Perineal pocket

Black crumbly secretion on the perineal pocket (below in the picture), the caudal gland is visible in the upper part of the picture

The perineal pocket ( bursa perinealis ) is a special skin gland in guinea pigs . It is a pocket-like, about 1 cm deep skin indentation in the area of the perineum , i.e. the region between anus and genital opening. Numerous perineal glands ( glandulae perineales ) open into the perineal pocket , which secrete a fatty secretion that is released into the perineal pocket together with expelled horny cells . It is only by lingering in this cavity that the typical, presumably sexually acting fragrances arise. The perineal pocket is present in both sexes, but its formation is more pronounced in males. The secretion is stimulated by androgens , after a castration the perineal glands recede.

Occasionally, the perineal pocket becomes blocked, usually in connection with a too soft faeces consistency in older males. However, the exact cause of such blockages is unknown. The perineal pocket must then be manually emptied and rinsed with a mild antiseptic solution.

Individual evidence

↑ Anne Schulze: Anatomical peculiarities in the guinea pig (Cavia cutleri f. Porcellus). In: Franz-Viktor Salomon et al. (Ed.): Anatomy for veterinary medicine. 2nd ext. Edition. Enke, Stuttgart 2008, ISBN 978-3-8304-1075-1 , pp. 719-726.
↑ Birgit Drescher, Ilse Hamel: Guinea pigs: pet and patient . 3rd edition, Georg Thieme, Stuttgart 2012, ISBN 978-3-8304-1158-1 , p. 35.
↑ Anja Ewringmann, Barbara Glöckner: Key symptoms in guinea pigs, chinchilla and degu: Diagnostic guidelines and therapy . 2nd edition, Georg Thieme, 2012, ISBN 978-3-8304-1188-8 , p. 143.

[1] Anne Schulze: Anatomical peculiarities in the guinea pig (Cavia cutleri f. Porcellus). In: Franz-Viktor Salomon et al. (Ed.): Anatomy for veterinary medicine. 2nd ext. Edition. Enke, Stuttgart 2008, ISBN 978-3-8304-1075-1 , pp. 719-726.

[2] Birgit Drescher, Ilse Hamel: Guinea pigs: pet and patient . 3rd edition, Georg Thieme, Stuttgart 2012, ISBN 978-3-8304-1158-1 , p. 35.

[3] Anja Ewringmann, Barbara Glöckner: Key symptoms in guinea pigs, chinchilla and degu: Diagnostic guidelines and therapy . 2nd edition, Georg Thieme, 2012, ISBN 978-3-8304-1188-8 , p. 143.