Cleaning grease glands

[hayethusiasts]

Hi everyone. I need to do a grease gland clean with one of my piggies at it feels there's a hard buildup there... anyway... i am planning to use extra virgin olive oil (i believe this is okay?) I need advice please re: rinsing it off. Can i just use wet towel to remove the oil or is it necessary to do bum bath after?

Thanks so much!

 

[Piggies&buns]

It’s coconut oil which is needed.
Wet the area, rub in the coconut oil and keep massaging the hair to break the oil down, then bum bath to rinse it off.
It can be difficult to break down grease if it has been there for a while so you may need to soak the oil in for longer

Guide below explains further

Bathing (including cleaning grease glands)

 

[hayethusiasts]

Ok thank you. so olive oil is not recommended? I am just confused as it says olive oil can be used on the screenshot. Sorry i just want to clarify thank you

 

[Roselina]

I’ve used coconut oil and have left it overnight when the grease was very hard - it came away easily the next am with a warm bum bath - I just used warm water and a soft flannel

 

[hayethusiasts]

I’ve used coconut oil and have left it overnight when the grease was very hard - it came away easily the next am with a warm bum bath - I just used warm water and a soft flannel

Thank you,

 

[Truffolo]

Coconut oil is quite mild and works well. I think olive oil might be a bit bitter.

 

[weepweeps]

That was quite an old thread. Guidance changes. Definitely use coconut oil. I used to have a very greasy boar. Don’t be surprised if quite a bit of hair comes off. I think it’s old hair that hasn’t been able to fall out but sticks there instead.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi

I agree. Coconut oil is much milder and more effective. The problem with doing your own research is that things are evolving constantly, and much has changed in recent years.

Olive oil was the go-to before coconut oil became widely available in UK supermarkets.

 

[hayethusiasts]

Ok thanks everyone!

 

[Wiebke]

Ok thanks everyone!

You are always welcome to ask on here in order to get the up to date information from members with personal experience.

Or have a look through our extensive information resource. The guides format allows to update and add to as when we have the rare spare free time but it is currently the largest around. You may want to bookmark this link, browse, read and re-read at need.
Comprehensive Owners' Practical and Supportive Information Collection

 

[hayethusiasts]

Just an update: thank you so much for your advice everyone. I have managed to successfully remove built-up grease from my guinea pigs (using coconut oil). I was so so so anxious about doing it at first but managed. I had to do it 2x as it was sooo hard. At one point I was doubting myself as it did not seem to be softening up at all. Left it overnight as per @Roselina's advice and it worked lol. I am just so happy - when you do something for the first time it is so daunting. If someone told me last year i would be cleaning guinea pig grease gland i would've told them to get lost.

 

[Truffolo]

Glad it's working well

 

[weepweeps]

Just an update: thank you so much for your advice everyone. I have managed to successfully remove built-up grease from my guinea pigs (using coconut oil). I was so so so anxious about doing it at first but managed. I had to do it 2x as it was sooo hard. At one point I was doubting myself as it did not seem to be softening up at all. Left it overnight as per @Roselina's advice and it worked lol. I am just so happy - when you do something for the first time it is so daunting. If someone told me last year i would be cleaning guinea pig grease gland i would've told them to get lost.

That’s brilliant. Well done.

 

[Roselina]

Just an update: thank you so much for your advice everyone. I have managed to successfully remove built-up grease from my guinea pigs (using coconut oil). I was so so so anxious about doing it at first but managed. I had to do it 2x as it was sooo hard. At one point I was doubting myself as it did not seem to be softening up at all. Left it overnight as per @Roselina's advice and it worked lol. I am just so happy - when you do something for the first time it is so daunting. If someone told me last year i would be cleaning guinea pig grease gland i would've told them to get lost.

That’s the great about this forum …everyone is supportive , knowledgable and usually someone has had that problem before