California Potbellied Pig Association, Inc

PIG SWEAT GLANDS or SCENT GLANDS

My piggy has 4 sweat or scent glands on the backside of her front hooves (ankle area).  I notice that they get little things in them like plugged sweat glands.  I usually take tweezers and gently tug out the little things once a month... and she loves it... but is it normal for those glands to plug..... what exactly are those glands for.... should others clean out their piggies glands? 

Thanks!! Smile,

Colleen

Here is what Dr. John Carr had to say:

"Basically, I leave them alone.  They are the only sweat glands a pig has and other species of pig use similar glands as scent glands - perhaps our pigs used to use them like a cat marking its home.  Peccaries have them above their tail - smells like cheese!  Anyway, my concern with cleaning them is that you might encourage them to fill again and then this might result in an abscess/overproduction".

Take two pigs and call me in the morning.