Scabs on rumps

[Fluffbabies]

So I’m still trying to rid my 4 girls of hay mites. I’ve trimmed their hair short around their bottom halves and given 2 washes with Gorgeous Guineas shampoo a week apart. Today before doing the third wash I shaved their hair shorter still using the 3mm guard on the pet clippers to get rid of most of the eggs. I’m not sure it‘s working so they’re having a trip to the vet next week.

As I shaved their rumps I noticed two of them have a bald spot/rough bit on their rumps right in the middle (see photos). The worst one‘s is about a 1cm circle and the other’s is a bit smaller. I checked the other two and they have it too but much smaller. I never would have spotted it even on the short haired because their hair covered them up and they have no signs of having any issues. They live in our living room so we’re always watching them and spot changes very quickly.

None of them seem at all bothered by me touching it and have shown no signs of scratching or biting especially in that area. They don’t look fresh to me. And I’ve washed them three times and none of them showed any signs of distress or being in pain. They are all very calm and quiet while having their baths so I don’t think they have any signs of mange mites. There are no other scabs or problems with their skin or hair. I had a really good look since their hair is so short right now. I’m under the impression it might be old from when they established their dominance by nipping each other on the bum when they were younger and maybe the hair didn’t grow back? As they all have it in exactly the same spot just some bigger than others. They don’t nip each other, bully or sort their dominance any more. They take it in turns sometimes one of them will spend a day or two rumbling and humping the others but they all popcorn and seem to enjoy it

I’ve attached photos of the worst two.

 

[Piggylove82]

I think you may have just exposed their grease glands...

 

[PigglePuggle]

I think that what your photos are showing here is the grease gland, which is a gland at the base of the spine just above the bum which makes pheromone scented oils that piggies use to groom their fur and advertise who they are and what their sexual and dominance status is. So possibly quite normal. If you have bathed them a lot recently, they may be rebelling against the shampoo scent and trying to reaffirm their usual piggy smell identity with some extra bum secretions!

 

[Fluffbabies]

Thank you both, that’s interesting I’ve never heard of these glands actually. Though I see them grooming themselves from that area and scenting the cage. Is it normal for it to be a hairless patch then? It seems dry maybe a bit scabby.

 

[Wiebke]

So I’m still trying to rid my 4 girls of hay mites. I’ve trimmed their hair short around their bottom halves and given 2 washes with Gorgeous Guineas shampoo a week apart. Today before doing the third wash I shaved their hair shorter still using the 3mm guard on the pet clippers to get rid of most of the eggs. I’m not sure it‘s working so they’re having a trip to the vet next week.

As I shaved their rumps I noticed two of them have a bald spot/rough bit on their rumps right in the middle (see photos). The worst one‘s is about a 1cm circle and the other’s is a bit smaller. I checked the other two and they have it too but much smaller. I never would have spotted it even on the short haired because their hair covered them up and they have no signs of having any issues. They live in our living room so we’re always watching them and spot changes very quickly.

None of them seem at all bothered by me touching it and have shown no signs of scratching or biting especially in that area. They don’t look fresh to me. And I’ve washed them three times and none of them showed any signs of distress or being in pain. They are all very calm and quiet while having their baths so I don’t think they have any signs of mange mites. There are no other scabs or problems with their skin or hair. I had a really good look since their hair is so short right now. I’m under the impression it might be old from when they established their dominance by nipping each other on the bum when they were younger and maybe the hair didn’t grow back? As they all have it in exactly the same spot just some bigger than others. They don’t nip each other, bully or sort their dominance any more. They take it in turns sometimes one of them will spend a day or two rumbling and humping the others but they all popcorn and seem to enjoy it

I’ve attached photos of the worst two.

That looks like their grease glands to me!
Guinea pig body quirks - What is normal and what not?
Bathing (including cleaning grease glands)

Please be aware that Gorgeous Guineas shampoo has often proved not to be effective against parasites in our long term forum experience, including specifically the hay mites that come with branded imported mass produced and industrially harvested pet shop hay. It is no coincidence that we did see a sudden rise of rather resistant after that happened.

We do not recommend to DIY home treat on spec.
New guinea pigs: Sexing, vet checks&customer rights, URI, ringworm and parasites

 

[Fluffbabies]

This reminds me when I asked the vet what the tiny spot in the middle of Leia’s belly was and the vet informed me that was her belly button! I did feel a bit silly but I’d never noticed a piggy’s belly button before I only noticed it because Leia has the shortest hair. At least I didn’t ask what their nipples were poor piggies.

 

[Fluffbabies]

That looks like their grease glands to me!
Guinea pig body quirks - What is normal and what not?
Bathing (including cleaning grease glands)

Please be aware that Gorgeous Guineas shampoo has often proved not to be effective against parasites in our long term forum experience, including specifically the hay mites that come with branded imported mass produced and industrially harvested pet shop hay. It is no coincidence that we did see a sudden rise of rather resistant after that happened.

We do not recommend to DIY home treat on spec.
New guinea pigs: Sexing, vet checks&customer rights, URI, ringworm and parasites

Thanks Wiebke. They will be going to the vet next week for it. But I thought with the sheer number of specks on them it might help to shave the hair that short to get rid of as many as possible that way in the meantime.

I’m guessing all 4 need to be treated? One of the long haired seems to be the worst affected but she is mostly white so it’s a lot more obvious with her. Her whole back end is speckled with them. Two others I can see them around their bums and hind legs only. One is black so I can’t see any on her at all but as the others have them I expect she might do too.

