Perineal Sac Cleaning?

[niftyality]

I just read about perineal sac cleaning to prevent impaction. My question is, do all of you with male guinea pigs do this process everyday? Or do you just check every so often to make sure things are okay?

 

[tashagurl]

I check Samson's butt every week just to make sure its clean. My older boar, Salem, gets impacted and needs to be cleaned out every three days or so.

 

[uthoria]

say what???

 

[tashagurl]

You can read all about impaction here https://www.guinealynx.info/impaction.html

 

[uthoria]

You can read all about impaction here https://www.guinealynx.info/impaction.html

I just got done reading about it

"Boars that have been neutered rarely if ever experience impaction"

Another reason why i might look into neutering my boar

 

[dagwellismypigy]

I only clean them about once a month.

 

[tashagurl]

Salem was intact until he was about five or so, so he does get impacted even though he is nuetered.

 

[Piglet]

I check and clean every couple of weeks

 

[uthoria]

Man, i should have picked up a girl

 

[Piglet]

THe cleaning is fine. Only takes a couple of minutes pre pig, although the whole process STINKS. I would suggest having a peg at hand!

 

[dagwellismypigy]

It's not that bad, it's like cleaning out your ears... ew heh.

 

[uthoria]

so, how often am i supposed to do this???....my pig is around 8 weeks old

 

[critterlover]

That's disgusting. Seriously, how the heck do you get your piggy to stay still while you do all that? You flip them on their backs? It sounds like a 2-person job?? I have enough problems with toenail clipping.

 

[Piglet]

uthoria, check weekly. Critterlover, I put my leg up on the bath, then I put my pig on my raised knee. Their heads are facing me and I usually give them some food to distract them. Then I just open up the sac and clean away!

 

[Katie]

Uthoria, your pig is too young to get impacted, it usually doesn't happen until the boar is around 3 years or so, and many boars never get impacted. I've only had one boar my whole life that has been impacted.

 

[LiciaMommycott]

Then I just open up the sac and clean away!

Ah! That explains it all. How simple. NOT!!!! How on earth do you "open up the sac?"

 

[Katie]

Ah! That explains it all. How simple. NOT!!!! How on earth do you "open up the sac?"

You use your fingers and you spread them open. It's simple, really. It's easier when they are impacted.

 

[dagwellismypigy]

You have to get "down and dirty" you gently push the folds of skin away from eachother and take a q-tip dipped in mineral oil, and slowly push in and move it around, the motion is that of using a q-tip in your ears. It's nasty, but easy.
To get them in "position" i sit down and have their butt hang over the side of my leg, to keep them their, a nice juicy carrot.

 

[Piglet]

Even though young boars do not get impacted, they still need to be cleaned. You'll often find bedding, hair and hay in there. Well licia, thats what you do! You open up the sac with your fingers and then with a q tip (I dip it in olive oil) clean away.

 

[niftyality]

do you think if you use carefresh as bedding, impaction would be prevented? But it's so expensive.......darn it.