Anal Sac

[Jenwah]

I've taken Birt to vets this week , as I found him squeeling in pain when passing poo. He also smells really bad and I thought it was him spraying his scent. Took him to vets and long and smelly story short, he has an infection in the anal sac. Vet cleaned it out and the smell that came with what came out was horrendous.
I've got antibiotic spray to flush up his sac for a week and I'm going back to see how he is.

It makes me wonder how long he had this because I am wondering if a guinea pig has an infection - surely it would make them feel miserable and just sleepy. Birt has been like this when I first seen him in pets at home when I adopted him in Feb.

I hope he's not been in too much pain with me and I have left him like this without knowing

Anyone else had this?

 

[gizzy]

Nope havent had a pig with an infectad anal gland ,with a pig, but i would imagin
He was in a bit of discomfot , poss reason why you did not knotice is the most pry
Animals like gps are good at hiding there pain as in the wild any movment when a preditor
Is near buy could result in it getting eaten

But the pain thing is interestin and there is some very good reading on the suject
Many keeper of animals not just gps, subscribe to the theory that a small animas pain receptors
Are not as advanved in there development , and only cronic (fight or flight pain) is in fact
Registerd

the cause of the infection could possebaly duw to flys , the condition is caled
Fly strike , it is well documented on the rabbit foram , as rabits ar more prone to this
Condition .
Though the photos are not for the faint hearted
MB , you can rejuce the risc of future infection by macking sure his inviomen is
As cleen as possibale

Reading , pain in small animals , published by the main uk vet school .
Also see Dr keren Becker , if i am not mistaken i think she has broched the anal glad
Thing , but only in dogs , but it may give you a bit of insigt to the problem ? But her
Sight is always woth a look see , for any animal problems, she is a world renowed exotics vet
And vets world wide contact her for her oppinions
She even dos a qestion and answer sevice


I beleve ALL knolage is usefull no mater were it comes from ,

 

[Flutterby]

Poor guy! Sending healing vibes!

 

[Chief Guinea Pig]

Hugs and healers being sent x

 

[Wiebke]

Poor guy!

How old is he and does he suffer from impaction? This is a chronic recurrent build-up of the redigestible poos (caecotrophs) in the anal sac of a full boar, caused by weakening muscles. If it is not cleaned out, it can become very painful and go infected. Impaction is very smelly, but any boar suffering from it, needs to have his anal sac gently cleaned out regularly.
Impaction Recovery - How To Help Your Guinea Pig.

 

[Sue G]

I have only recently discovered that my Marmy suffers from impaction, and as you say the smell is appalling. However, I have learned to clean it out regularly and while he protests at the indignity of it, he is very forgiving with the right kind of bribe - within seconds he is happily eating a basil leaf.

 

[Galaxy&nibbles]

I hope he gets better soon. I have to regularly clean one of mines anal sac as it builds up very quickly!

 

[Jenwah]

Thanks everyone for your replies and well wishes for Birt

The antibiotics seem to be helping - he doesn't smell anymore and he seems to be a lot more happier and chirpy, which is nice to see.

Wiebke - this doesnt sound great, but i've not idea how old he is, dont know you remember me telling everyone when I adopted him from P&H, but they didnt tell me any information or more like they didnt know. I would think he is younger than 1 year, perhaps, 9 months old. Not sure if he suffers either, I'm not sure what the signs are could you help with this if poss please?

Does this need doing to Gertrude too? Or is just boars that need the sac cleaning? Typical Males!

 

[Elwickcavies]

It's just the boys, I'm happy to say. I'm glad he's feeling (and smelling) better. With impaction, you need to keep an eye on it as they seem to carry on quite happily until it gets really bad, so a clear out regularly is a good thing. Piggies do tend to hide illness as they are prey animals, but I think you get to know your pigs and can tell if something isn't right with them. Poorly pigs often just sit, all fluffed up and just look uncomfortable, and if they are in pain they don't want to move about much. I'm sure you'd know if he was suffering at all.