I meant to ask about the hay... we’ve got ours from Haybox for about two years now which I thought was a good place to get it from do you have any suggestions for an alternative? or If not, hopefully the next box won’t have any as we’re almost done with this one.

 

[Wiebke]

This reminds me when I asked the vet what the tiny spot in the middle of Leia’s belly was and the vet informed me that was her belly button! I did feel a bit silly but I’d never noticed a piggy’s belly button before I only noticed it because Leia has the shortest hair. At least I didn’t ask what their nipples were poor piggies.

Have a read of our piggy quirks guide. We have written it for that specific purpose as you are not the only one stumbling over these unexpected things. The bathing guide contains a picture of the grease gland and how to deal best with an overactive (when the whole coat is feeling very greasy) or a clogged one. Please do not overclean unless necessary as that can overstimulate the gland but see a vet if you cannot remove any crusts.

 

[Piggylove82]

Thanks Wiebke. They will be going to the vet next week for it. But I thought with the sheer number of specks on them it might help to shave the hair that short to get rid of as many as possible that way in the meantime.

I’m guessing all 4 need to be treated? One of the long haired seems to be the worst affected but she is mostly white so it’s a lot more obvious with her. Her whole back end is speckled with them. Two others I can see them around their bums and hind legs only. One is black so I can’t see any on her at all but as the others have them I expect she might do too.

I meant to ask about the hay... we’ve got ours from Haybox for about two years now which I thought was a good place to get it from do you have any suggestions for an alternative? or If not, hopefully the next box won’t have any as we’re almost done with this one.

Not sure you can see mites without a microscope. Do you meant egg casings, like dandruff?

 

[Fluffbabies]

Not sure you can see mites without a microscope. Do you meant egg casings, like dandruff?

yeh not the mites but hay mite egg casings on the hair shafts. They’re very small. Looks like the piggy has some pepper in their hair. Mostly around their rump and hind legs although it’s started moving further up the pigs now which is why I’m trying to get it under control. The long haired one has had them before but I just thought it was ‘dust’ like from the hay or crushed poops as her hair is white. It’s only now that she’s got a lot all over her I looked into it and spotted the same on the others.

 

[Piggylove82]

I found it easier to see in my darker haired pigs than my white pigs when mine has a case of mites.

 

[Fluffbabies]

Have a read of our piggy quirks guide. We have written it for that specific purpose as you are not the only one stumbling over these unexpected things. The bathing guide contains a picture of the grease gland and how to deal best with an overactive (when the whole coat is feeling very greasy) or a clogged one. Please do not overclean unless necessary as that can overstimulate the gland but see a vet if you cannot remove any crusts.

Thanks Wiebke, I’m having a good read. You think you know piggies quite well but then they surprise you and you're always learning! I’m not going to wash them anymore. I never washed the short haired ones or the texel until now and I only ever washed Oreo‘s bum very occasionally if it gets overly dirty where it’s long white hair and she loves to find the wettest place to lay in but now I just keep it brushed and trimmed. Her grease gland was a bit hard and yellow but her wash cleaned that away.

 

[Fluffbabies]

I found it easier to see in my darker haired pigs than my white pigs when mine has a case of mites.

I found it easier to see in my darker haired pigs than my white pigs when mine has a case of mites.

what type of mites did yours have?

 

[Piggylove82]

what type of mites did yours have?

Chirodiscoides Caviae.

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks Wiebke, I’m having a good read. You think you know piggies quite well but then they surprise you and you're always learning! I’m not going to wash them anymore. I never washed the short haired ones or the texel until now and I only ever washed Oreo‘s bum very occasionally if it gets overly dirty where it’s long white hair and she loves to find the wettest place to lay in but now I just keep it brushed and trimmed. Her grease gland was a bit hard and yellow but her wash cleaned that away.

Normally bum baths with clear water and a judicious haircut are enough. I only do medicated baths if they are really necessary (like with an outbreak of ringworm to remove any spores from sitting in the coat and causing re-infection down the line).

The grease gland is rarely a problem in sows; it tend to be more active in boars. Cleaning any crusts and debris in there is gently done with the help of coconut oil.

But I am still learning new things... Pet ownership is a life-long learning curve and a process after all!

 

[Fluffbabies]

I found it easier to see in my darker haired pigs than my white pigs when mine has a case of mites.

what type of mites did they have?

Normally bum baths with clear water and a judicious haircut are enough. I only do medicated baths if they are really necessary (like with an outbreak of ringworm to remove any spores from sitting in the coat and causing re-infection down the line).

The grease gland is rarely a problem in sows; it tend to be more active in boars. Cleaning any crusts and debris in there is gently done with the help of coconut oil.

But I am still learning new things... Pet ownership is a life-long learning curve and a process after all!

it definitely is! Oh! And Oreo who had gone deaf.. well we’re not sure she is now! Sometimes we swear she hears rustles. When she’s in a hidey, definitely can’t see us and we rustle something in the kitchen and she goes off on one again she seems to be able to hear higher pitched things more easily. We think she might be losing her hearing and/or can only hear some things. We don’t think she can hear like she used to as she still has no reaction to some/maybe most things. But it was so heart warming to see her hear again even if it is only sometimes! And get her wheek back. I’ll ask the vet to have a look in her ears too when we’re at the vets. We love them no matter what it just breaks our hearts to see them sad in any way. Guinea pigs may be small but they have a huge imprint on our hearts.