Genitals: What is this stuff on the pup's privates??

[danav]

A few minutes ago we noticed something white and crusty on the genitals of our 3 week old female piggie Luna. It did not come off easily when I tried to clean with a wet paper towel. What could this be?

I don't know how long it has been there, since I haven't really looked at her bottom in a few days...but my concern is whether this could be "boar glue"! We did have two boy babies in the cage with her and our two mamas - all three babies were 21 days old yesterday, and both boys left for their new homes yesterday. So I know it is not likely one of them mated with her, but I have read that someone on these forums did have a piggie impregnated by an 18 day old male, so that's scaring me! And both boys had begun to try to mount the girls within the last few days (although I only saw them try to mount the mamas, not Luna).

So, what exactly would it look like if she has been mated with? And at 3 weeks old, is it possible for her to get pregnant yet? I just looked at both the mama piggies and their privates look normal - no sign of anything on either of them.

If it's not that, what else could this be? She's been eating Kleenmama's alfalfa pellets (unlimited), bluegrass hay (unlimited), and veggies (variety of lettuces, carrots, grape tomatoes, cucumber, cilantro, and just yesterday a little bit of apple). The lettuce has had acidophilus sprinkled on it, because one of my mama pigs, Hermione, has been on antibiotics. Could the acidophilus be causing a problem for the baby? Could the alfalfa pellets be giving her too much calcium, and maybe this is calcium deposits? I don't see anything unusual on the cage fleece.

[danav]

I've been searching here and guinealynx and I can't find anything to help me figure out what this is...I was able to wipe some of it off yesterday, and today she looks normal. Still nothing unusual on the fleece in the cage (so it doesn't look like the pictures I've seen of "sludge" in urine).

Does anyone have answers to my questions?

[Peggysu]

Are you sure this is in fact a female? It sounds like boar glue.

[akstrohm]

It does not sound like calcium deposits. Keep her on the alfalfa pellets, make sure she is a girl, weigh her regularly, and have a good vet in mind. Those are all things to do whether she is pregnant or not. I think it's unlikely that she is, but time will tell.

[danav]

I'm positive she's a girl...the two male pups we had looked exactly the same as each other in that area, and I was able to get both their parts to "pop out" to confirm they were boys. Luna looks completely different from the boys, and her genitals look just like both of my older females (who are definitely females, as they both gave birth last month).

I know it's possible for a male to get a female pregnant when he's as young as 3 weeks old, which is why it's important to separate at 21 days (which I did) so the mother doesn't get pregnant again. But can a female be sexually mature enough to get pregnant at 21 days? Is it possible that she could have gotten pregnant in the last day or two her brother and the other male baby were in the cage with her? If she actually did get pregnant, is she much too small and young to carry a pregnancy and give birth safely?!

I know there is nothing I can do at this point, but I'm really starting to worry about her!

Does anyone know of anything else that the white crusty stuff could have been if not boar glue?

[danav]

Ok, now I DO see a spot on the fleece that I didn't see before I cleaned the cage today. It's about the size of a nickel, stiff and white (but just enough to see it, not solid white).

So maybe it is her urine. Would it build up on her bottom like that? What do I need to adjust in her diet?

[Ly&Pigs]

If it's from the urine, it's pretty normal. It's just her body expelling the excess calcium it does not need. I wouldn't make any adjustments to diet at this stage as she's very young and needs calcium.

[danav]

I'm relieved to hear that! Thanks, Ly - I feel much better now. :)