Scent Glands

[Luna]

Normally, Luna doesn’t need her glands cleaned, but today one was a semi-plugged. After I moistened and cleaned it out, the gunk was very odd-shaped – thin and with a point at the end. Then, I noticed at the very bottom of her gland it looked like there might have been a speck (line-shaped like how a papercut looks) of blood? I can’t be sure that it was blood – I watched it for a while and the line didn’t move or pool. Could I have torn something when I was cleaning her ? I want to have her vet look at it (along with other things) but I probably won’t be able to get an appointment with her until 14-20 days from now. Is that too long? 

[Luna]

I checked her again and didn’t see the line. But I looked at the gunk again and here is a pic of a smaller piece of it – is that skin on it?! It’s very dry and translucent, like how a piece of skin flakes off when you’re sunburned. Is it possible for buns to get dry skin by their glands?

[Bam]

I don’t think 14 -20 days is too long, if you check the scent glands over every day for starters. If you notice marked swelling, redness, seepage, foul odor etc, you need a vet sooner. I think I’d try to rinse out the scent glands very gently with saline (saline eye wash for humans is fine), then just keep an eye.

[Luna]

Yikes, she’s going to give me the bunny butt treatment for sure afterwards! What does the saline do, act as an antiseptic? How should I rinse them? (how much saline, any drying necessary, rinse out the saline with water afterward?)

[Author]

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