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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Swollen Scent Gland

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    • Deleted User
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        This is my first bunny! She’s been with me for a little more then 2 months now 

        Today I noticed that my bun smelled pretty bad so I checked her scent glands and noticed some crustation around the area. I cleaned it with warm water and notice that one of the glands is slightlt swollen. Is this something I should worry about?

        I’ve been told by my vet that bunnies don’t need to have thier scent glands cleaned. Is this true?

        Bun info
        Dwarf rabbit
        Small (3lb)
        Adult
        Not spayed (acts like she’s spayed. Calm and doesn’t bite or chew furnitures unless she feels ignored)
        Female?

         


      • jerseygirl
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          From what I understand, one of the reasons to clean them is to help prevent infections. With some swelling there, i would be wary of possible infection but since you’ve just cleaned it, maybe keep an eye on it and see if it improves. Sometimes the substance builds up and becomes like a waxy plug that needs to be removed.


        • Scarlet_Rose
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            Hi! Domesticated rabbits definately need to have their scent glands cleaned. Otherwise a very waxy, hard buildup can form and as you can imagine be very uncomfortable and may get infected. How swolen is the scent gland? This may be a sign that something else is wrong and needs to be addressed and would warrant a visit to the vet to check on it.


          • MooBunnay
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              I agree that you should monitor it closely, and if it starts to get worse, or the swelling doesn’t go down, then you will probably need to take your bunny to the vet to get it checked out. Good thing you checked!


            • Kokaneeandkahlua
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                It’s pretty common for vets to say they don’t need to be cleaned. I’m not sure if they don’t want to do it, or they don’t know that bunnies can’t clean them themselves? At any rate, yes they do need to be done-you are right.

                I agree with the others-keep an eye on it and see if you can get her into a vet to take a look.


              • KatnipCrzy
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                  I would recommend having your vet take a look at the bunny.  Are you sure it is the scent gland that is swollen?  Are you sure your bunny is female?


                • Deleted User
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                    I’ve been keeping an eye on her scent gland and it hasn’t changed still just slightly swollen.
                    Her attitude hasn’t changed she still plays and eats well.

                    At the Montreal spca they said it was a female but sometimes she acts like a male, but I’m pretty sure she’s a she not a he =)

                    ?Question?
                    What is expected for a regular check up? Do they just take the rabbit’s wieght, temp. and check teeth and ears or is there more?

                    When I first sent my bunny to a local vet (a month ago) I was disappointed. I pretty much felt like a spent a lot for nothing.


                  • MooBunnay
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                      Usually I do not take my bunnies for a “standard” check up like dogs and cats have. I think that one of the main reasons is because bunnies don’t really have routine shots that need to be done or vaccinations or anything like that. Usually I only recommend a vet visit if something is wrong with the bunny, or if the bunny is newly adopted from a bad situation where they may have gotten fleas or some other kind of illness. For that reason, I’m thinking that there probably isn’t very much involved in a bunny “regular” checkup. A lot of the routine maintenance you can do yourself by checking the ears for any kind of residue or build up, checking the scent glands, checking the teeth, and giving a nail trim. If you refer to the tabs up above, under “Bunny Info” there is a section called “Monthly Maintenance” which I think is a great section, and by doing that monthly maintenance each month you can monitor yourself (without a vet visit) if your bunny is having any problems that you actually need a vet to help you with.


                    • Kokaneeandkahlua
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                        I took all my new bunnies for a checkup once they had settled in at home, and my two special rabbits get regular checkups to check Chuck’s eye and Ruperts leg. But I agree if they are young and in good health they don’t really need annual checkups. As they get on in age or if they have any conditions then it’s a good idea to have annual or semi-annual checkups.


                      • Sarita
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                          I definitely think that a rabbit needs a regular check-up – this will help you get to know your vet and your vet can monitor your rabbit as well. It’s true that rabbits don’t need shots but they do need care and knowing your vet and having a relationship with the vet is of utmost importance.

                          Normally they will check the ear, the eyes, the teeth, palpate the stomach, weigh them, check their temperatures and ask you lots of questions.

                          So I always encourage rabbit owners to do this at least once a year.


                        • Beka27
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                            Welcome here!

                            I also recommend that you take the bunny for an initial check-up, which you’ve already done. I can see MooBunnay’s point about saving future vists for if there is something wrong, but I do feel that regular check-ups are important as well, even if it’s not every year on the dot. For people who are less experienced with rabbit health (like me) there are things I would likely miss if we didn’t do vet checks. The monthly maintenance is very important as well and that will help familiarize you with your bunny.

                            Is spaying in your plans? Behavior, littertraining, and pregnancy prevention are not the only reasons to spay. Female rabbits have an 80% risk of developing uterine cancer by the age of 3 if not spayed.

                            If you are not confident in your vet, we might be able to direct you towards someone more experienced and “rabbit savvy”.


                          • LullyLullybunbuns
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                              why is my BUNNY’S SCENTGLAND SWOLLEN


                            • jerseygirl
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                                Posted By TinaTumbletoes on 10/18/2016 2:20 PM

                                why is my BUNNY’S SCENTGLAND SWOLLEN

                                Any swelling in the genital area should really be checked out by a vet.

                                Are you able to start a New Thread for your question, TinaTumbletoes? 

                                 This is a very old thread. We do ask that members do not post in threads that are more then a few months old.  It can get confusing to have old threads in amid the current topics.

                                I will lock this one now.

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                            Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Swollen Scent Gland