Cutting guinea pig hair

[Eva121]

So, both of my guinea pigs are short hairs so i have never needed to cut their hair. But Petunia has a big knotted lump of hair and I was wondering if I should just cut it off?
Since brushing it may hurt. But I also dont know how to cut guinea pig hair. Is there anything I need to be wary of?

 

[Reenie]

If she has a matted bit, then cutting it off is the easiest option. It's just like cutting your own hair, so no special concerns. Just make sure you don't nick her with the scissors. If she's wriggly it might be worth wrapping her in a towel and/or getting someone to hold her while you cut. I find small scissors easier, and I regularly cut knots out of my three short haired piggies. Usually they appear where the leg joins the body on their underside. Oddly, my long haired pair don't tend to get matts. I suppose that's because they get brushed. Good luck.

 

[Betsy]

When I give Betsy her trim I give her a bribe of something yummy while I get trimming away.

 

[GPTV]

Try to use round ended scissors with no points-(no stabbing issues).

Use a nice sharp cutting edge pair of scissors -(stops the hair getting pinched between the blades & pulling or knots getting stuck).

Always try to put your hand/fingers or even a comb (easier if the hair is really short) between the scissors and guineas body, then if the scissors slip or get knocked you're less likely to cause injury (Guineas have a habit of jumping/twitching/being spooked at hair trim or nail cutting times!)
Try & find a low chair or sit on the floor so that if Guinea is startled they won't fall from a great height!

I used to find cutting along the length of the hairs (preferably away from guineas body) into the knot would thin it out a bit first & is less likely to show haircutting evidence of a big, straight, horizontal, chunk of hair missing!

I'm a rubbish Guinea hairdresser I just find these hints safer & helpful to look less of a bodge job!

Good luck with the knots
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