Scent Gland, Abscess, or Hernia...?

Question
Okay... so I have 2 male piggies, an Abyssinian and a Silkie. I just noticed a couple days ago that my Abyssinian has this big white round 'thing' that sort of pokes out his butthole occasionally. I thought maybe it was his scent gland, but it seems to come out too much (although I don't know how far it should come out, or if it should at all). I tried searching on yahoo about any conditions that resemble this, and all I found were abscesses, displaced testicle... and I think one more, but I can't remember. I can't compare this to my Silkie because his hair is too long and I can't see.  

If you have any clues to what this might be, please let me know! I'd like to bring him to a vet as soon as I can if this isn't normal... Thanks!!!


Answer
Hello Alicia,

It sounds like his scent gland. Is he rumbling around, dragging his rump on the ground, pressing his rump against things, or is the other male nearby when this white round thing pokes out? If so, he's scent marking. If you are uneasy about it, take him into the vet, if nothing else, it will ease your mind and if something is actually wrong, you can get it taken care of. It very much just sounds like he's displaying his scent gland though and that is very normal. If there are any other symptoms though, there could be a problem and he should see a vet. As long as his behavior and condition is normal, he's likely just fine and just being a boar.

-kkat
www.geocities.com/abyssinianguineapigs