Are blocked scent glands harmful? (unpleasent topic)

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This topic has 10sd replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 12 months ago by Muchelle.

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- 05/03/2017 at 4:34 PM
  Autumn's Dad
  Participant
  208 posts
  Hello,
  
  for a long time now, I’ve noticed a musty odour coming from Autumn when she grooms or lays down to sleep. it’s not a horrible smell but not the greatest either. I’ve known of anal scent glands but never crossed my mind they could gunk up being spayed and put it down to normal cecal production. Hers have never been cleaned (she’s turning 2 years soon) and probably need to but she would not handle the process well I feel, and vet trips put much stress on her. Would leaving them as is be unsanitary or harmful to her? I would rather the smell gone but not at her expense. Thank you for your time.
  
  A.D
- 05/03/2017 at 4:43 PM
  Mikey
  Participant
  3186 posts
  I believe they can cause infection if theyre clogged for a long time without cleaning. Usually the bunnies do a good enough job cleaning themselves, but sometimes they need assistance. Its pretty easy to see if they are clogged, and its very easy (although gross) to clean. To check, pick her up and take a look at her butt. If theres black dots, chunks, or gunk, theyre blocked. If theres no black dots, chunks, or gunk, theres another reason for the smell and would likely need vet assistance to make sure diet is going well. If they are blocked, take a warm damp qtip and massage the gunk out. You might need a few qtips. Warning: the smell might be stronger
- 05/03/2017 at 4:44 PM
  Muchelle
  Participant
  1141 posts
  Mine had the same “problem”, getting a bad case of dirty glans after 2 years of no problems! I don’t know if it’s harmful but surely my bun was feeling uncomfortable, I don’t know if because of the pungent smell that followed him around or because of physical discomfort.
  
  Cleaning them is actually very easy and takes only a couple of minutes, so you could try. You need lukewarm water and q-tips. The faster way is to put the bun on its back, quickly open the glans area and scoop out the gunk with the warm, moistened q-tip. The first time I did it, there was a LOT of stuff and it took me about 2 minutes, so it’s doable!
- 05/03/2017 at 4:56 PM
  vanessa
  Participant
  2212 posts
  It really is easy. Just like Muchelle described. I clean Lancelot’s scent glands every weekend. Once you start a cleaning routine, there isn’t much to clean the next time. And the smell is waaa-aaa-aay better!
- 05/03/2017 at 4:58 PM
  Muchelle
  Participant
  1141 posts
  (I don’t mind the smell tho, it’s kinda like freshly ground coffee with a touch of burnt caramel…)
- 05/03/2017 at 5:40 PM
  Mikey
  Participant
  3186 posts
  Lucky, Muchelle, LOL! My Bombur needs his scent glands cleaned every once in a while and it always smells like a restaurant dumpster on a hot summer day
- 05/03/2017 at 9:41 PM
  vanessa
  Participant
  2212 posts
  I think it smells like a skunk.
- 05/04/2017 at 2:46 AM
  Autumn's Dad
  Participant
  208 posts
  Thank you all for your comments, how can I flip her over? I’ve tried before but she HATES any feeling of being restrained. I even tried throwing a towel over her and flipping her that way but she was not having it!
- 05/04/2017 at 3:53 AM
  Muchelle
  Participant
  1141 posts
  When I first tried to do it, I followed this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_x9dbSUdomg
  
  Only difference is that I have to keep K on my lap (my legs stretched on another chair, his back on my thighs) because he will rebel on the table. To feel safer I had my father support K’s head (and keep watch in case he rebelled) while I used both hands to open and clean the glands. In the end it was quicker than I had anticipated and the bun looked satisfied of his cleaned little butt!
- 05/04/2017 at 6:06 AM
  Q8bunny
  Participant
  6345 posts
  The Chewster sometimes smells skunky after enjoying bum candy and then cleaning himself.
- 05/04/2017 at 6:25 AM
  Muchelle
  Participant
  1141 posts
  bum candy ahahaha XDDDDD
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