Impaction?

[WhisperingWolf]

I always give the boys bums a check over when getting them out cause I've noticed on a few occasions hay/megazorb getting into Hamish's bum.
It's always hard to check Robin because he struggles like mad. But today I discovered if I put him on my lap and picked his bum up he was a lot quieter and easier to handle.
I discovered some megazorb in his bum and possibly poop...but I don't know...it was more white than anything else...and my word it STANK. I got a tissue and got most of it out (only a small amount, given the size of their bums obviously!). Not a lot makes me gag, but the smell really did hit a reflex on me tonight.

I've looked up on impaction but I'm not sure...cause he's pooping away fine - his bed today was full of healthy poops! Could the stuff getting in their, getting stuck and just starting to deteriorate? I'm a little confused by it...

(no photos, I'm on my own doing that - doubt my flatmates would come near me if I did it again!)

 

[The Potteries Guinea Pig Rescue]

Hi this is normal for boars.They pick up shavings ,fluff etc whilst scent marking and it can pong when you clean out their bottom.Just check it on a regular basis and that should stop them getting impacted which is what it can lead too.
A white colour is normal and they will be pooping as normal too so dont worry just keep an eye on it.I check my boys weekly and my older sows too.

 

[WhisperingWolf]

Aaahhh I see I see, that makes sense then!
Thank you so much for the reasurance on that one *hugs* xx>>>

I'll keep doing what I'm doing then and make sure it doesn't get out of control

 

[gizzy]

Keep doing the daily checks! just because he is pooing normaly dos not always mean he can’t be in the early stages, it is can often be a slow process, it is a muscular weakness in the bum ,

also I have boars that suffer from impaction that poo quite normaly , but just need the occasional clean out every 1-5 days depending

(boy it Pongs!x>>) I find that the more they exercise the less impacted they get

 

[DarkStar]

Are impactions really common? I'm not sure I am ready to deal with something like that X_X

 

[Niki]

I always give the boys bums a check over when getting them out cause I've noticed on a few occasions hay/megazorb getting into Hamish's bum.
It's always hard to check Robin because he struggles like mad. But today I discovered if I put him on my lap and picked his bum up he was a lot quieter and easier to handle.
I discovered some megazorb in his bum and possibly poop...but I don't know...it was more white than anything else...and my word it STANK. I got a tissue and got most of it out (only a small amount, given the size of their bums obviously!). Not a lot makes me gag, but the smell really did hit a reflex on me tonight.

I've looked up on impaction but I'm not sure...cause he's pooping away fine - his bed today was full of healthy poops! Could the stuff getting in their, getting stuck and just starting to deteriorate? I'm a little confused by it...

(no photos, I'm on my own doing that - doubt my flatmates would come near me if I did it again!)

This doesn't sound like impaction to me. What you describe is a normal secretion, i think it's called smegma. I regularly have to clean my Hamish's bum as he collects hay/readigrass in there & yes it does honk!
Impaction is literally a hard ball of poop, not white in colour but brown & is easily removed.
Impaction is caused by a slackening of the muscles affecting the expulsion of the soft pellets that they're supposed to eat & they form a lump.
However, i have found that giving probiotic helps with my impacted boars & they don't need their bums cleaning as often

 

[Niki]

Are impactions really common? I'm not sure I am ready to deal with something like that X_X

It usually affects older boars & in my experience neutered boars, every neutered boar i have had has suffered with impaction. My last boar was neutered in Feb of this year & was fine pre-neuter, he started becoming impacted approx 3 months later

However, there are some who believe neutering HELPS impaction.

 

[DarkStar]

Oh another thing, I find it funny your guinea pigs are named Hamish. Thats my younger brothers name |) How did you pick that name?

 

[Niki]

Oh another thing, I find it funny your guinea pigs are named Hamish. Thats my younger brothers name |) How did you pick that name?

I chose Hamish because i wanted another "H" name to go with Huxley, this was when they were younger & lived together rolleyes. The piggy in my avatar is Hamish

 

[WhisperingWolf]

Thanks guys for the clarification, I feel a lot more comfortable now with the peace of mind Though still grossed out by it!

Oh another thing, I find it funny your guinea pigs are named Hamish. Thats my younger brothers name |) How did you pick that name?

Hahaha, well I chose Hamish cause my piggeh's ginger and thought it was a great name for him (plus he's Scottish like myself, perfect!)

When getting him actually I said to the guy who was helping me that I thought Hamish was a great ginger name...then afterwards realised the poor guy was ginger and I may have insulted him - OOPS! rolleyes

 

[alcesterpigs]

The "white stuff" is comprised of the normal secretions from the scent and sebaceous glands.
Smegma is the secretion produced around the end of the penis, this is not to be confused with the ejaculate secretion.