Biting Fur Off?

AnnieMills

AnnieMills

Junior Guinea Pig
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I've just noticed one of my boars looks like he's had a hair cut around his bum! Could he or his friend have done this? I haven't noticed fur in the cage....do they eat it?!
 
AnnieMills said:
I've just noticed one of my boars looks like he's had a hair cut around his bum! Could he or his friend have done this? I haven't noticed fur in the cage....do they eat it?!
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Guinea pigs eat fur (without any problems), but self-barbering a specific area is usually a sign of pain/discomfort.

Please check his boar bits and if necessary book a vet appointment to check for a sperm rod etc.
Barbering ( Eating Hair)
Boar Care: Bits, Bums & Baths
 
Oh goodness... I didn't realise! He's eating and running around
 
Heres a pic....its all around his backside

20180302_190551.webp
 
His bits look fine...tried to get a pic but he wriggle off! Is there any chance Charlie is doing it to him? They'e about 4 months...rocko (haircut boy) has been more dominant but tonight I noticed Charlie taking his veg and running away. Rocko is popcorning
 
AnnieMills said:
His bits look fine...tried to get a pic but he wriggle off! Is there any chance Charlie is doing it to him? They'e about 4 months...rocko (haircut boy) has been more dominant but tonight I noticed Charlie taking his veg and running away. Rocko is popcorning
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No, this is an area that is not available to social grooming. Have you checked whether the testicles are starting to descend and the hair is being rubbed off because of that? They are now at the age when this happens and they go from babies to teenagers.
Have a look at the pictures in this guide. The picture of the full boar is actually from a 6 months old boy, taken on the evening before he was neutered. This also the age when semen rods can happen more often; they are not visible from the outside, but usually show up when you express the penis. Sexing Guide
 
Thank you so much! Really appreciate your advice! So I exposed his penis...it looks ok...will check again tomorrow...testies I think are descending the right may be ever so slightly bigger.. again I'll keep a close eye tomorrow...hes happy.. popcorning...clean underneath...pooing & eating...should I still go to the vets?
 
Haha barbering is quite common. My Donald had constant hair trims from his wives (I think it's just Daisy in all honesty as she tried to eat my hair before). As Wiebke says though it's accessible areas so tends to be around his head and shoulders... My word I wish they would trim around his bum occasionally to help me out
 
Is it the fur around his underside that has been chewed, or at his lower back? Pigs will sometimes 'barber' other pigs (essentially giving them a home haircut.) I have had several part-shelties with long 'skirts' at the back and one of my pigs used to occasionally eat the 'skirt' of fur that trailed behind them for no apparent reason. If it's this that is being chewed, it's possible that a cagemate is responsible. If it's fur from his underside that is going missing, that is not going to be from a cagemate and it would be worth checking for any reason that could be causing him discomfort that is causing him to scratch/chew at that area.
 
Doesn't seem to be chewed from underneath nor on back legs. They've ad 2 boring days where I unfortunately couldn't get them in run...made a bigger run and they will be out daily again...I'm really hoping it's boredom or haircut from charlie. I'l familiarise myself with symptoms of pain and keep a very close eye!
 
Rocko is as happy as can be bombing about the run, popcorning and seeking out his treats! He's also given Charlie a very bad hair cut!
 
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