Nearly all breeds of guinea pig shed–even skinny pigs shed somewhat bit within the areas they’ve fur. Baldwin guinea pigs are utterly bald and don’t shed in any respect. Nonetheless, they do have dander, which might nonetheless set off pet allergy symptoms.
Under, we’ll discuss all about guinea pig coats–from how usually they shed to what to do in case your guinea pig is shedding excessively.
Do Guinea Pigs Shed?
Sure, most guinea pigs do shed. The exception is the Baldwin guinea pig, which is a totally hairless breed.
There are additionally skinny pigs, who’ve little hair and thus shed lower than your common piggy. Each long-haired and short-haired guinea pigs shed year-round, with heavier shedding within the spring.
Why is My Guinea Pig Shedding So A lot?
There are a number of causes guinea pigs shed excessively–starting from regular to regarding. Let’s begin with some regular causes your piggy may be shedding greater than common!
Guinea pigs shed extra throughout the spring because it’s their shedding season. They lose their thick winter fur in favor of a extra breathable summer season coat.
Additionally they shed closely when burdened. This needs to be short-term and resolve itself as soon as the piggy is out of the nerve-racking scenario, corresponding to a vet go to, however it could occur long-term as effectively if a guinea pig is saved in a poor surroundings.
Lengthy-term stress could cause self-barbering, which is when a guinea pig chews on their very own fur. Guinea pigs can even barber one another, which generally is a signal of stress or a present of dominance.
Lastly, guinea pigs can shed excessively as a consequence of well being issues. These embrace parasites, fungal infections, mites, and ovarian cysts. Particularly, guinea pigs with ovarian cysts are inclined to have symmetrical bald patches on their sides.
Learn how to Cease a Guinea Pig From Shedding
You’ll by no means utterly cease your guinea pig from shedding, except you undertake Baldwins as we mentioned earlier! Nonetheless, you’ll be able to reduce the quantity of fur you discover within the cage or in your garments throughout lap time.
Right here’s how:
- Brush your guinea pigs recurrently. Quick-haired piggies needs to be brushed round as soon as per week, and long-haired pigs needs to be brushed day by day.
- Hold their nails trimmed. Itching with lengthy nails could cause fur loss and pores and skin irritation or accidents.
- Feed them a well-balanced food regimen. Identical to us, guinea pigs have more healthy hair when fed the proper meals. They need to have fixed entry to recent hay and water, round a cup of combined greens day by day, and an eighth of a cup of high quality pellets.
- Feed greens excessive in vitamin C. Scurvy, or a scarcity of vitamin C, could cause hair loss. Bell peppers and darkish, leafy greens are one of the best sources of vitamin C for guinea pigs.
- Cut back your guinea pigs’ stress ranges. Piggies shed extra in the event that they’re burdened, and this will have a detrimental impact on their well being long-term. Hold predator animals like cats and canines away from the cage, be taught to deal with your piggies with out inflicting undue stress (and educate youngsters the identical!), and ensure all their fundamental wants are met–together with having a piggy buddy and loads of house to run and train.
- See a veterinarian if hair loss is extreme or your piggy has bald patches. This seemingly signifies a well being downside.
As well as, cages with tall sides can maintain shed fur inside in order that it’s not falling onto your flooring. Clear your guinea pigs’ cage and the encompassing space recurrently, and use a cuddle cup or blanket when holding your piggies in your lap in the event you’d desire to not get fur in your garments.
What if I’m Allergic to Guinea Pigs?
Most individuals whose allergy symptoms are triggered by proudly owning guinea pigs are literally allergic to timothy hay. Switching to orchard grass as a foremost hay usually helps.
Should you’re allergic to guinea pigs themselves, you’re seemingly not solely allergic to their fur but additionally their dander (which is useless pores and skin, or dandruff). That is vital to know, as a result of it signifies that adopting a Baldwin guinea pig just isn’t more likely to scale back your allergy symptoms. As an alternative, it’d expose you to extra dander and thus set off your allergy signs extra severely.
Should you or a member of the family is allergic to guinea pigs, discuss to your physician earlier than adopting them. Some folks with gentle allergy symptoms can tolerate dwelling along with piggies, whereas others might face extreme reactions. An allergist may be capable of provide therapies to assist as effectively.
Do Guinea Pigs Want Baths?
Whereas different species, like canines, have higher coat well being when bathed (and sometimes shed much less), this doesn’t work for piggies.
Guinea pigs hardly ever, if ever, want baths. It will depend on their surroundings, persona, coat sort, and well being. For example, guinea pigs with fungal infections will seemingly want baths to get well. Piggies adopted from a grimy surroundings are sometimes given a shower of their new house in order that they don’t develop well being issues from remaining unsanitary.
Lengthy-haired guinea pigs are generally given “butt-baths” to get their rear ends clear, since their fur drags on the underside of the cage.
Alternatively, some guinea pigs go their complete lives without having a shower in any respect. It ought to solely be performed in the event that they’re soiled or they’ve a well being downside that warrants it. Even then, guinea pigs ought to solely be bathed three to 4 occasions a 12 months at most!
Why Does my Guinea Pig Have Bald Patches?
Bald patches will be attributable to barbering or well being issues.
Guinea pigs can barber themselves or one another as a consequence of boredom or stress. Examples embrace a single piggy in a pet retailer cage who barbers as a consequence of boredom, or a newly-bonded pair who barbers to ascertain dominance over each other.
In case your guinea pig is barbering themselves or a cage mate, first carry them to the veterinarian. Within the case of a piggy barbering one other, I like to recommend bringing each in for a check-up.
Your vet can rule out well being issues, and then you definately’ll must rule out environmental issues inflicting them stress.
Your guinea pig may want a piggy buddy, more room, or separation if the barbering is extreme sufficient between two paired guinea pigs to impression their high quality of life.
Well being issues that trigger bald patches embrace:
Search for parasites in your guinea pigs’ fur or purple, flaky pores and skin which signifies ringworm.
Piggies with ovarian cysts might present different signs like crusty nipples and a young stomach. The hair loss usually happens in a symmetrical sample on the edges of their our bodies.
In case your guinea pig has bald patches, see a veterinarian for recommendation. They can assist you to find out the trigger and what your piggy will want going ahead.
In Conclusion
Most guinea pigs shed, however extreme shedding will be handled by reducing your guinea pigs’ stress ranges and bringing them to the veterinarian to test for well being issues. It’s regular for guinea pigs to shed extra within the springtime as they lose their winter coats.
It’s vital to know what’s regular in your guinea pig, and what signifies an issue. See a vet anytime your guinea pig has bald patches as they’re seemingly affected by both excessive stress or a well being downside.
