Boar glue / anal sac smegma

[ssimm1]

Hi all,
My first post... great to be here and see some fantastic people looking after some fantastic piglets.

This isn't exactly an "emergency" issue but its a general healthcare question nonetheless.

Me and my wife have a fantastic little 6 1/2 year old boar called Rufus. we have had him since 8 weeks old - he is a joy and part of our family. He gets a monthly MOT by an exotic vet (cat and rabbit northampton - kim & simon) but something has been bothering us... he has a large build up of white smegma in his anal sac.

We've mentioned it before but am told its normal - but to this extent, i'm not so sure. His glands are blocked to the point where they come to whiteheads around and inside his anus. It almost looks like minature cysts. we clean them, and notice that some of them are "heading" so we clean the head and it looks like there are threads coming out - we gently pull them which causes him no discomfort, and the pores present long stringy puss like substance. The other night we found a big one so cleaned it, and a big thick clump of cyst puss came out (this was literally INSIDE his sac... looked like a 3rd mini testicle!). once we cleaned it thoroughly he was in a lot more comfort and he has been OK.

Sometimes i can hear him wimper slightly when he sits in certain positions. I worry that he is getting lumps/bumps inside his sac that are similar, deeper inside...

has anyone had this issue?
any advice?
going to mention it again to the vet next week but want to know if there is any home care I can provide.

thanks it advance.

 

[DMS260820]

@Wiebke is you're best bet for advice on this I think.

You have a good vet there with cat and rabbit, I live in Northampton and use them too, they are brilliant.

Welcome to the forum

 

[ssimm1]

Yea they are amazing. He almost died last summer (2018) from teeth problems. They literally brought him back from last rites - and see him for a tune up every month or so on his teeth and general wellbeing. He is such a special little guy.

 

[Lady Kelly]

He's a good age and "cleanliness" issues down below aren't uncommon especially as boars age and muscles get weaker. You might find the guide on boars bums and bits both interesting and helpful Boar Care: Bits, Bums & Baths

 

[Wiebke]

Please have your boy checked for it the next time you see a vet. He may require some medical support. It sounds trather uncomfortable, poor boy! it can also be that there is an infection/abscess brewing.

 

[ssimm1]

So the vet didn't notice anything untoward, but commented that there is a relative amount of debris. We clean him often but he doesn't seem to prune himself much so a day goes by and he gets very mucky.

We have just checked him tonight and there is a massive "white plug" within his sac. I think he has a blocked pore which has got so built up that it is becoming an abscess.

It's a pretty big lump. With the smaller ones we typically wet with warm water and they eventually "pop" like a zit/spot..
This one is big, and we worry that doing the same will split his skin!

Has anyone had this before? I've searched everywhere and haven't found anything!

 

[Wiebke]

So the vet didn't notice anything untoward, but commented that there is a relative amount of debris. We clean him often but he doesn't seem to prune himself much so a day goes by and he gets very mucky.

We have just checked him tonight and there is a massive "white plug" within his sac. I think he has a blocked pore which has got so built up that it is becoming an abscess.

It's a pretty big lump. With the smaller ones we typically wet with warm water and they eventually "pop" like a zit/spot..
This one is big, and we worry that doing the same will split his skin!

Has anyone had this before? I've searched everywhere and haven't found anything!

I must admit that I haven't come across this in a decade on this forum. It must be pretty rare.

 

[Lady Kelly]

I would probably take some photos when it happens so you can show the vet exactly what's happening and maybe get a video (if you can) of him whimpering (I know they like to stop all symptoms the second a camera comes out).