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Normal Or A Vet Trip? (bit Horrible)

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gus+walter

gus+walter

Adult Guinea Pig
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I was doing my usual bedtime routine of hay top up's and piggy cuddles when I noticed something...a bit disgusting.
Gus had a creamy coloured blob on his bum. I'm no stranger to cleaning the odo anal gland but this was particularly protruding. I put him back and went to find a load of cotton buds and vegetable glycerin (natural lubricant like mineral oil) and by the time I was armed and ready it was gone. Obviously he had managed to sort himself out.
This creamy coloured smelly stuff is now making an appearance every couple of weeks. Is this normal or is a job for the vet?
 
It is very hard to say what the problem, if there is one, might be. If you can, try and collect some of this white muck the next time you see it, and take it and Gus to the vet. They can examine Gus and analyse the muck. Is Gus neutered and how old is he? Is he all right otherwise?
 
7squeakers. said:
It is very hard to say what the problem, if there is one, might be. If you can, try and collect some of this white muck the next time you see it, and take it and Gus to the vet. They can examine Gus and analyse the muck. Is Gus neutered and how old is he? Is he all right otherwise?
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He's a year and half old and not neutered. He seems totally fine otherwise. Eating like a pig and pooping like a trooper as usual. I have only noticed the same with Walter once and he rubbed his bum on the fleece and it disappeared (immediate cage clean post bum rub).
 
I would still say take him to the vet just to be on the safe side. I have only ever had one entire male, and did not see anything like this with him. So it may be something quite normal for an un-neutered boar. Sorry I can't be more help.
 
7squeakers. said:
I would still say take him to the vet just to be on the safe side. I have only ever had one entire male, and did not see anything like this with him. So it may be something quite normal for an un-neutered boar. Sorry I can't be more help.
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No you've been very helpful. These guys are my first boars so when something like this pops up I'm always out for advice :)
I've got him booked at a cavy savvy vet to get him checked out. Better safe than sorry.
 
I agree with the above, it is best to get it checked out. Could be some kind of mucous or even fungal, though that is usually more of a grey colour when in the anal sac. Did it definitely come out of his bum? If not it could be boar glue?
 
helen105281 said:
I agree with the above, it is best to get it checked out. Could be some kind of mucous or even fungal, though that is usually more of a grey colour when in the anal sac. Did it definitely come out of his bum? If not it could be boar glue?
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It's definitely bum orientated, it's like a little plug but doesn't seem to stop him from pooing. It is like a light grey/cream in colour and is eye wateringly pungent in smell.
 
It could be the sign of a yeast infection, I think @Pebble has had experience of this in one of her pigs before and might be able to confirm. Definitely worth getting checked out if you're sure its from the bum!
 
Elwickcavies said:
It does sound susiciously like fungal. Hopefully the vet will sort you out. x
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Is fungal lethal? He hasn't lost any weight and seems perfectly fine, but we all know what good little actors they can be.
What's the usual treatment for fungal so I can be prepared (Gus hates syringes with a passion)?
Thanks everyone :)
 
Sound like normal boy "productions" within the anal sac plus the odd caecotroph that may also have some hay etc stuck in with it
It could indicate a touch of developing impaction or more likely you are noticing it at a time when he hasn;t yet attended to extracting and eating the developing caecotroph. (Some boys are more meticulous about cleaning themselves than others!)

All my boys present at some time or other with a sticky smelly "plug" of gubbins that can normally be gently prised out with a cotton bud soaked in water or olive oil (as you were about to do before Gus decided to help himself).

If you are worried then a vet trip is in order....but I certainly wouldn't describe this as a possible fungal infection requiring any treatment......
It may smell a bit pungent but that is because there is are very active glands producing a creamy exudate supporting a wealth of microbial flora within the sac...as well as caecotrophs which are well-known for their distinct aroma.

Next time it happens could you take a piccie to post up please?
 
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Pebble said:
Sound like normal boy "productions" within the anal sac plus the odd caecotroph that may also have some hay etc stuck in with it
It could indicate a touch of developing impaction or more likely you are noticing it at a time when he hasn;t yet attended to extracting and eating the developing caecotroph. (Some boys are more meticulous about cleaning themselves than others!)
All my boys present at some time or other with a sticky smelly "plug" of gubbins that can normally be gently prised out with a cotton bud soaked in water or olive oil (as you were about to do before Gus decided to help himself).
If you are worried then a vet trip is in order....but I certainly wouldn;t describe this is a possible fungal......it may smell a bit pungent but that is because there is a very active glands/exudate and microbial flora in the sac...as well as caecotrophs which are well-known for their distinct aroma.

Next time it happens could you take a piccie to post up please?
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Thank you, that makes me feel so much better. My first thought was about the same, but then I'm a worrier and had to check if other boars did this too.
They are always dragging their bums and trying to mark each piglu as 'theirs' so I shouldn't be surprised to find a little clog up every now and again.
I'll take a picture as soon as it reoccurs.
 
gus+walter said:
Thank you, that makes me feel so much better. My first thought was about the same, but then I'm a worrier and had to check if other boars did this too.
They are always dragging their bums and trying to mark each piglu as 'theirs' so I shouldn't be surprised to find a little clog up every now and again.
I'll take a picture as soon as it reoccurs.
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i'm a worrier too, I spend so much time with my boys I worry when they itch too much!
Please keep us posted how he is!
 
gus+walter said:
Is fungal lethal? He hasn't lost any weight and seems perfectly fine, but we all know what good little actors they can be.
What's the usual treatment for fungal so I can be prepared (Gus hates syringes with a passion)?
Thanks everyone :)
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No it's not, in the cases where I have actually dealt with fungal in that area, it has been treated with Dida tablets. My Johnny had it.
 
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