maturing male - I might be being stupid

[arnie squeak]

Hi everyone.
I have been on the site for a while but never posted anything.
My pig arnie is about 2 and a half years old and I was just wondering what age do male pigs mature?
I noticed yesterday that he has suddenly (last 2 days) developed testicles? well at least I think thats what they are. I was talking to my mum about them as they are very large (they slightly got in his way of walking) and she suggested that quite possibly they should have arived a while ago? I have no idea about this kind of thing as the only time I have owned any other guinea pig was when I was a little girl.
So, does any one know - without seeing pictures- if these sound right? thinking about it I thought afterwards that they should possibly have arrived earlier than 2 and a half.
Thanks

 

[Wiebke]

They should have arrived about two years earlier. Perhaps you have never noticed.

 

[Laura-CCC4]

Welcome to the forum.

Forgive me if my logic is way out - they may be more noticeable in the heat, given the warmer weather we have had. I'm sure it goes that testicles tend to descend (drop) further in warmer weather, and be kept close to the body in cooler weather?

Just wondering if that is why you are noticing them more

 

[Niki]

Welcome to the forum.

Forgive me if my logic is way out - they may be more noticeable in the heat, given the warmer weather we have had. I'm sure it goes that testicles tend to descend (drop) further in warmer weather, and be kept close to the body in cooler weather?

Just wondering if that is why you are noticing them more

Your logic is spot on Laura. Watching my boys in the run their testicles were extremely noticeable so much so they appeared to be on the floor

 

[arnie squeak]

Thank you. That'll be it then, he was very hot on Sunday, he spent the day lying on top of a frozen bottle of water, they were stopping him from walking properly which is why I noticed them in the first place. He has what the vet called hormonal dicharge on his lower back so it has to be cleaned a lot or the fur matts together so I would have noticed them if they were this obvious before.
Poor boy was having difficulty running up his ramp!

 

[Laura-CCC4]

Double post - see post below!

 

[Laura-CCC4]

The hormonal discharge you describe sounds like the grease gland, for it to be active (i.e. the grease builds up) is very normal in many pigs but seems particularly prevalent in some. Have you found a good way to clean it? There are some tips here if you are interested:

http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=47314

 

[arnie squeak]

When I took him to the vet about it they gave me quite a large bottle of hibiscrub which I use just to clean the area. It works very well as long as it is done often, the rest of his fur and body is always very clean and glossy but thanks for the link, it will be useful for when the hibiscrub runs out. The vet never told me if this would be an on going issue or if it would stop after a while? Does any one know? It is quite bad at times with his fur getting stuck together, almost like when a human gets ice lolly or something sticky in their hair and it matts together. He doesn't mind it being cleaned at all but would be good to know if it will be forever or not.