Matts

Status
Not open for further replies.
PopcornPigs

PopcornPigs

Adult Guinea Pig
Joined
Oct 8, 2010
Messages
3,280
Reaction score
477
Points
645
Location
Surrey UK
I've just been grooming Frazzle and been horrified to find that he has a couple small matts in his fur around his bum :( I'm really upset and been crying as I'm such a horrible owner! I tried brushing and cutting them out but he ended up biting me several times, even with him in a tube and me doing it from behind he managed to bite my legs. I don't know what to do and feel terrible.
Help please.
 
dont feel terrible matts happen sometimes, try wrapping him in a towel so he feels secure and ask someone to help maybe he will bite the towel and not you, it feels uncomfy as the matts pull tight but better out than in.

hopefully someone will be along soon who knows more.
 
There's no need to beat yourself up about a knot or two, he's not going to hold it to you :)

What dylansmummy has said is what anyone would have said, just give him something else to bite on or distract him with a piece of veg, and cut the fur back.

If you'd rather not attempt with the scissors again just yet, soak his bottom in some warm water and just work it with your fingertips until it comes loose or looser that you can pull it out quickly.

Just one thing I will say, in future it'd be better to keep his fur shorter if he's a long-haired pig.

If you still feel guilty, give him a cuddle and a kiss and his favourite treats :)
 
I have two peruivians and when i rescued them they had several matts so i bathed them with posh n go shampoo which is detangling wrap him in a towel and cut it out when wet its the easiest way and your not a horrible owner at all just things like this you have to keep on top of i have to groom mine everyday x
 
Longhaired piggies get mats very easily, so don't panic! You have been given good advice on how to get rid of them.

For that reason, I prefer to keep my coronets trimmed very short around the bum and hind legs - it cuts down quite a bit on the worst problem area.
 
your not a bad owner, matts happen fairly quickly with long haired piggies, I cut any matts out that are usually around their bottom and then shampoo.

Keep it short at the back and matts are less likely to happen:)
 
Relax... :)

Of course you are not a terrible owner! It happens and you're not to blame yourself.

Just give him a bath with shampoo and try to untangle it if you can (don't worry about little squeaks, it's just like when you try to brush out your own tangles XD)
If not then you can just cut them off (unless you want to show)

But please don't panic! It happens to everyone at some point. xx
 
awww hon i found one on stans silky bum the other day, its wayyy too close to his skin to cut off so I'm just gonna have to bath him a few times to see if it softens...i know how you feel :(
 
laurarobjohns said:
Relax... :)

Of course you are not a terrible owner! It happens and you're not to blame yourself.

Just give him a bath with shampoo and try to untangle it if you can (don't worry about little squeaks, it's just like when you try to brush out your own tangles XD)
If not then you can just cut them off (unless you want to show)

But please don't panic! It happens to everyone at some point. xx
Click to expand...

Not sounding rude (I hate how the internet is so misinterpreted in tones) Anywho, I am a groomer and first rule about tangle/matted hair is to NEVER EVER get it wet, it will tighten the mat and make it ten times worse.


Hun, if you have a shaver (maybe your OH or Dad has some clippers he uses for his face used them on the tangles, it's the safest way to get the mats without worrying about cutting the skin.) Good luck hun
 
You're only a bad owner if you don't care and you clearly do so don't worry. I'm the same as Wiebke, Bob has a short back and sides!
 
katiepops said:
You're only a bad owner if you don't care and you clearly do so don't worry. I'm the same as Wiebke, Bob has a short back and sides!
Click to expand...

Hehe I shave Sweets bum (he's long haired) and even my fez gets a shaved bum I cannot stand that grease gland and his is so bad so he gets a shaved bum and he's short haired. Short bum hairs are the cure :))
 
How do you shave/trim down their bums?

I try and trim Cookie's bum as often as possible but she is a 'nightmare' for being groomed and trimmed. I've tried tempting her with treats, wrapping her in a towel etc.......she just wriggles and squeaks and I end up feeling guilty incase I'm hurting her or something :( I also don't want her getting matted up and dirty though!
 
GemmaN said:
How do you shave/trim down their bums?

I try and trim Cookie's bum as often as possible but she is a 'nightmare' for being groomed and trimmed. I've tried tempting her with treats, wrapping her in a towel etc.......she just wriggles and squeaks and I end up feeling guilty incase I'm hurting her or something :( I also don't want her getting matted up and dirty though!
Click to expand...

:)) Those guineas can be quite the little actors huh? I have always shaved my boys bums so they are just used to it. I just get in there and get it over with as quickly as possible and then they don't have the time to react. I hold them with their chest in my hand and then the rest of them is laying on my arm and shave them that way. I think if you try it and keep at it you'll get the hang of it :)
 
Thank you for all of the replies, makes me feel better :) I'm thinking of shaving him back there. He's not particularly long haired back there as I do trim him but its curly so does that make him more likely to get them?
 
I think I'm very lucky because Bob just sits their and lets me cut his hair with scissors and turns round occasionally when he thinks I've taken enough off one side! :))
I bath and cut his hair every 4-6 weeks on average to keep it tidy.
I did have to cut a tangle out of Gerry's hair today and he did get very fidgity until I gave him a carrot and he soon forgot about what I was doing! He has one very greasy grease gland!
 
We can't talk about piggy hair cuts without some photos!
Here's Bob before....
Before.jpg
[/IMG]

and after...
DSC00255.jpg
[/IMG]

not looking very impressed!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top