Hair cuts

lexi468

lexi468

Junior Guinea Pig
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Michigan, US
Hello!
About a year ago this summer, I rescued a pig named Mocha, who is a Sheeba Mini Yak, and man does he have some hair! I had never had a pig with long hair before, so I honestly have no idea what to do with it. During the winter I mostly just left it alone and trimmed around his bum for cleanliness. But now that it's summer I'm wondering if I should be trimming it back to help aid in keeping him cool? What do other people with long haired pigs do? Also, if that's what I should be doing, HOW do I do that? I have attempted it twice, and he won't sit still, so he ends up looking absolutely ridiculous with his choppy haircut. I will attach a picture or two of him here so you can see what I'm dealing with. IMG_0434.webpIMG_0391.webpIMG_0523.webp
 
When I give Betsy her summer hairdo it's a two person job! If it's just a trim then I cope on my own very nicely. I bought some pet clippers as they are quieter. I pop her on an old newspaper, put some food Infront of her face, put the #4 grader on the clippers, have my son Tom standing by to collect when when she wanders off (escapes cos she hates the clippers) and start with the clippers from the rear end. Usually I manage to do one side before she's had enough. So then I leave her looking lopsided and funny looking and continue the next day. Good luck!
 
My Finn has long hair but it stays at the same length all the time just as he was a baby. He is an indoor boy in an air conditioned room so I didn’t think of cutting his hair unless absolutely necessary.
His cage is cleaned and maintained regularly so he lives in a healthy cage I feel. He also has a playpen he runs around in daily, which is also maintained and cleaned regularly.
He is not sitting in a dirty cage so I didn’t even think of cutting his hair. His pee pads are changed regularly, his cage is washed, clean dry fleece lining covers his cage regularly. Also, I spot clean his cage everyday.
I wonder if I still must cut his hair even if it is staying in the same length since he was a baby.
 
For my Bramble it depends how she's managing hygiene wise, as she's a bit wobbly, if she's struggling to keep clean from the heat sapping her energy, I clip her short all over, not right to the skin but leaving a good inch or 2 everywhere except her bottom and back legs which are left about half an inch. If she's doing ok not being damp, I clip around her bottom, back legs and her back half and leave the rest floor length.
The latter is pretty much how I trim all my longhairs for summer, except I leave the back end. I'll lift up the main skirt of hair, clip the rest short and the main part of the hair is cut to floor length unless they look like they're struggling with the heat but most don't seem too bothered by it.
 
I trim all my longhaired piggies around their bum area,i use a pair of sicscors,,i trim my piggies all over if they have thick curley hair,look like sheep ! i start early with trimming if had the piggie from young age,so when they are adults they are very used to the proceedure .a piggie that is less co operative,i place them with there back next to my abdomen and start chopping.stop every time the piggie seems to be getting stressed.it is not a race !
 
lexi468 said:
Hello!
About a year ago this summer, I rescued a pig named Mocha, who is a Sheeba Mini Yak, and man does he have some hair! I had never had a pig with long hair before, so I honestly have no idea what to do with it. During the winter I mostly just left it alone and trimmed around his bum for cleanliness. But now that it's summer I'm wondering if I should be trimming it back to help aid in keeping him cool? What do other people with long haired pigs do? Also, if that's what I should be doing, HOW do I do that? I have attempted it twice, and he won't sit still, so he ends up looking absolutely ridiculous with his choppy haircut. I will attach a picture or two of him here so you can see what I'm dealing with. View attachment 89247View attachment 89250View attachment 89249
Click to expand...
He is gorgeous
 
I always keep bums, bellies and around back legs trimmed short for hygiene reasons. In summer it depends on what the temps are like and how the pigs are coping. So far with bellies and bums clipped short and the rest floor length (as well as other cooling techniques) mine have been fine.
 
Thanks everybody! Super good info. He does live inside and we have two air conditioners in our small apartment now, so I've been able to manage the temperature in the pet room a bit better lately (I live in the US, and it gets HOT during the summer these days). I will stick to what I'm doing then. He is very clean so I'm not too worried about that, more worried about heat, but I think we're okay! Thank you so much guys. I don't know what I would do without this forum!
 
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