Need advice quick please

[Guinealuvrgirl]

hello i just adopted a guinea(long haired) and his hair on his rear was sticky. I washed it and noticed he had a whole spot that was guewy like gum. So I cut that part off(making sure it wasnt ring worm or something like that-but his skin is nice and pink and no infection-wound )-however his hair on his back going from his rear up is the same type of feeling. I washed him twice,nothing is coming out.
Please help me,I got his nails trimed(they were horribly long) and his ears cleaned as well. I just got him home an hr ago and have him is a seperate cage. I dont want to put him together with my 2 little ones until I know for sure whats up with his hair.

Thanks in advance if anyone knows how or what this is,and what I can use or do to help him.

[wiggley_narco]

First of all, even if what is on his rear is harmless, do NOT put him with your current guinea pigs yet. You need to keep him separate for a 3-week quarantine period to be sure that he doesn't have anything (like a URI) he could pass on to your others. Don't think that just because he looks healthy then he is; guinea pigs cover up signs of illness very well. You don't want to risk making your others sick.

Does the sticky/gooey substance have a color or odor?

What kind of environment did your new guinea pig come from? If he was being housed with other boars, it could have came from dominant mounting. This has happened to one of my boys before. That, however, would more than likely be dried by now.

Another (and more likely) possibility is that it is coming from his oil gland near his rear. The best thing I know to do for that is to use a small animal shampoo (NOT puppy or baby shampoo) to wash the area in the sink/tub. Be sure to dry him off very well, however. Being cold and wet can cause pigs to get sick.

Hopefully someone else will come along and have more ideas.

[Jenni_Feathers]

Is it right in the spot where is tail would be (if Guinea Pigs had tails) if so, it is most likely his grease gland. Here is a bit about them and how to get rid of them Guinea Lynx :: Grooming

[Guinealuvrgirl]

Originally Posted by wiggley_narco

First of all, even if what is on his rear is harmless, do NOT put him with your current guinea pigs yet. You need to keep him separate for a 3-week quarantine period to be sure that he doesn't have anything (like a URI) he could pass on to your others. Don't think that just because he looks healthy then he is; guinea pigs cover up signs of illness very well. You don't want to risk making your others sick.

Does the sticky/gooey substance have a color or odor?

What kind of environment did your new guinea pig come from? If he was being housed with other boars, it could have came from dominant mounting. This has happened to one of my boys before. That, however, would more than likely be dried by now.

Another (and more likely) possibility is that it is coming from his oil gland near his rear. The best thing I know to do for that is to use a small animal shampoo (NOT puppy or baby shampoo) to wash the area in the sink/tub. Be sure to dry him off very well, however. Being cold and wet can cause pigs to get sick.

Hopefully someone else will come along and have more ideas.

Thanks for your reply. It was dry,but sticky so sticky.He came from a guy who had everything for him,yet didnt use. I am sure he was alone,and his cage is tiny and had fecal on it. I cleaned it all. I have NOT put him with the others,and had a feeling i should wait. The spot is wear the tail would be and yellow like..but now that is gone mostly(was so horrible) its just oily coming up his romp now.
Not like short hairs at all,,wich is what my others are so this is so new to me,
yes I dried him off very well and blew dryed him on low as well to make quite sure. I know they can get sick and also catch other icky things if not dried thoroughly. Thank you for your help

I am still going to take him into the vet however-his head is leaning to the right and his equilibrium is off..off balance like when he stands on hind legs or even just sits there. Poor boy

[Guinealuvrgirl]

Originally Posted by Jenni_Feathers

Is it right in the spot where is tail would be (if Guinea Pigs had tails) if so, it is most likely his grease gland. Here is a bit about them and how to get rid of them Guinea Lynx :: Grooming

You rock!! Thanks so much for the link!! hugz

[fourboys4now]

I just went and looked up the head tilt you mentioned on the guinealynx.com website and it said it may be caused by a bacterial infection and vet treatment should be sought quickly. From what I've read on different sites it can be very serious and may become permanent if not treated. I would get your new piggy to the vet as soon as possible. Please keep us updated.

[Guinealuvrgirl]

Originally Posted by fourboys4now

I just went and looked up the head tilt you mentioned on the guinealynx.com website and it said it may be caused by a bacterial infection and vet treatment should be sought quickly. From what I've read on different sites it can be very serious and may become permanent if not treated. I would get your new piggy to the vet as soon as possible. Please keep us updated.

Thank you,yes I am taking him in and will keep everyone posted he is eating great and drinking and I am keeping my handling him to a minimum..although very hard!
night

[pigsforlife]

Could it be boar glue?

[clotho]

Yes, please do get him to a vet asap! He may have an ear infection and need antibiotics right away!!

The spot you describe sounds like the grease gland to me. I use Dawn dish detergent (only on that spot and only with a bum bath NOT a full bath) to clean any overactive grease glands in my household.

[Guinealuvrgirl]

Originally Posted by clotho

Yes, please do get him to a vet asap! He may have an ear infection and need antibiotics right away!!

The spot you describe sounds like the grease gland to me. I use Dawn dish detergent (only on that spot and only with a bum bath NOT a full bath) to clean any overactive grease glands in my household.

yep-today at 2pm, and I read alot last night about his balance being off..and he also might have a bacterial infection of the inner ear. The guy claimed he had an ear infection before he got him and his vet said he just is that way now. Going to try to get his vets # to verify that as well. My vet is great and should be able to help himThanks for your reply..

[Guinealuvrgirl]

Hello all,just wanted to givve ya an update on him. He was found to have more oily hair around his rump and she gave me some special shampoo to use on him. Also his oil gland is okay, since all the excess oil got removed she said its a clean start. No infection what so ever. His ears are good
So she figures that his previous ear infection caused neorotic displacement.
Think I said that right. So he is special,sort to say. His life expectancy is grim,since he was a pet store boar before his previous owner got him. He is overweight she said and est his age between 3 and 5(i was told 1 and a half)
teeth are okay,but lips had to be wiped down and on his upper lip n the middle(inside ) its pink and soar(she gave me ointment for it).

I called his previous owner yest to address the situation to him and let him know what was going on. He was shocked and said he thought they were like rats and he NEVER bathed his behind or him for the last yr and a half.
He was lucky I had him, but wow I was really upset with him.

I am a new guinea owner as well since I have not had my babies long,but I even know the basics and the care involved. In my opinion they are high maintance pets,not like rats. I wish all people new how to properly care for them. Saddens me to read all of them listed on cl these days. Yest there was a tiny blk female that there 10 yr old didnt want anymore. But they were going to keep there 7 yr olds so no cage included.WHAT??
I wrote a reply but got flagged. what is a 7 and 10 yr old doing taking care of them anyways??


sorry for the rant...anyways he is doing great and happy he has no upper respitory infection or ear. So glad I am his new owner now and he will live out the rest of his yrs spoiled rotten!
Thanks for everyones concern,and help!!

[Char-x]

Originally Posted by Jenni_Feathers

Is it right in the spot where is tail would be (if Guinea Pigs had tails) if so, it is most likely his grease gland. Here is a bit about them and how to get rid of them Guinea Lynx :: Grooming

I thought pigs did have tails they were just really short? I've been paranoid about cutting it when I've trimmed my long haireds