Mastering Guinea Pig Health Checks: A Nose-to-Toes Guide Part 2: Males
My dear darling Guinea Pig Family,
In my last article (#84), I wrote about the all-important guinea pig health check, focusing on what I look for specifically in female guinea pigs. I also discussed the importance of learning to do health checks yourself because, one day, you may be able to save your guinea pig's life.
Some people take to it naturally, while others need more practice - and that practice is important. The more you do these checks, the better you'll become at the "feeling part." You'll get so familiar with what a healthy guinea pig should feel and look like that it will be much easier to notice when something doesn’t look or feel right.
Sometimes, when teaching eager volunteers who are interested in learning all they can, I give them a task. For instance, I ask them to pick up every guinea pig in the room and check for the lymph nodes and thyroid in each one. After completing this task, they’ll be much more likely to recognise when something isn’t right in a guinea pig with health issues in those areas. That’s exactly how I learned.
I've done thousands of health checks each year for the past 25 years. At this point, I can feel a guinea pig with my eyes closed and identify potential issues. I don’t say this to brag - I say it to encourage every owner to start checking their pigs regularly. The more you do, the better and more confident you’ll become.
Here are the different things we look for in a boy…
Arthritis
I have found that male guinea pigs are more prone to arthritis than females. No studies have been done on this, so we don’t know why, but it is extremely common in boys over a certain age. More often than not, the hind leg joints are affected.
Arthritis is often diagnosed via X-ray but can also be detected during a check. Swelling is usually visible, and the affected joint often feels warm. An effective diagnostic tool is to check whether the back legs bend easily. In younger guinea pigs, you will notice that bending the back legs is very easy, with a good range of motion up and down. However, guinea pigs with arthritis will have a limited range of motion, and in severe cases, the joints may fuse completely, making movement both impossible and painful.
Arthritis causes pain, and guinea pigs affected badly enough will become less active, often sitting in one spot for long periods. This inactivity can lead to pressure sores on the feet. Muscle atrophy in the hind legs is also common due to lack of use and can be observed when looking at the guinea pig from behind - sometimes, the animal appears noticeably "skinny" in the back.
Pain control is crucial. Your vet will likely prescribe something to help, but I have found that CBD works incredibly well, especially for piglets affected by arthritis.
Mammary Gland
The mammary glands are located right underneath each nipple. In males, the nipples are quite small and not easily noticeable. Male guinea pigs can develop mammary gland tumours, just like females. These usually appear from around 3.5 years of age onward.
So, as part of a male guinea pig’s health check—especially the older ones—it’s important to give the area a good feel to ensure there is no thickening of the tissue or any fluid leaking from the nipple. These types of lumps are best surgically removed, as they can grow and potentially spread to other parts of the body.
Grease Gland
The grease gland is located right at the backside - if guinea pigs had a tail, this is where it would be. This gland produces sebum, often creating a spot with clumped, oily hair. In some rare cases, a tumor can develop from this gland, so it’s good to check the area during health checks. Interestingly, the substance this gland produces is so oily that normal shampoo won’t wash it off. You can use Swarfega, or I simply trim the hair short there. I’ll admit - this is partly for vanity on my part. I’m not a fan of dirty spots in that, or any, location!
Testes
You want to feel and become familiar with the testes. It’s always a good idea to check them regularly to ensure both are the same size. In some cases, male guinea pigs can develop a hernia in that area, which can cause one to appear larger than the other.
Boar Cleaning
A male guinea pig has fascinating anatomy down below. Well at least it is for me. There are three main areas. I use a raised table and hold the pig against me. It's not a comfortable position for your boy, but it doesn't hurt and makes the job easier. Firstly, I expose the penis and remove any of the white-ish smegma that may have built up around the shaft.
Penis
A lot of smegma can accumulate around the shaft of the penis and inside the perineal sac. Every 2–3 months, this buildup needs to be removed, and the area checked out. This is not so much a priority for younger males, but as they age, they may need more attention.
I start by putting on gloves - you don’t want to use your bare hands for this job. You might also want to breathe through your mouth, as I do when working "down there," because it can get a little smelly. Good thing is that everything stays safely tucked away, so we only ever smell it during a boar clean.
I use a raised table and hold the pig against me. It’s not the most comfortable position for him, but it doesn’t hurt and makes the job easier. First, I expose the penis and remove any white-ish smegma that may have built up around the shaft.
It is important to expose the penis all the way to make sure you are getting all the smegma off. After that cleaning, I gently squeeze the penis. You will see two prong-like pieces that look like thin strips of exposed skin. Some smegma can also attach to these prongs, so make sure they are clean.
