scent-patch scab thing

[Bunsey]

I'm worried about Max, where his scent thing should be, there's like a scab thing, but it's not like a normal scab, it's like a sort of tan/yellow colour, with just a bit of red near the base. It's hard to see cos when I pick him up and turn him over he rolls up like a hedgehog! I tried to put him on a wire fence and lift him up to look under but he had too much fur! maybe I can draw a diagram!

is this something serious or can I cure it? I hope I'm worrying over nothing

[PinkEmily]

It could be what Ted has at the moment... He had a scab inside his scent gland, it was quite big and kind of brownish. He is now on his second lot of baytril for the next 3 months as they think it is an infection within the umbilical cord.

[Bunsey]

that's interesting, because i've just been told that it was normal for the scent glands to crust over as they get older and to just pick it off and he'll be fine!

[souffle]

You could try wiping it with a cotton ball soaked in water, We do this if they look a bit sort of brownish. I thing the greasy scent picks up bedding and it sort of sets on the fur and crusts over. I would scruff him Bunsey so you can really check it carefully. We have at long last mastered the scruffing and they don't come to any harm. They can get infections and even tumours but this sounds more like just a crusting. If you can check it and are still not happy you could pop him in for a vet check.

[babyboos]

Try cleaning it with plain water - using anything scented unfortunately will make it potentially worse as he will make more "scent" to mask the smell on his gland. I have used TCP etc in the past well diluted but found the smell from the hamster trying to overcome its antisceptic aroma was quite strong

[NaomiR]

wow one of my robos has something similar, I've just made up another cage because I was going to take her away from the other 2 but after reading this I might just try to clean her up?