• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Grease Gland

Guinea Newbie

Guinea Newbie

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Oct 17, 2019
Messages
132
Reaction score
85
Points
215
Location
UK
Hi,
We have had our boys since
October and have finally been able to handle one of them who is hairy for more than 20 seconds . I gave him a thorough once over and have given him a bum trim but also realised his grease gland seems to have a dark crust/scab type thing on the top of it. I take it that this isn’t normal and should be addressed.

It didn’t seem to hurt him when I touched it and he is otherwise healthy and well, eating and maintaining his weight etc. What should I do...?
Get some coconut oil to try to remove it? If so is this literally the pot that you can buy in the supermarket or is it something different.
Or give him a bath to see if it will soak off?
Or take him to the vet to check it’s nothing else and is just the grease gland being overly active and that it needs a clean?

I just want to make sure I do the right thing.

Thanks
 
Could you post a photo for us to take a look see? It may be his grease gland is very active. Don’t pick the scab off. You can try the coconut oil (yes the one in supermarkets ☺️), and a bum bath. Gorgeous guineas sell shampoos appropriate for guinea pigs if you feel you need it. Just make sure you don’t use other kinds.
 
:agr:
Trying to soften it and bathe it off, and clean him.
If you can’t do it or are concerned then do go to the vet
 
Thank you both. I have to leave for work in a minute so will take a photo this evening. I doubt he has ever had it cleaned as they both had extremely long nails when we got them. I suspect their previous owner just didn’t do it. It needs sorting out but I am wary of it coming away and causing a wound if it’s stuck to the skin below. Hopefully it will soften and work off a little at a time with coconut oil.

I have a johnssons guinea and rabbit shampoo - will that be ok?
 
It's not a necessary job, though some long haired piggies will get a bum bath quite regularly. I don't know about the Johnson shampoo. Someone else will be able to answer you there.
 
Here is a photo. It does feel hardened like there is a crust. Should I try with the coconut oil or check with the vet? Does it look like a grease gland that hasn’t been cleaned and has formed a harder layer than it should have? Or does it look like something other than that.
 

Attachments

  • D832BD00-0372-4D19-B006-97149C5FE75A.webp
    D832BD00-0372-4D19-B006-97149C5FE75A.webp
    75.9 KB · Views: 11
Ok, thank you I will call the vet tomorrow and hopefully get him seen in the next couple of days.
 
I will do. Yes I hope it’s nothing serious too. His weight is stable and he’s behaving and eating as normal. We have only had them since October and they were unwell with UTIs for the first 6-8 weeks of having them. We were back and forth to the vets and on and off antibiotics. It’s only just now that I feel they have relaxed and are settled (as well as not being unwell). Although not back at full weight, their weight is finally stable so I hope it can be sorted fairly easily and it’s nothing nasty.
 
Hopefully it’s just that it is dirty and needs a good clean. You could try soaking it off but if it is really crusted on it might just be safer to have a vet look at it
 
Yes that’s my concern. I feel like it might be like pulling a scab off. But maybe with coconut oil and a good soak in warm water it will soften and come away gently. I will check with the vet and get their opinion. I have a feeling the good piggy vet at our vets maybe on maternity leave now though. 😔 for us but happy times for her.

If they think it is a build up from the grease gland and suggest trying to gently remove it at home how long should I leave the coconut oil on for?
 
Guinea Newbie said:
Yes that’s my concern. I feel like it might be like pulling a scab off. But maybe with coconut oil and a good soak in warm water it will soften and come away gently. I will check with the vet and get their opinion. I have a feeling the good piggy vet at our vets maybe on maternity leave now though. 😔 for us but happy times for her.

If they think it is a build up from the grease gland and suggest trying to gently remove it at home how long should I leave the coconut oil on for?
Click to expand...

It’s going to depend how crusted on it is - it’ll be a case of putting it on and then trying to remove it and if it doesn’t come off, leave a little longer
 
Ok, thank you. We have a vets appointment this evening to get it checked out. I will see what they say and take it from there. Is the coconut oil dangerous if it’s licked off?
 
Update - Yes, it was just grease from his grease gland and the vet managed to remove quite a bit of it. She gave us some hibiscrub, told us to dilute it to a light pink colour, rubbit in and leave it on. We are to do this daily for a week. Does that sound right?
 
Personally I think hibiscrub is quite harsh. I'd try an oil of some kind...olive or coconut. Leave it to soak a while....At least 15mins and see if it loosens it. I've had results with a very neglected piggie. Good luck.
 
Thank you, I have some coconut oil so can give that a go. I’ll leave it on for 15 minutes, should I wash it off afterwards or wipe it off?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top