Sometimes, a strip of boar glue (ejaculate) can partially block the urethra. If that is present, it will become visible after that gentle squeeze. It is an odd thing and can sometimes have a somewhat worm-like shape. But fear not - if you come across this, it is perfectly normal, and your boy will be much relieved to have it removed.
Anus and Perianal Sac
And now, onto the anus and perineal sac, which we will call "the pocket" from here on. The pocket is located in the middle, between the penis and the anus. Many cavy people—and even some veterinarians--don’t know this pocket exists. In fact, I have a book written by a veterinarian for veterinarians that makes no mention of this anatomy - as if it doesn’t exist.
The pocket is made up of skin with no muscles in that area, and it contains many large pores that secrete sebaceous matter. As males age, the skin of the pocket loses its elasticity and can become a catchall if you will, for not only sebaceous smegma but also poop. The anus is located right at the edge of the pocket, and the occasional softer poop pellet can get stuck in there on its way out. Sometimes, this results in a buildup of matter, known as "impaction." In some cases, this becomes a chronic problem, requiring assistance a couple of times a week - or even daily in some bad cases.
This condition is often incorrectly referred to as "anal impaction," which perfectly illustrates the lack of anatomical knowledge. In all my years working with guinea pigs, I have never come across an actual anal impaction - or any anus trouble at all, for that matter. What is mistakenly called an anal impaction is actually the accumulation of smegma and faecal matter in the pocket.
Now that we’ve set the record straight, let’s go and empty that pocket.
Oh, and by the way - no matter the size of the impaction, regular stool can still pass through. Sometimes, when the skin is really loose, clumps of regular poop can even be found within the impaction.
I empty and clean the pocket with the help of Q-tips. I gently fold open the pocket folds to reveal its contents and remove them with the Q-tips. Once it’s emptied, I feel around the rim for any hard lumps. More often than not, these are clogged pores that can be resolved with a gentle squeeze - kind of like a pimple.
Problems That Can Occur ‘Down There’
In extremely rare cases, a type of skin cancer can develop on the rims of the perianal pocket. My own guinea pig, Podrick, has this. He was one of the babies born here from a massive rescue we undertook in Northern California, where around 750 guinea pigs were left to breed uncontrollably. Thankfully, the cancer is slow-growing and doesn’t seem to bother him much.
CBD for Guinea Pigs
CBD is an all-natural product, and the one we use comes in the form of a cream applied to the ears. Since a guinea pigs’ ears have many veins, the CBD is absorbed into the bloodstream quickly.
Our website sells CBD and ships worldwide!
In my last article (#84), I wrote about the all-important guinea pig health check, focusing on what I look for specifically in female guinea pigs. I also discussed the importance of learning to do health checks yourself because, one day, you may be able to save your guinea pig's life.
Some people take to it naturally, while others need more practice - and that practice is important. The more you do these checks, the better you'll become at the "feeling part." You'll get so familiar with what a healthy guinea pig should feel and look like that it will be much easier to notice when something doesn’t look or feel right.
Sometimes, when teaching eager volunteers who are interested in learning all they can, I give them a task. For instance, I ask them to pick up every guinea pig in the room and check for the lymph nodes and thyroid in each one. After completing this task, they’ll be much more likely to recognise when something isn’t right in a guinea pig with health issues in those areas. That’s exactly how I learned.
I've done thousands of health checks each year for the past 25 years. At this point, I can feel a guinea pig with my eyes closed and identify potential issues. I don’t say this to brag - I say it to encourage every owner to start checking their pigs regularly. The more you do, the better and more confident you’ll become.
Here are the different things we look for in a boy…
Arthritis
I have found that male guinea pigs are more prone to arthritis than females. No studies have been done on this, so we don’t know why, but it is extremely common in boys over a certain age. More often than not, the hind leg joints are affected.
Arthritis is often diagnosed via X-ray but can also be detected during a check. Swelling is usually visible, and the affected joint often feels warm. An effective diagnostic tool is to check whether the back legs bend easily. In younger guinea pigs, you will notice that bending the back legs is very easy, with a good range of motion up and down. However, guinea pigs with arthritis will have a limited range of motion, and in severe cases, the joints may fuse completely, making movement both impossible and painful.
Arthritis causes pain, and guinea pigs affected badly enough will become less active, often sitting in one spot for long periods. This inactivity can lead to pressure sores on the feet. Muscle atrophy in the hind legs is also common due to lack of use and can be observed when looking at the guinea pig from behind - sometimes, the animal appears noticeably "skinny" in the back.
Pain control is crucial. Your vet will likely prescribe something to help, but I have found that CBD works incredibly well, especially for piglets affected by arthritis.
Mammary Gland
The mammary glands are located right underneath each nipple. In males, the nipples are quite small and not easily noticeable. Male guinea pigs can develop mammary gland tumours, just like females. These usually appear from around 3.5 years of age onward.
