Wet Backsides?

[Strawberries]

Do your guineas have sort of always wet or damp backsides? Mine both have their hair around their butts that always looks sort of damp, like stuck into little spikes. The area is about 2 inches across.

Penny is white and I notice that it is also a bit discolored back there.

Today I washed both their backsides, and dried them really good...there were a few mats of yuck...

they have medium long hair, about an inch long, probably not quite that long back there.

They are on fleece with their hay on newspaper in a tray and most of their business is done on the newspaper...and I put new newspaper down literally almost every hour or more often (I lay the paper on top of the old paper almost every time they pee, or if there are more than just a few poops, then toss the whole thing every day), I have them right next to me so every time I walk past them I give them fresh paper.

I'm worried that they are too damp all the time there and that it will irritate their skin or give them fungal problems.

On a funny note, as I was working out a mat on Penny gently with my fingers I though...hmm, it isn't coming out, so I rubbed it with more soap, nope, still wasn't working out...then I looked closely and realized...oops, that's not a hair mat, that's a nipple....no wonder she had such an odd look on her face he he :red

 

[Glynis]

One of my girls (long haired) is forever having a wet butt! so therefore butt baths every 2-3 weeks, not as much in winter tho (which whee are coming into soon) Maybe try using some soft paper towel or a small cloth (face washer) and dry her off daily

Oh please i ended up snorting with laughter............ |)|)|)
her nipple......it's sent me off again |)|)|)

 

[piggyfan]

You may find it helpful to have their hair cut short on their bottoms. I have to do that with one of my girls. I also wipe her with small animal wipes.

 

[cat]

i think some pigs are just lazier at cleaning themselves than others.

Pickle is an abysinian. she has sort fur, but she always wees on her bum her and i have to clean it all the time. where as Ambrosia my new guineapig who seems to be a merino cross has long wooly hair round her bum, but it is always clean, as she seems to lift her bum in the air when she needs to wee!

 

[Strawberries]

Thanks for the replies. I think I'll try giving them a little trim back there...and maybe switching to a different material other than newspaper under their hay/food area. I have watched Penny pee there, she basically just pees on her foot, then sits in it...I'm going to try a few more ways of lining that area. The newspaper takes a few seconds to absorb.

 

[Angeladeedah]

Thanks for asking that question - I have little Flower who is white around the bottom (well, after a bath!) and she is long haired. She is continually yellow and wet around the bottom area. She got a bath yesterday and I've really cut back her hair so it's mega short around the bum.

She appears to be looking a little better today but I noticed I've missed some bits, so she'll be getting another wee trim in the next day or so. Can't say I'm the best hairdresser either, but she doesn't seem to mind.......and her hubby, Toby, still loves her.

 

[Connie]

Its the aread just above their testicles? You have boars if I remember rightly, and this could be their grease gland. Might not be that though.

 

[nikibee]

My girls have that from time to time because they don't move out of their piddle puddles. I trim the hair round their back ends every now and again and it keeps it from getting damp

I hope your piggy's nipple is ok

 

[Connie]

Or i might be going mad, because youve clearly said one of your piggies called penny. mallethead

 

[Strawberries]

No they are girls.

things look better today, they aren't very wet...

After their butt bath and drying they actually looked worse and wetter...the rest of the day and the following day they both had really wet bums, which is why I started really wondering what the heck was going on...but I have a theory as to why it got worse in the last few days....

I put in a brand new fleecy type cat bed but hadn't washed it...I think they were peeing in it and since it wasn't washed the pee wasn't soaking into it, so it was soaking into their fur instead...since i rectified that situation today they look back to normal...just a little moist, but not wet looking...

I still think I'll give them a trim, and keep an eye on things down there, and still possibly switch to something besides newspaper in their hay area.