Hi there, I have a boar piggie who is around 6 months old and noticed a sticky spot just above his bum. I initially thought it was strawberry he had sat in but after a close look thought it was way too sticky for that. After some research it seems it’s his grease gland. I have never heard of grease glands before but I do think it is that, but I am also worried that it maybe something bad. Any advice would be great, I tend to overthink everything haha
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Grease gland?
- Thread starter piggiewb
- Start date
Great thank you, just wanted to be sure, I have never noticed it before and instantly thought the worst!
Hi and welcome
Yes, that looks like an overactive grease gland - a common but harmless problem in boars; it is less common in sows but by no means rare. You can best tackle the grease gland with coconut oil (which you may likely easiest get hold of in the food section of a supermarket/superstore).
Please do not clean the grease gland all the time at the first sign of grease which is spread all over the body as a skin protection because you can overstimulate the gland, which can then cause more problems than it solves. However, this amount of grease in your picture needs dealing with.
You can learn more about boar care and the typical problems you may come up against in this very helpful guide here, which does contain a picture and a chapter on grease glands: Boar Care: Bits, Bums & Baths
The practical guide is just one in our much more extensive New Owners information collection, in which we cover all the areas that we get the most questions and concerns about in more depth and practical detail than we can in a single post - including a little course in piggy whispering which actually works!
You may want to bookmark the link, browse, read and re-read at need: Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides
LollyJJ
Adult Guinea Pig
Hi, when I got my 2 neutered boars last year after a month or so I noticed their bums were both particularly bad and matted around the gland area. My rescue where I got them from warned me to check this area over, so I got a flannel and coconut oil to clean them up, really easy to do and works well to remove it all. Not done it since, assuming it was major scent marking in their new territory- so a year on they are well settled in- not sure if intact boars are more messy or not?
Coconut oil is the best compromise on effectiveness without it being too harsh on the delicate piggy skin.
All the best!
Thank you so much again, coconut oil has been acquired!
Good luck! Use a soft flannel or rag to remove the grease.
Hello everyone again, so I tried the coconut oil and it still looks pretty similar to yesterday. I’m not sure whether I didn’t try and rub it hard enough, he libel to wriggle and run off so found it difficult getting the opportunity to really have a go. I also don’t want to irritate his skin which would create more problems. There still seems to be a matted area right next to his skin which I am not sure is normal anyway? Anyway I was thinking of having another go tomorrow maybe get someone to hold him whilst I try and sort it out or is that too soon?