So, as part of a male guinea pig’s health check—especially the older ones—it’s important to give the area a good feel to ensure there is no thickening of the tissue or any fluid leaking from the nipple. These types of lumps are best surgically removed, as they can grow and potentially spread to other parts of the body.
Grease Gland
The grease gland is located right at the backside - if guinea pigs had a tail, this is where it would be. This gland produces sebum, often creating a spot with clumped, oily hair. In some rare cases, a tumor can develop from this gland, so it’s good to check the area during health checks. Interestingly, the substance this gland produces is so oily that normal shampoo won’t wash it off. You can use Swarfega, or I simply trim the hair short there. I’ll admit - this is partly for vanity on my part. I’m not a fan of dirty spots in that, or any, location!
Testes
You want to feel and become familiar with the testes. It’s always a good idea to check them regularly to ensure both are the same size. In some cases, male guinea pigs can develop a hernia in that area, which can cause one to appear larger than the other.
Boar Cleaning
A male guinea pig has fascinating anatomy down below. Well at least it is for me. There are three main areas. I use a raised table and hold the pig against me. It's not a comfortable position for your boy, but it doesn't hurt and makes the job easier. Firstly, I expose the penis and remove any of the white-ish smegma that may have built up around the shaft.
Penis
A lot of smegma can accumulate around the shaft of the penis and inside the perineal sac. Every 2–3 months, this buildup needs to be removed, and the area checked out. This is not so much a priority for younger males, but as they age, they may need more attention.
I start by putting on gloves - you don’t want to use your bare hands for this job. You might also want to breathe through your mouth, as I do when working "down there," because it can get a little smelly. Good thing is that everything stays safely tucked away, so we only ever smell it during a boar clean.
I use a raised table and hold the pig against me. It’s not the most comfortable position for him, but it doesn’t hurt and makes the job easier. First, I expose the penis and remove any white-ish smegma that may have built up around the shaft.
It is important to expose the penis all the way to make sure you are getting all the smegma off. After that cleaning, I gently squeeze the penis. You will see two prong-like pieces that look like thin strips of exposed skin. Some smegma can also attach to these prongs, so make sure they are clean.
Sometimes, a strip of boar glue (ejaculate) can partially block the urethra. If that is present, it will become visible after that gentle squeeze. It is an odd thing and can sometimes have a somewhat worm-like shape. But fear not - if you come across this, it is perfectly normal, and your boy will be much relieved to have it removed.
Anus and Perianal Sac
And now, onto the anus and perineal sac, which we will call "the pocket" from here on. The pocket is located in the middle, between the penis and the anus. Many cavy people—and even some veterinarians--don’t know this pocket exists. In fact, I have a book written by a veterinarian for veterinarians that makes no mention of this anatomy - as if it doesn’t exist.
The pocket is made up of skin with no muscles in that area, and it contains many large pores that secrete sebaceous matter. As males age, the skin of the pocket loses its elasticity and can become a catchall if you will, for not only sebaceous smegma but also poop. The anus is located right at the edge of the pocket, and the occasional softer poop pellet can get stuck in there on its way out. Sometimes, this results in a buildup of matter, known as "impaction." In some cases, this becomes a chronic problem, requiring assistance a couple of times a week - or even daily in some bad cases.
This condition is often incorrectly referred to as "anal impaction," which perfectly illustrates the lack of anatomical knowledge. In all my years working with guinea pigs, I have never come across an actual anal impaction - or any anus trouble at all, for that matter. What is mistakenly called an anal impaction is actually the accumulation of smegma and faecal matter in the pocket.
Now that we’ve set the record straight, let’s go and empty that pocket.
Oh, and by the way - no matter the size of the impaction, regular stool can still pass through. Sometimes, when the skin is really loose, clumps of regular poop can even be found within the impaction.
I empty and clean the pocket with the help of Q-tips. I gently fold open the pocket folds to reveal its contents and remove them with the Q-tips. Once it’s emptied, I feel around the rim for any hard lumps. More often than not, these are clogged pores that can be resolved with a gentle squeeze - kind of like a pimple.
Problems That Can Occur ‘Down There’
In extremely rare cases, a type of skin cancer can develop on the rims of the perianal pocket. My own guinea pig, Podrick, has this. He was one of the babies born here from a massive rescue we undertook in Northern California, where around 750 guinea pigs were left to breed uncontrollably. Thankfully, the cancer is slow-growing and doesn’t seem to bother him much.
CBD for Guinea Pigs
CBD is an all-natural product, and the one we use comes in the form of a cream applied to the ears. Since a guinea pigs’ ears have many veins, the CBD is absorbed into the bloodstream quickly.
Our website sells CBD and ships worldwide!
