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Advice on new piggies

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New-piggies

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Afternoon,

Ive just rescued 2 male piggies, long haired. There were kept in horrible conditions but are in good health. I only got them today but they have very very long hair, i understand i have to brush it and i can trim it, but they will not let me pick them up. I don't want to put any stress on them. How can i go about picking them up! any advice i would be more than grateful .

cheers
 
Whereabouts are you? There may be someone nearby with experience ( a reputable rescue for example) who can help you groom them. I don't have any experience with long haired piggies myself but I'm sure someone will be along in a mo to advise you. Well done for rescuing them, there's lots of info on this forum to help you. :)
 
Thank you hun, I'm just outside wolverhampton. Thought i was doing a good thing now feel out of my depth as i can't even pick them up lol. One of them bless them looks like a lump of hair can't even see his face :(
 
The best way to make it less stressfull for them and slowly build their confidence, will be to pick them up using some sort of conveyance, for example a cardboard box they walk into, you cover the exit and pick them up in that. A cosey sack works just as well.

Do they currently have any matts in their fur etc? If so, the problem needs to be delt with more quickly, So hopefully a local rescue/experienced memeber will be along to help soon :)
 
Thank you, i used a towel and let them hide in it then picked them up, soon as they were on my knee they seamed happy. so i went for it and managed to do a cut, bless them if there was a guinea pig bad haircut they now have it. You can now see there faces. The fur isn't matted just very long. Ill let them settle in before i give them another bad hair cut, but least they can see now :)
 
Hi there - well done for taking these in :))
I'm in Wolves (Tettenhall) have three long haired piggies who need regular grooming, bathing etc. Two of my boys are sooo long, I have difficulty seeing which end is which :))
Would advise taking them to Helen as someone suggested at Stoke for grooming if they are in a bad state - you'll soon learn how to deal with it, I was a wreck the first few times but look forward to 'seeing' to my dirty boys as the results are well worth it although they sulk for a bit after ;)
Let them settle first then try handling slowly, don't expect them to love you straight away, they are scared and have had a rotten time so need time to trust...give them gentle cuddles then introduce the scissors ! Small ones are the best rather than the clumsy kitchen kind and you have less chance of nicking your piggy :( Slowly snip any matts away gently, if they are too close to the skin, try a tiny amount of Swarfega or washing up liquid massaged well, it breaks the knots/matts down and 'stretches' the hair. Rinse well then you'll be able to snip more away.
Bathe with a piggy shampoo, Gorgeous Guineas do a fab range specific to your piggies hair or Johnson's small animal shampoo is a decent one.
We're all here to help - there are a few of us local to you as well as you'll see.
Here is the site for The Potteries:

http://www.thepotteriesguineapigrescue.co.uk/aboutus.html
 
Thanks for your help, I'm so soft for taking them in i just hope i can cope with them. I wasn't even after guinea pigs infact i wasn't after any more animals lol.
 
New-piggies said:
Thanks for your help, I'm so soft for taking them in i just hope i can cope with them. I wasn't even after guinea pigs infact i wasn't after any more animals lol.
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Long haired piggies are very high maintenance so not your usual 'pet' A lot more is involved to keep them in great condition, boys get very greasy too.
My boys are X Coronet and are brushed every 2-3 days, bathed every 8-12 weeks and regularly trimmed around their boy bits - hairs get everywhere :x I used to have a life :{ but the piggies have to come first now - no prospect of grandchildren for us in the near future so lavish the maternal/paternal instincts upon 18 of the little devils here x)
Work full time too so no matter what time I get home (9.30pm some evenings) or how tired I am, they are priority :(|)
Do you have pics of your bad haircuts - we've seen some wonderful ones on here :x
 
No pictures as yet, it was really more of a trim to be honest lol. Just confused as what to do at the moment, would love to keep them but my heart and my head are fighting at the moment. I have to go work overseas towards the end of the year for 6 months :-(

I couldn't have left them though!

They smell at the moment so I'm guessing need a bath, so that will be mine and there challenge :0
 
You won't regret it - they are truly fab pets. This forum is a great resource too. I've learned loads - enough to ask vets for all sorts of things, which has been really useful. You have some good support available close at hand. Enjoy!
 
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