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My GP's Tail...

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GuineaPig24

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I know you people will say, "Guinea pigs don't have tails!" But, they do. They have this little bald nub above their butt.

Anyway, his tail keeps falling off and I don't know what to do... :...
 
Hello

Can you tell me what the thing that has fell off feels like, looks like and smells like?
 
Hello

Can you tell me what the thing that has fell off feels like, looks like and smells like?

It fell off his lower back when I was rubbing him. It felt not slimy, but like... weird... It looked like his tail nub which is black skin. And it smells like my guinea pig's coffee-like scent.

Extra info: It doesn't hurt my guinea pig as it falls off, it seems like Sprite cannot feel it.
 
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Thanks for that description. I think it is a build up of grease from his grease gland :) from what you are saying and its location.

The grease gland on a piggie is located just above where a tail would be. Some girl and boy piggies have really active grease glands that can get dirty. its probably that that you have seen come off.
 
Thanks for that description. I think it is a build up of grease from his grease gland :)

The grease gland on a piggie is located just above where a tail would be. Some girl and boy piggies have really active grease glands that can get dirty. its probably that that you have seen come off.

I just took him out, yeah it is very greasy. But it is his real skin...
 
One of our girls treacle, had a very active grease gland it was black and often clogged up, we use to give her bottom a little sponge bath using guinea pig shampoo.
 
I use regular baby shampoo for my guinea pig, and anyway, I think his grease gland is falling apart.
 
It wont be the actual gland falling apart it will be the build up of grease falling off as the gland is not outside the body.I found that one of my boars grease gland get partically mucky, I think its because they rub that part of their bottom on the floor to scent their territory, and he seems to have a very active grease gland compared to the others. I find that I have to give it a regular clean and gentle scrub on that specific area as well as the odd all over bath to keep down on the grease building up :)
 
It wont be the actual gland falling apart it will be the build up of grease falling off as the gland is not outside the body.I found that one of my boars grease gland get partically mucky, I think its because they rub that part of their bottom on the floor to scent their territory, and he seems to have a very active grease gland compared to the others. I find that I have to give it a regular clean and gentle scrub on that specific area as well as the odd all over bath to keep down on the grease building up :)

Maybe I could start scrubbing my GP's bottom every few days!
 
You probably wont need to clean it every few days, just give it a good clean then just check it every few days to see how its looking if starts to build up again you can clean it again :)
Heres a good guide to cleaning it http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/...-Guinea-Pigs-including-Ears-amp-Grease-Glands

'Step Two -*Cleaning the Grease Gland

All guinea pigs have a grease gland located at the base of their spine, roughly where the tail would be if they had one. It is harder to find on some pigs than others, but boars in particular tend to have quite active grease glands, and locating it will be made easier by the greasy circle you can feel - and in some cases see! The photos below show the position of the grease gland.

Cleaning (or checking) the grease gland should be the first thing you do when bathing a guinea pig; removing the grease will ensure the gland stays clean and clear. There have been some cases where a pig's grease gland is so dirty, it actually becomes infected – so there is very good reason to keep a check on things there. A few females have active grease glands, but it’s significantly more common for boars to have greasy build-ups here. Normal shampoo will not shift the grease; a product formulated for degreasing is needed. As unlikely as they sound, the three most effective agents for removing this grease are:

1. Washing-up liquid;
2. Swarfega;
3. Paxcutol shampoo;
4. Cetaphil cleanser.

The trick is to not lather the product up too much at first; as with very greasy dishes and pots and pans, it’s more effective if initially applied neat with very little water involved, then lathered up with a wet sponge…or in a guinea pig’s case, with wet fingers! After a minute or so of massaging the grease gland, the grease will start to loosen up and you can gently peel/rub the grease off without bothering the pig. Once this is done, you can pop the pig in the water to rinse his rear end off, and then move straight on to actually giving him a bath…'
 
It wont be the actual gland falling apart it will be the build up of grease falling off as the gland is not outside the body.I found that one of my boars grease gland get partically mucky, I think its because they rub that part of their bottom on the floor to scent their territory, and he seems to have a very active grease gland compared to the others. I find that I have to give it a regular clean and gentle scrub on that specific area as well as the odd all over bath to keep down on the grease building up :)

I would thank your posts with the 'thank button' but its not working at the moment so 'Thanks' :)
 
I must be blessed with clean piggies as the 6 I have owned have never had any problems!
 
I must be blessed with clean piggies as the 6 I have owned have never had any problems!

You are! Its not the most pleasant of jobs! Haha not as bad as having to clean out their anal sacs :... although i am yet to do it, i have seen videos of it and really hope i never have to do it! Haha dirty boys! :))
 
I've had 3 boys and had no anal sac problems at all and all 6 have been lovely clean piggies. ;)
 
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