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emma2009

hi my piggy has a small hardish bit of what i think mite be just her hair stuck to her skin near her back end its been there for over a week could it be an infection ? and should i try and wash her on that note how often and how should you wash your piggy ? i also wntd 2 no do long haired guinea pigs shed there hair? and can you tell me how often piggys need their teeth clipped ?

please let me no!! O0
 
Hi,
Its hard to tell by what you are explaining as a hard bit of hair stucj to their skin well could be anything it could be something sticky that got on her or could be something totally different ~ If you have a picture of this clump or whatever it is then id like to see it as itd be easier to identify what it actually is O0

You dont need to wash her if you dont no what it is at the moment unless you find out O0

Yes long haired piggys do shed their hair and so do short haired piggys but it also depends on the weather too :D

Ive never trimmed or clipped any of my 21 piggys as if you let them have chewey things or hard blocks of wood theyll chew them and thatll trim their teeth for them so theirs no need to cut their teeth if they arent bad but if they are then i would suggest buying her some wood blocks or sticks or even willow balls for her, shell love to chew them and its good for her to as it stops boredem plus it trims their teeth at the same time O0
 
Hi Emma,

What do you mean about hair stuck to her skin. Have you tried just wiping it off with a wet flannel?. it isn't just stuck hair then it should come up. Could it be a scab from an injury or where she has been scratching herself? If it isn't just hair do not peal it off though as this would hurt her and make matters worse!
All guinea pigs shed their hair more or less depending on the piggy but is she is loosing a lot of hair (i.e. getting bald patches) then the likelyhood is that something is wrong, probably mites or a fungal skin problem. If this is the case you need to take her to a guinea pig competent vet ASAP. Can you post a picture?

Also teeth only have to be clipped if they are overgrowing. How is she in herself, is she eating OK?

There are loads of very experience piggy owners on this site who I am sure will have some advise for you.

Laure
 
Yes i agree like i also said above too a piccie would be the best option as then we can help identify what this thing is O0

Is she eating and drinking normally ? ?
 
Difficult to say without a pic, could be mites? Is it red? I wash my pigs when they smell...haha no seriously they dont' need a lot of baths, depends on the breed. Longhaired pigs need more, maybe every 3 months thats what I do anyway. My Sheltie and Abrruvian/Peruvian shed their fur more so then my other pigs. :)

Louise
:)
 
Hi, guineas only need teeth clipped when there's a problem and not under anaesthetic if possible.

Sounds like it may be your guins grease gland. This can be cleaned with Swarfega. Is it where the tail would normally be?
 
It could even just be a pit of poo stuck there? especially if he/she is a longer haired guinea :) If you think that may be the case, do what Karen has suggested and then wash the bottom area with a shampoo from www.gorgeousguinea.co.uk
You may even need to trim that area. I always keep my 2 longer haired boars trimmed round their bottoms as they do tend to wee and poo on their hair otherwise :)
 
Just type gorgeous guineas in google, that should work. Sorry, I forgot the `s` on the end of guineas in the link ;D
 
ahhhhhhhh found it now i was using .co.uk instead of .com ;D thanks :smitten:
 
thanks for all the help everyone

shes not losing ,much hair just a small bit and theres no bald patches , her teeth arnt that long but she wont chew on wooden blocks i bought from the pet shop any suggetions on what else could help wear done her teeth ?

the scab like thing is just above her tail and i tryed to wash with a damp cloth but its not coming off and i dont want to rub it incase i hurt her , how would you no if its her greease gland? its defo not mites because last year when i got her from pet smart she had them and i got her treated for them and she hasnt been in contact with any other guinea pigs , could it be a fungal infection ? what would it look like if it was and how could she have got it ? its a small patch so i didnt think it was ,


also i was thinking about maybe getting another guinea pig , but i have had fudge for nearly a year and shes been on her own and shes happy but i thought it would be good for her while I'm at work to have a little friend , what you think? and could i put a baby in with her ?

any ideas please let me know yous all are really good help ;D
 
Hay and plenty of it , i find wood isnt always used by them.

