Shedding

[ceretrea]

Really didn't know which bit to put this.

Do Guinea Pigs shed their fur? If so, how often?

 

[CiaraPatricia]

Yep they do shed. They just shed a bit every day. Maybe more at some times of the year but not sure about that.

My friend says that her pigs shed a lot, but I haven't really noticed too much to be honest, cos I'm used to being covered in cat hair anyway. If you stroke one for a few minutes some hair will come out on your hand, pretty much like a cat.

Rabbits shed a lot more though.

 

[ceretrea]

Hmmm....is it big thick fluffy fur? Or kinda more like dog hair? We are all okay with dog hair and the kids are fine with cat hair...but I foresee terrible issues with thick fluff

 

[fritsthegirl]

I think it varies between pigs how much they shed. I have two guineas that look very similar, they are both smooth and short haired. However, their hair shedding is very different. The girl has very fine, soft hair and sheds virtually nothing. The boy's hair is quite thick and bristly and he sheds a lot more. It's not like balls or clumps of hair that come out though, it's just little individual hairs that stick to your clothes a bit. I would say if you are accustomed to dog and cat hair, then guinea hair isn't worse or too much different than that, in fact it's a bit better because they are that much smaller! Definitely go for a shorter haired guinea if you are worried.

 

[CiaraPatricia]

Yeah, most guinea pigs have kinda sleek hair, a bit like cat hair I guess, only even less fluffy. Not really fluffy at all. Unless you get a breed that is extra fluffy

 

[ceretrea]

Ok so score another point for getting adult rescues there then as their coat shedding won't be an unknown quantity