Eating Hair

[Wigwig]

Sometimes Archie tries to eat my hair. Usually I notice in time and stop him but a couple of times he munched it up before I could pull it out his mouth. I know cats cough up hairballs but I don't think guinea pigs can do this, and I know that if humans eat hair, it can cause intestinal blockage.
He has only managed to eat some small chunks fully about twice, and this was a few months ago so I am guessing he will be fine, but how much hair eating does a guinea pig have to do for it to cause problems?

 

[Wiebke]

Thankfully, eating hair doesn't bother piggies! It is called barbering. Why piggies do it, is not quite clear! There is certainly not one easy explanation that covers all circumstances and variants. Longhaired piggies (or humans) are usually more often the object of attention.

Here I have caught my Essylt in the act of having a go at my hair:

 

[Wigwig]

Oh thats good. I love that photo, what a naughty critter