Barbering - health implications?

[Amanda1801]

A certain pig of mine has started barbering a certain long haired wife-pig again!

Poor old Cameo now has two very obvious bald patches :red

Are there any health implications of large scale barbering?

Had a bit of a scare tonight, he was making the most awful respiratory noises, like a pigeon cooing, after some food it cleared straight away so I'm assuming he had something irritating his throat/airway (a hastily made vet appointment got cancelled!)

I'm sure it's because he's been barbering her. The other times this has happened has also coincided with his mad barbering attacks!

Aside from this, are there any other implications of him barbering? Is he likely to get a trichobezoar?! Can they digest it? Is there anything I can do to stop him? ?/

 

[sarah0712]

My piggies do the cooing noise sometimes too. It clears after they have a cough usually. I think it's just when something's irritating their airways

 

[Wiebke]

So far, I have never heard of bezoars (hairballs) in guinea pigs and I have never had any problems with my own "hairdressers".

 

[Abi_nurse]

Ive never heard of hairballs becoming a problem like i have seen in rabbits. One of my boars was a serial offender barbering his partner, he seemed ok, seems to have grown out of it now.

x.

 

[Amanda1801]

Hmm, thanks guys!

Luckily he doesn't do it all the time, he just has moments where he really goes for it, then leaves her alone for a few months!