Loosing Hair?! Flabby Skin?!

[Kirsty Tarrant]

Hi everyone
I was a member a while back but forgot my password to made a new one!

Some of you may remember max my Guinea pig! Bless him he is now around 4 1/2 years old and is looking abit worse for wares! he sleeps on vet bed and has a life of luxury with his friend speckles. However around 6 months ago now he developed impaction and it has got worse and worse but with a little help from me, it gets sorted!

I've noticed over the past couple weeks his fur is getting shorter and shorter and he's becoming quite bald (see pictures) does anyone know what could be causing this?
(His bum is a little bit impacted at the moment, but I'll sort that soon


Thanks

 

[Poppy'sMum]

Has he seen a vet? I am only speculating but the hair loss could be self barbering due to discomfort in his nether regions @Wiebke @helen105281 as I don't have knowledge of impaction (But it looks jolly uncomfortable! )

 

[Wiebke]

It looks like a case of self barbering due to pain in the legs. Please have your piggy checked for arthritis. My 7 year old Nerys currently looks rather the same after her arthritis has suddenly flared up again.
Barbering ( Eating Hair)

 

[Kirsty Tarrant]

Do you think it could be self barbering because of his impaction? he doesn't struggle going upstairs in his hutch etc and is only 4 1/2 so just wondering whether it is arthritis or impaction related. I'll ring my vet tomorrow thanks for the advice

 

[Wiebke]

Do you think it could be self barbering because of his impaction? he doesn't struggle going upstairs in his hutch etc and is only 4 1/2 so just wondering whether it is arthritis or impaction related. I'll ring my vet tomorrow thanks for the advice

I could be his impaction, but it is worth checking out the arthritis angle, too. Nerys has been suffering from arthritis for the last three years; some forms can happen even earlier. The self barbering is in any way a symptom of some major discomfort, so should be checked thoroughly by a vet.

 

[Kirsty Tarrant]

Okay no problem I'll ring the vets tomorrow and ask her for advice and whether he needs an X-ray! She's a Guinea pig specialist so fingers crossed xx

 

[Kirsty Tarrant]

Just a thought also? Is it normal for Guinea pigs to loose their colour? He used to be so ginger and now he's like brown

Old age? Or?

 

[Wiebke]

Just a thought also? Is it normal for Guinea pigs to loose their colour? He used to be so ginger and now he's like brown

Old age? Or?

View attachment 43212

View attachment 43213

Yes, darkening/dulling or fading is not unusual for some colourings as a piggy is getting older.
My tiny over-bred mum Taffy with her 8 weeks old last rescue born daughter Telyn upon arrival in 2009


Taffy two years later in 2011


And in 2014 some month before passing away aged 6 years (and THE or one of the last survivors of that particular rescue action); you can see that her coat has faded and lightened again somewhat); she also developed rally bad cataracts.

 

[Kirsty Tarrant]

Oh goodness well I am glad it isn't a sign of a medical condition just a sign of old age, bless him luckily he hasn't had no problems with his eyes.. Just trying to keep his weight up at the moment too he weighs 2lb 6 and in his prime he got up to 3lb, xx