My Poor, But Clean (now) Piggies.

[Antonio R.]

Well, today wasn't a good day for my piggies. I gave both of my girls their first bath. But things were worse than I thought they would be.
I have two of those really long hair piggies, and I know their butt was dirty, but it was way worse than I thought. Both of them had the hole zone with knots full of poop, hay and stuff (first time owner, I should have started with short hair piggies). Anyway, water and shampoo didn't do a thing to that mess, so scissors, I had to cut all their butt hair to the point where they are now bald back there. Took forever to do it. I had to be very careful to avoid hurting them, so it was a slow process. After I was done with their butts, I decided to give them a full hair cut. I discovered I stuck at it. They look as if they had some kind of skin infection now.
But well, after a couple of hours, they are clean and their hair is short. And from now on, they're getting a butt bath every two weeks.
Anyway, there you go. TTYL

 

[Jesse's pigs]

We all make mistakes. I'd advise in future always keeping the area around the bum short. It's easier to check how dirty they are getting and better to see if anythings going on down there. I actually think you've done quite a good job with their hair there! they both look lovely

 

[Betsy]

Aww your gorgeous girlies! I have do the same to my Betsy in the summer. Their fur will grow back. I use pet clippers on Betsy but have to do it over a couple of days with a pot of parsley as a bribe to keep her still. When you give them butt baths you may find it easier to use the 'sausage method' to stop them from wriggling:

Find an old dry towel.
Find a guinea pig.
Wrap guinea pig up tightly with the butt poking out in towel so you have a guinea pig 'sausage roll'
Wash guinea pig butt.
Unwrap guinea pig.
Dry guinea pig butt with towel.
Repeat with another guinea pig and a dry towel.

Hope the above guide will make it easier for you to give butt baths.

 

[Reenie]

Aw, they look so cute!

 

[Flutterby]

The hair cuts aren't that bad! Little cuties!

 

[rome_italy]

I also have two very long haired piggies and Calliope only has a weird structure of the hair in her butt. No matter if I wash that hair often, it looks like a disaster always. We usually are suggested to wash the butt of the pets very often, even once a day... I don't do it that often because it is difficult, but once a month or more often if necessary I give them a bath and I have found a good system which works for them.
Calipso, although has long hair never has knots (and I never brush her...) Calliope is different but only, as I have said, in that hidden point.
I am using now a very good natural shampoo (for humans, not specific for guinea pigs), it is very cheap and its brand is not famous, but has only natural ingredients and no bad chemistry; that brand has also a conditioner very good. These are the products we all use for our hair (my daughter and I have curls and knots) and they work amazingly even on the knots of the piggies, also on Calliope's knots. But yesterday I also had to cut some of that hidden hair because the knot was big. But usually a good conditioner can untie even her knots.
I suggest to try some delicate conditioner product, you can give it a try in a little part of their bodies and if it works and they don't dislike it it can help.
You might wash butts more often...
This is Calipso, the piggie whose hair is never a trouble and never develops knots:

this below is Calliope whose hair is extremely long and weird in the butt zone
These pics were taken after the bath using those two products (I have tried also a baby oil but the situation has not improved). Of course under the external layer of long hair you see in the pic there is the mess with all those necessary shavings..)



believe me, I almost never comb them because they don't like it...

 

[Claire W]

I think you've done a good job. They're both stunning xx

 

[flowerfairy]

I keep Caramel and Mistletoe nicely trimmed but Jingle has flowi g locks with just secret trims under her long hair at the back.

Caramel

Jingle and Mistletoe

 

[Betsy]

They are enjoying that hay mountain!

 

[Freela]

They look cute! I have the cut the bum hair on my pigs too (sheltie crosses.) Hadley grows quite long in back so we have to cut a lot of hair off her or else she pees on her 'skirt.' I love the look of long-haired pigs, but they do need more hair maintenance!