We "rescued" an adorable male piggie called "Toffee" from a work friend who bought it for their son, unfortunately the boy refused after the initial fun to look after him. First time Guinea Pig owners we borrowed a book to make sure we gave him the house, food, care and attention needed for him to be happy and healthy. We are fully aware that piggies should ideally not be kept on their own but this is how we came by him and our son looks after him every day and loves him. He is a "house" pet kept in a cage inside the house, allowed in the garden within a run when the weather permits, sometimes allowed to run around in the lounge under supervision.
Luckily for us we have some neighbours with several cavies and after getting to know them (the neighbours AND their piggies :-) )they have "lent" us one of their females in the hope that Toffee and Poppy will mate.
Everytime Poppy is "ready" Toffee gets very excited and tries to do the neccessary. Following the first few disatrrous occassions where he seemed unsure of what to exactly do, he is now applying himself with vigour and enthusiasm, which leads eventually to my embarrassing question. Sorry for the long introduction. Toffee is leaving a "deposit" on the hair on the back of Poppy which goes very hard. First time it happened - and not knowing what to do - I was guilty of just leaving it in the hope it would be ok. Eventually it had to be gently pulled and cut off as it was ittirating her so much and she was scrathing and biting at it. It left a sore patch and a slight surface wound.
Thankfully that cured up OK and we were left with nothing more than a bad guilt trip to deal with. The same is happening again now and I am desperate to know of a safe and kind way of cleaning Poppy, obviously if I could get to her when it was still wet - a damp cloth and kitchen towel , I am sure would do the job. But when it has hardened what shoud I do? I have tried soaking it by holding her on my lap and laying a damp piece of kitchen towel on it, and at one point even put her gently in the bath with cool (NOT warm) water at a level upto her tummy , but even that failed to work. Surely I am not having to go and just cut it off with chunks of her hair am I ? HELP!
If you have read this far- thank you so very much for your tolerance and patience.
Luckily for us we have some neighbours with several cavies and after getting to know them (the neighbours AND their piggies :-) )they have "lent" us one of their females in the hope that Toffee and Poppy will mate.
Everytime Poppy is "ready" Toffee gets very excited and tries to do the neccessary. Following the first few disatrrous occassions where he seemed unsure of what to exactly do, he is now applying himself with vigour and enthusiasm, which leads eventually to my embarrassing question. Sorry for the long introduction. Toffee is leaving a "deposit" on the hair on the back of Poppy which goes very hard. First time it happened - and not knowing what to do - I was guilty of just leaving it in the hope it would be ok. Eventually it had to be gently pulled and cut off as it was ittirating her so much and she was scrathing and biting at it. It left a sore patch and a slight surface wound.
Thankfully that cured up OK and we were left with nothing more than a bad guilt trip to deal with. The same is happening again now and I am desperate to know of a safe and kind way of cleaning Poppy, obviously if I could get to her when it was still wet - a damp cloth and kitchen towel , I am sure would do the job. But when it has hardened what shoud I do? I have tried soaking it by holding her on my lap and laying a damp piece of kitchen towel on it, and at one point even put her gently in the bath with cool (NOT warm) water at a level upto her tummy , but even that failed to work. Surely I am not having to go and just cut it off with chunks of her hair am I ? HELP!
If you have read this far- thank you so very much for your tolerance and patience.
