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Damp matted fur.

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shanmissycasscass

shanmissycasscass

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Help please! Does this sound like a vet visit, or would a bath be adviseable? One of our girls has suddenly developed a damp tummy and bottom area. There is also a small area of her bottom fur which feels a bit matted. We have had her nearly 4 years and this is the first time she has ever been like it. She seems fine in herself, and is eating happily. I haven't bathed my piggies before but will of course if thats what she needs. However, I don't want to start making her more uncomfortable if she is poorly by stressing her out in water. They are regularly groomed. Just wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience and what they did to try to help. Her pal is fine, with fur all normal, and they are cleaned out every other day. Am I best to just head straight to the vet?
 
Is she long haired?
It sounds like she just needs a little trim to tidy up the longer parts. The matted areas definately need trimming off as the tighter and closer they get to the skin, the more it will tug and irritate her.
I would be interested to find out where the wetness is coming from though? perhaps shes just sitting in her wee for longer than needed? or have you noticed any excess weeing?
 
Sometimes piggies can sit in their wee, as has already been mentioned. Is she drinking any more water than normal, eating and pooping fine? If everything else seems normal then I'd keep an eye on her and give her a bath and give her fur a trim :)
 
Damp matted fur

Hi, It could be something simple like she is sitting in her wee, but if it continues, I would get it checked out with the vet. One of my sows started with a wet bottom, she has long hair so I keep it trimmed, I took her to the vet and she xrayed her and found a stone in her urethra, that was promptly removed, but the wet bottom has still continued, I am in the process of waiting for results of a urine test sent last week to the lab. I am hoping it is just an infection, her wee smells very strong. Does your guineas wee smell at all?
 
Hi there, and many thanks for your advice. She is short haired and seems fine in herself; weeing and pooping as usual, and doesn't seem to be smelly. Certainly eating fine so I just don't know what's going on. Am hoping to goodness this isn't the start of something serious. We have had her 4 years now and she's never had a days illness. But we lost her companion this summer to cancer, and she has done so well adapting to life without her pal. She has bonded really well with our other rescue sow, and we love her dearly. I had to have one of my horses put to sleep over Xmas due to cancer too, so am a bit paranoid about it now. Fingers X that she has been sitting in her wee, and does just need a bath. I will try this first and see how we get on. However I will monitor her and if it continues I will take her to the vets to see if they can shed any light on things. Once again thanks.:...
 
Just an update; I bathed the 2 girlies tonight, and much to my surprise I think they quite liked it! Well, the rinse and swim in the bath at any rate. Fingers crossed thats all Shimo needed. She's lovely and clean now at any rate if we do end up going to the vets. :)
 
Hope your piggy is feeling clean and fresh after her lovely bath ! :)

In my experience if the wetness is just around their bottom it's usually due to sitting in wee but if it's spreading up the underneath of the tummy if could possibly be a UTI. You're obviously keeping a very careful watch on her so if her tummy starts to become damp again I'd get her checked over - their tummies seem to get very sore really quickly if it is a UTI - I have seen them with ulcerated tummies due to this problem :(

Sending her love and hugs

Teresa x
 
Will do. She is her usual cheeky self at the moment so fingers x. Have just got some vet bed which I'm going to try in their cage to see if that helps. If not will get her checked out at the vets on monday. thanks to everyone for their supporrt. It's much appreciated.:rose
 
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