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Beans Is Shedding More Than Normal

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Beans&Toast

Beans&Toast

Adult Guinea Pig
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For the past week I've noticed Beans is shedding far more than normal. It's not all over though it's only in one area, at the back near her bum.
If I stroke her from head to bottom, once I get to her bottom her hair is coming out almost in clumps (there are no bald spots).

I've had a look at her skin and it looks fine and she doesn't appear to be itching or biting at it.
She's eating and drinking fine, although she does seem slightly "off" and a bit more lathargic at times compared to her normal self.

I bath her once every few months and I brush her hair every day.

Any idea as to what this could be? :hmm:
 
Beans&Toast said:
For the past week I've noticed Beans is shedding far more than normal. It's not all over though it's only in one area, at the back near her bum.
If I stroke her from head to bottom, once I get to her bottom her hair is coming out almost in clumps (there are no bald spots).

I've had a look at her skin and it looks fine and she doesn't appear to be itching or biting at it.
She's eating and drinking fine, although she does seem slightly "off" and a bit more lathargic at times compared to her normal self.

I bath her once every few months and I brush her hair every day.

Any idea as to what this could be? :hmm:
Click to expand...

Some guinea pigs shed seasonally; there should be no change in their behaviour or any bald patches.
If there is, I would consider having her checked for the very early stages of mites or fungal.
 
Wiebke said:
Some guinea pigs shed seasonally; there should be no change in their behaviour or any bald patches.
If there is, I would consider having her checked for the very early stages of mites or fungal.
Click to expand...
Would it be normal to only be shedding more in the one area though?
Her behaviour hasn't completely changed just sometimes I've noticed she can be a bit more "lazy" but having said that she's running about and playing in the hay as I type this..
There is no bald spot and there doesn't appear to be anything irritating the skin but I will make an appointment to have her checked for that
 
Some pigs shed seasonally (mine do, I have no idea how animals that live completely indoors know when it's spring and time to shed the 'winter coat' they didn't need in the first place because they live completely indoors!) Sundae is a notoriously bad shedder, we get enough fur out of her to make a whole other Sundae many days!
 
I was actually thinking about the whole winter coat thing.. but surely she'd be shedding evenly all over?
I found a big pile the other day, piled high in the corner.. she looked so proud of what she had done :P
 
Running your hand over her back makes all the loose hair gather where your lift your hand off- which is her bum! Crunchie is a bad shedder, seems constant with her but her coats full and shiny. Fudge is a seasonal shedder. If she isnt itchy and theres no bald patches/ skin is clear then id just keep an eye on it :-)
 
Sorry when I said that in was meaning that no hairs are loose until I get to her bum :doh:

Yeah her coat still looks full with no bald patch where the hair is coming out and she doesn't seem to be scratching any more than usual..
I'm not overly concerned just now as she's still eating/drinking/ being herself most of the time but I'll be keeping an eye on it :nod:
 
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