

I rarely check my females grease gland like I do my males, we all know boars require regular grease gland cleaning but not females. However one of my sows (spayed) has a very active grease gland which needs regular cleaning, I just wondered if this is normal for some sows or does it suggest a problem? Does anyone here also have this? Thanks in advance!

 

[Freela]

One of my past sows had an active grease gland that we needed to clean as well. It's more common in boars but can definitely happen with sows too. Hope this helps!

 

[Lady Kelly]

Oddly the only sow I had that I have had to clean the grease gland for was a sow I had spayed. Perhaps it's to do with the hormone levels in the body

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

There is no need to routinely clean grease glands in boars, or sows. In fact by frequently cleaning,, you are stimulating the gland to produce more grease. In all the years I have kept guinea pigs (boars and sows), I can only think of a few who have ever needed a grease gland clean.

 

[Lady Kelly]

There is no need to routinely clean grease glands in boars, or sows. In fact by frequently cleaning,, you are stimulating the gland to produce more grease. In all the years I have kept guinea pigs (boars and sows), I can only think of a few who have ever needed a grease gland clean.

I've never had to clean any of the boars grease glands that I have had. Just Bumble on that one occasion and I can't for the life of me remember if it was before or after the spay now. I don't even check my piggies grease glands on a regular basis (ie I don't feel the need to check weekly)

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

I've never had to clean any of the boars grease glands that I have had. Just Bumble on that one occasion and I can't for the life of me remember if it was before or after the spay now. I don't even check my piggies grease glands on a regular basis (ie I don't feel the need to check weekly)

I don't routinely check either. You will immediately notice if there is a problem.

 

[Dilly's Piggies]

No you don't clean it unless there is build up, I don't think anyone cleans it if there's not a reason to... My sow gets so much build up that it causes the hair to matt (she is a sheltie) into a big clump of skin tight hair, and it's very painful for her, she gets very crabby and cries when her bottom is touched, therefore cleaning is necessary.

 

[Dilly's Piggies]

Oddly the only sow I had that I have had to clean the grease gland for was a sow I had spayed. Perhaps it's to do with the hormone levels in the body

This is very interesting to me... I've also never had an issue with an entire sow, just this one spayed sow, I wonder why! Maybe we can do a little research on this

 

[Lady Kelly]

This is very interesting to me... I've also never had an issue with an entire sow, just this one spayed sow, I wonder why! Maybe we can do a little research on this

Yes that is intriguing but then maybe with spayed sows being as rare as hen's teeth it might take a lot of time to gather data

 

[Dilly's Piggies]

Yes that is intriguing but then maybe with spayed sows being as rare as hen's teeth it might take a lot of time to gather data

True haha! I love research though, always willing to contribute to any studies being done.

 

[Dilly's Piggies]

Yes that is intriguing but then maybe with spayed sows being as rare as hen's teeth it might take a lot of time to gather data

I actually have two spayed sows, both sisters, one does get more build up than my 6 entire sows but it's not bad enough or bothering her for me to clean it, I just keep an eye on it. Her sister gets it very bad though as I've discussed in this thread. Neither of them had any build up at all before spaying. Perhaps age at the time of spay (both mine were young, only 1 year old) or genetics play a part.