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Reasons for overactive grease gland?

Claire W

Claire W

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Can someone please tell me the reason for an overactive grease gland and whether it is anything to be worried about?

Ellen is 3.5 years old and her grease gland has suddenly became quite active. She’s worrying me at the moment and I’m wondering if this could be connected to anything health wise? Also, what’s the best way to clean the grease gland? She has all hard grease in the fur around her bottom :(
 
My Smokey has a very active grease gland, I just don't really know how to clean it, so this thread will probably help me too... :)
 
I don't know anything about why Ellen's grease gland has suddenly got active, but there is some advice here on how to clean the grease gland. I clean my boars' glands infrequently(including a bum bath). I use swarfega now but when I didn't have it I just used olive oil to break it up and shampoo to clean it all away.

The following has tips on cleaning the grease gland Boar Care: Bits, Bums & Baths

I hope you get to the bottom (ha) of Ellen's suddenly active gland soon.
 
Chickpea has developed a really dirty grease gland too after a year..... it is filthy and she is white....
 
Posyrose said:
I don't know anything about why Ellen's grease gland has suddenly got active, but there is some advice here on how to clean the grease gland. I clean my boars' glands infrequently(including a bum bath). I use swarfega now but when I didn't have it I just used olive oil to break it up and shampoo to clean it all away.

The following has tips on cleaning the grease gland Boar Care: Bits, Bums & Baths

I hope you get to the bottom (ha) of Ellen's suddenly active gland soon.
Click to expand...

Thank you for that. I’ve just had a look at the link and will have a go at giving her grease gland a wash. I don’t have any swarfega but I do have olive oil
 
We've only gone and run out of washing up liquid I'll have to go to the shops later, how bad does he look?
 
Claire W said:
How about washing up liquid? That can be used so long as it’s washed off straight away
Click to expand...

PLEASE DO NOT use washing up liquid or swarfega - it dries up the skin too much and can cause cracks in the skin that let bugs in.

If you need to clean a dirty/overactive grease gland, use coconut oil. Because you are dealing with oil, plain water will just run off.
Our grease gland tips are in the boar care guide because the majority of overactive glands happen in boars. Sows can have a short spurt of grease but it generally settles down again.
Boar Care: Bits, Bums & Baths
 
Wiebke said:
PLEASE DO NOT use washing up liquid or swarfega - it dries up the skin too much and can cause cracks in the skin that let bugs in.

If you need to clean a dirty/overactive grease gland, use coconut oil. Because you are dealing with oil, plain water will just run off.
Our grease gland tips are in the boar care guide because the majority of overactive glands happen in boars. Sows can have a short spurt of grease but it generally settles down again.
Boar Care: Bits, Bums & Baths
Click to expand...

Really? Can you please modify the link as washing up liquid and swarfega are recommended in there :(

I will get some coconut oil :)
 
Bill and Ted both have a very overactive grease glands. I have had other piggies and they have been fine. Even shampooing and olive oil soak first does not break it up and I have to pick at black lumps of grease off their gland as it seems to just sit there like big black lumps of ear wax, yuck! 🤢
 
Bill & Ted said:
Bill and Ted both have a very overactive grease glands. I have had other piggies and they have been fine. Even shampooing and olive oil soak first does not break it up and I have to pick at black lumps of grease off their gland as it seems to just sit there like big black lumps of ear wax, yuck! 🤢
Click to expand...

That's exactly what Ellens is like
 
Bill & Ted said:
Bill and Ted both have a very overactive grease glands. I have had other piggies and they have been fine. Even shampooing and olive oil soak first does not break it up and I have to pick at black lumps of grease off their gland as it seems to just sit there like big black lumps of ear wax, yuck! 🤢
Click to expand...
:yikes::yikes::vom::vom:
 
Claire W said:
Really? Can you please modify the link as washing up liquid and swarfega are recommended in there :(

I will get some coconut oil :)
Click to expand...

The guide states clearly that washing up liquid should not be used and swarfega only very carefully. Since every time the grease gland is brought up somebody is bound to mention these two as they are widely touted online, we had to include them into the guide, but this has been done in a differentiated manner. ;)
 
So is there anything other than coconut oil you can use?
 
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