Matted Bum Hair

[Roclibrarian]

It's the first time I've had guineas with longish hair (swiss). One of them is fine as they have short hair round their bum, the other is getting a bit matted.
They are only 12 weeks old, so I've been a bit chicken about trimming it. I've just cut out the worst and trimmed a bit more. There is one matt which is too close to the skin for me to be comfortable cutting. Any advise?
Should I try and comb it out?

 

[sport_billy]

No combing it would pull, you could try loosening the matt with guinea safe shampoo but this may also make it worse If you feel it is too close to cut, I would ask a vet to do it. One slip with the scissors could be really dangerous.

Can you get you fingers between the matt and piggy skin?

 

[Roclibrarian]

No combing it would pull, you could try loosening the matt with guinea safe shampoo but this may also make it worse If you feel it is too close to cut, I would ask a vet to do it. One slip with the scissors could be really dangerous.

Can you get you fingers between the matt and piggy skin?

I don't think so. The problem is, telling the difference between white hair and white/pink skin!
I was going to take them to the vet for their first health check anyway, so guess I've a reason to go now :-(
At least I've learnt not to ignore long bum hair, will keep on top of it in future. Bad mummy

 

[sport_billy]

I don't think so. The problem is, telling the difference between white hair and white/pink skin!
I was going to take them to the vet for their first health check anyway, so guess I've a reason to go now :-(
At least I've learnt not to ignore long bum hair, will keep on top of it in future. Bad mummy

It's a learning curve that happens to all long haired piggy owners at some point, don't feel bad, the vet will sort it, then just keep it close

 

[Roclibrarian]

Booked them in at the vets for Tuesday. Also got a comb and slicker brush, as the brush I've got just doesn't go through the hair on their fuzzy butts!