Cleaning my boars anal sack

[DM231019]

I have three male guinea pigs, I have been cleaning my oldest Winstons anal sack with a q tip and a bit of coconut oil almost everyday because he gets bedding and hay stuck in there and I assume its uncomfortable to have stuff lodged up there. I often feel a bit bad after doing it as I don't want him to believe I'm trying to hurt him in any way, I read another post just now about cleaning the anal sack and this person said it could be considered animal cruelty and to stop this act. I need some opinions on this because I don't want to continue doing this to Winston if its not needed or if it is considered a way of animal cruelty.

 

[Siikibam]

It’s not animal cruelty, it’s just helping them keep clean. Boars drag their behinds, on whatever they’re bedded on, to scent mark. This will invariably mean they get things collecting in their sacs. You cleaning it out is just helping them be more clean.

I wonder if the person who made that comment has ever seen an impacted boar. I guess letting the boar suffer with impact ion wouldn’t be animal cruelty

Here’s a good link on boar bits etc. Have a read through at your own leisure.

Welcome, and we would love to see pigtures of your three boys

 

[Lady Kelly]

I can only agree with the above. If you were doing it unnecessarily, being rough etc then perhaps but doing it because he's getting bits stuck up there to help him stay comfortable and prevent further problems really isn't

 

[Wiebke]

I have three male guinea pigs, I have been cleaning my oldest Winstons anal sack with a q tip and a bit of coconut oil almost everyday because he gets bedding and hay stuck in there and I assume its uncomfortable to have stuff lodged up there. I often feel a bit bad after doing it as I don't want him to believe I'm trying to hurt him in any way, I read another post just now about cleaning the anal sack and this person said it could be considered animal cruelty and to stop this act. I need some opinions on this because I don't want to continue doing this to Winston if its not needed or if it is considered a way of animal cruelty.

Hi and welcome!

Boar maintenance is not cruelty but necessary if it is done right. We generally recommend once weekly to once monthly, depending on how messy a boar is (as you know from yours, this can vary a lot!). In extreme cases, you need to clean them out more often.

You may find our boar care guide helpful: Boar Care: Bits, Bums & Baths

 

[DM231019]

It’s not animal cruelty, it’s just helping them keep clean. Boars drag their behinds, on whatever they’re bedded on, to scent mark. This will invariably mean they get things collecting in their sacs. You cleaning it out is just helping them be more clean.

I wonder if the person who made that comment has ever seen an impacted boar. I guess letting the boar suffer with impact ion wouldn’t be animal cruelty ☺

Here’s a good link on boar bits etc. Have a read through at your own leisure.

Welcome, and we would love to see pigtures of your three boys

Thank you! I really appreciate the feedback, I've had pigs for a while but I only recently about a few months ago started reading up about cleaning boars anal sacks and I wanted to be sure I'm not causing my piggy harm.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you! I really appreciate the feedback, I've had pigs for a while but I only recently about a few months ago started reading up about cleaning boars anal sacks and I wanted to be sure I'm not causing my piggy harm.

Unless absolutely necessary (like with impaction), I would not do it daily but making sure that your boar bits are OK once weekly is an integral part of regular health monitoring, like the rest of the body and the weight.
Weight - Monitoring and Management
Guinea pig body quirks - What is normal and what not?

 

[Piggiewheekwheek]

I have three male guinea pigs, I have been cleaning my oldest Winstons anal sack with a q tip and a bit of coconut oil almost everyday because he gets bedding and hay stuck in there and I assume its uncomfortable to have stuff lodged up there. I often feel a bit bad after doing it as I don't want him to believe I'm trying to hurt him in any way, I read another post just now about cleaning the anal sack and this person said it could be considered animal cruelty and to stop this act. I need some opinions on this because I don't want to continue doing this to Winston if its not needed or if it is considered a way of animal cruelty.

They were probably a member of PETA lol,looking at an animal is cruelty in their eyes
I have a horse and I remember reading something by them saying did you ask that horse permission before you rode it? If you didn't that's animal abuse..Crazy all of them

 

[DM231019]

They were probably a member of PETA lol,looking at an animal is cruelty in their eyes
I have a horse and I remember reading something by them saying did you ask that horse permission before you rode it? If you didn't that's animal abuse..Crazy all of them

This has to be the funniest thing I’ve heard all day