Hairballs...

[Dilly's Piggies]

Two of my 2 year old sheltie sows are serious offenders of barbering each others hair, they've both turned into short haired piggies over the past year. They love each other very much and do this multiple times a day, it's cute to watch them but I do have concerns.

Both of them have regular snuffly/wheezy breathing that cannot be explained by anything else, going back and fourth from the vet in the last year has drawn no answers other than that they can both possibly have allergies. However changing their bedding, hay and giving antihistamines has not curbed the breathing issues. Also they never have any nasal or eye discharge that is typical of allergies. It sounds very much like a honky hooting type noise which can be very loud and alarming, it is always cleared by a big cough, sometimes multiple coughs and can last days before they stop making the noise.

I've also noticed they have poop problems, like constipation, and are a lower weight than all my others, they appear to struggle to gain weight but they maintain just fine. I've had them checked for heart problems also including a chest xray and they are completely normal there also.

The only conclusion I have now after reading multiple threads and articles is that they can actually have hairballs causing the loud breathing and problems with digestion. Since I've started them on Pro C probiotic and their poops are pretty much normal, amazing! It seems to be too coincidental that they both avidly eat each others hair and they are the only two piggies I've ever had with these issues.

I really want to hear if anyone here has experienced a similar situation and pondered the fact that they can have hairballs, and if this was ever diagnosed for your piggies.

Any info is greatly appreciated, I would love to stop this happening but I honestly don't think there is anything I can do about this other than separate them which I will never do, they are bonded litter sisters and hate being apart, that would just be unfair!

 

[Pound Shilling & Pig]

I have had piggies that like to barber their long haired friends without having the problems you mention. I have not heard of hairballs in guinea pigs but would suggest you keep their hair short for them trimming them regularly.

 

[Dilly's Piggies]

I have had piggies that like to barber their long haired friends without having the problems you mention. I have not heard of hairballs in guinea pigs but would suggest you keep their hair short for them trimming them regularly.

Maybe it is worth cutting them short to limit the amount of hair they ingest, although they do a pretty good job themselves, they're professional hair dressers! How short do you recommend? I have a wahl clipper but it's a cheap battery one, may have to invest in a better one

 

[piggieminder]

I found this really interesting thread when I had this problem with two of my boars. It does say they don't get hairballs.
Barbering ( Eating Hair)

 

[Dilly's Piggies]

I found this really interesting thread when I had this problem with two of my boars. It does say they don't get hairballs.
Barbering ( Eating Hair)

I've already read that, however I imagine if they are eating this volume of hair, it's bound to get stuck and affect them in some way, especially when they can't get it back up like cats can...

 

[Freela]

My vet has said that pigs don't get hairballs... they have strong digestive enzymes to break down the cellulose in hay, so hair is no problem to them. I've had pigs barber each other extensively without a problem. You could trim their hair to see if that stops the behavior (although it may not... Sundae used to barber her long-haired cagemates right down the the undercoat even if I clipped them short!)

 

[Mags00]

Two of my 2 year old sheltie sows are serious offenders of barbering each others hair, they've both turned into short haired piggies over the past year. They love each other very much and do this multiple times a day, it's cute to watch them but I do have concerns.

Both of them have regular snuffly/wheezy breathing that cannot be explained by anything else, going back and fourth from the vet in the last year has drawn no answers other than that they can both possibly have allergies. However changing their bedding, hay and giving antihistamines has not curbed the breathing issues. Also they never have any nasal or eye discharge that is typical of allergies. It sounds very much like a honky hooting type noise which can be very loud and alarming, it is always cleared by a big cough, sometimes multiple coughs and can last days before they stop making the noise.

I've also noticed they have poop problems, like constipation, and are a lower weight than all my others, they appear to struggle to gain weight but they maintain just fine. I've had them checked for heart problems also including a chest xray and they are completely normal there also.

The only conclusion I have now after reading multiple threads and articles is that they can actually have hairballs causing the loud breathing and problems with digestion. Since I've started them on Pro C probiotic and their poops are pretty much normal, amazing! It seems to be too coincidental that they both avidly eat each others hair and they are the only two piggies I've ever had with these issues.

I really want to hear if anyone here has experienced a similar situation and pondered the fact that they can have hairballs, and if this was ever diagnosed for your piggies.

Any info is greatly appreciated, I would love to stop this happening but I honestly don't think there is anything I can do about this other than separate them which I will never do, they are bonded litter sisters and hate being apart, that would just be unfair!

Did you ever find out what the issue was? A piggy of mine is doing this aswell and thd vet said he's perfectly fine. Always clears with a big cough.