My Peruvian's Hair Gone Short?

[chrissy88]

now this is going to sound a little odd, but a few days ago i went to check on my pigs food water hay etc and pixal had longish hair and the next day went to do same again and saw that his hair looked like it had been cut short?

nobody had gone into the shed as it was locked and i had the key?

the only difference is we've just moved house but we werent able to keep the pigs indoors but they are in the shed which is really nice and warm. pixal seems fine happy chappy with his cage mate eating, drinking well. but his hair is now short?

is it the environment change? his age (5 years old)?

 

[Wiebke]

It is most likely that he has got a piggy haircut courtesy of his mate. Eating hair is called barbering; the reasons why are still unclear and - from my own observations - rather too complex for one single explanation to cover all circumstances. Thankfully, the barber is not suffering any digestive problems and the barbered comrade usually regrows its hair. Longhaired piggies are usually at a greater risk of being barbered than shorthairs although it can happen to any piggy - or even human!
I know of one case where a blind/deaf sow was the cause of a very ragged looking group due to her rather haphazard approach of interacting with her new friends.

However, in your case, it can well be that the change in their life could have triggered the barbering.

You can find more information here: http://www.oginet.com/pgurney/guinea-pig-barbering.shtml

 

[chrissy88]

thank you. will have a read now. have to say if it is his cage mate hes done a very decent job lol.

 

[chrissy88]

just had a read and google of images and pixals hair looks exactly like them so looks like i have a little piggy hairdresser on my hands, Thanks Wiebke