Getting your piggie a friend would be a good idea! they love company. You'll need to keep them apart for 2 weeks to make sure your new addition hasnt got any mites or anything that can be passed to your current one.

Introduce them on neutral territory, ie a sofa, bed? there will be rumbles, chattering, hips swaying but this is normal. as long as blood isnt drawn. Then once they are used to eachother and get on you can put them together.

I'm looking into a friend for my boy , I'm a full time mum but i think itll be nice for him to have someone who knows his language :)
 
hi thanks for that tip archie is my baby :)

does anyone know any good guinea pig breeders in belfast ? as I'm really interested in getting a baby guinea pig , and is it ok to put a baby in with a grown up piggy (I'm not sure wat age fudge is because the people in pets at home dont tell you this)


let me no ;D
 
As far as i am aware sows don't have a grease gland. :)
Her teeth shouldn't need trimming as they are constantly wearing down when she is eating and I only wash my piggies when they need it.
As for finding her a friend i would recommend a local rescue. You will be able to take her along and let her pick out a suitable friend.
 
Sows do have a grease gland but it is very tiny and does not secrete in the same manor as boars.

I think it would be a good idea to bathe her. GG Manuka and Neem is a very good one.

gorgeousguineas.com

I agree that it is much better to get a piggy from a rescue,there are a lot that need a loving home,and a good rescue will help you choose the right one.

A sow will normally accept a baby,or an older piggy.

Hay and dried grass are the best things to keep the teeth trimmed down,they also provide fibre.

It could be mites because Ivermectrin is not a permanent cure for them.Piggies do not have to be in contact with a pig with mites to get them.Mites do not always spread from one pig to another.

All piggies have mites,but illness,stress,change of temperature,change of home,loss of a friend ,can all make the mites proliferate to the extent they cause irritation.

Good luck with getting a new piggy.
 
thanks again everyone fudge will be getting a bath do you think i should wash her in some of the shampoo for fungul infections just incase thats wat it is ?

and how do u dry your piggy? and dose anyone no of any good rescue centres in belfast are near it ?

;D let me no please ;D
 
Hi Emma,

For washing your piggy I would recommend you buy a shampoo from www.gorgeousguineas.com. The neem shampoo is very good for mites and fungal infections. If you think she might have mites I would also recommend you buy the coconut and neem melt. It's conditioning and so very good for their skin but also really helps get rid of mites. Personally I wouldn't buy a shampoo from the pet shop, www.gorgeousguineas.com products are all natural so i think they are better but that is obviously your choice.
My piggy live indoors so I normally towel dry them and then put a hot water bottle (warped in a towel up so that it's not too hot to the touch) and lots of hay in their cage. If your piggy lives outside however you need to make sure she is fully dry before you put her back out. Some people use hairdryers but make sure it is on a cool setting or you risk burning her skin (they have very sensitive skin).

As a rescue in Belfast I am afraid I don't know of one but if you post a message on the rescue page of the forum I am sure someone will come along and help. I do think it's a good idea getting her a friend. You will be amazed of the change in her when she has someone of her own kind to live with.

Good luck.

L
 
thnaks for your help il be ordering some shampoo now lol using a hot water bottle is a gr8 idea O0



thanks again
 
hi just wondering do guinea pigs need their teeth clipped ? i think fudges mayb getting long bt I'm not sure she wont nibble wood blocks bt i really dont want her to go under anitistatic, and does anyone no any good vets in belfast area

please let me no
 
Piggies only need the teeth trimmed if they are too long for them to eat properly.As long as your piggy is eating normally and not losing weight there is no problem. Teeth can be clipped without aneasthetic.

Make sure your piggy has lots of hay and dried grass to chew on,this is much better than wood blocks.
 
ok thanks for that maryh fudge must not need her teeth clipped because she getting normaly and eats lots of hay , maryh do you know any good rescue centres in belfast ?
 
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