Long haired guinea pig advice

[Vicky2021]

Hi all,
I picked up 2 sows today as their owner could no longer look after them. Also just a disclaimer - this is not their cage at my house.

Their hair is very long, thick, and matted, mainly on their bottom back/bum area. They look quite uncomfortable when they walk, I need to check their nails and any tangled hair round feet but they’ve only been here a few hours. I’m going to book them in with a groomer so then I can keep on top of it. I understand they have never had a hair cut but have been brushed every so often. (1 & 2 years old).

Can anyone confirm if these look like Peruvians? I haven’t seen a guinea pig that looks similar. Also my other guinea pigs are short haired. This is new to me, but I’ve been researching caring for their hair, higher risk of fly strike etc. Does this look really overgrown to you? Their hair is concerning me, They look massive in person and I think it’s just an accumulation of their hair and I feel sad that they appear uncomfy. It’s almost as if they walk a couple of steps, it’s too much effort then they just lay down in the open. They just appear to be very uncomfortable when moving around. Any tips?

Thank you

 

[Piggies&buns]

I have a long haired boy and I keep his hair in check with regular hair trims (I’ve just done it again this afternoon). I make sure his hair on his sides never drags on the ground so it cannot get hay and bedding matted in it and that the hair around his bottom and back legs is always kept much shorter. This is done year round.

In summer, he gets all of his hair cut really rather short (on top, around his face etc) so he doesn’t get hot.

This is a fantastic guide which will help you
An Illustrated Guide to Hair Cutting

 

[Vicky2021]

Ah great: thank you so much!

I have a long haired boy and I keep his hair in check with regular hair trims (I’ve just done it again this afternoon). I make sure his hair on his sides never drags on the ground so it cannot get hay and bedding matted in it and that the hair around his bottom and back legs is always kept much shorter. This is done year round.

In summer, he gets all of his hair cut really rather short (on top, around his face etc) so he doesn’t get hot.

This is a fantastic guide which will help you
An Illustrated Guide to Hair Cutti

 

[Freela]

Long-haired pigs can get matted fur around their bottoms where the fur trails on the ground... plus have you noticed guinea pigs often back up a couple steps before they pee? Right on the fur, unfortunately. You can trim back fur especially around the bottom end to prevent this. You can just cut out any matted portions entirely- they can pull on the skin and get sore. I had a couple of long-haired crosses and always had to trim their fur at the back, although they were sheltie mixes and the top never grew that long, but trimming the fur around their bums and back legs was something I did once a month or so, or if anything got tangled any sooner.

 

[Betsy]

I see that @Piggies&buns has already linked in my hair cutting guide for you. You may find that you need help cutting the matts out. One to hold the piggy and one to cut. Remember it's not a beauty contest and the fur will grow back. If you find it difficult to cut your piggies' hair you may find it easier, in the first instance, to go to the vet and have them cut the hair for you.

 

[GPTV]

I have the very long haired Tiggy, she needs a reasonable amount of grooming, I keep her bottom hair trimmed quite short, it's less likely to get matted & she can't wee on it then!

She's not a lover of brushing, but I find if I start at the ends holding her hair close to her body it doesn't pull as much.
@Betsy 's guide is a good place to start

She hates baths but sometimes it's easier to brush & cut wet hair than dry hair.
I actually gave her a bath last week as she had a couple of matts I couldn't get rid of so had to resort to cutting into them to make her more comfortable.
I'll try and find pictures later.

She's part Aby so has a few rosettes that curl round. She's definitely lower maintenance with trimmed hair! ✂

Here's a few older pigtures

 

[GPTV]

Here's some from last week, we had wash, trim & blow dry... She usually enjoys the blow dry & munchies, but she had a bit of a cob on this time...
I had just trimmed her nails too so that's possibly why I was in her bad books
She even nipped me on one of my 'bingo wings' (for the first time ever). So be prepared for a crafty bite!

Post wash & blow dry, pre trim.


Post trim ...

Still doesn't seem to have reduced the size of her incredibly large derriere ...Mum, does my bum look big in this?
"... No darling...that's 'healthy heft' ...honest!"


That angelic face

 

[Vicky2021]

Here's some from last week, we had wash, trim & blow dry... She usually enjoys the blow dry & munchies, but she had a bit of a cob on this time...
I had just trimmed her nails too so that's possibly why I was in her bad books
She even nipped me on one of my 'bingo wings' (for the first time ever). So be prepared for a crafty bite!

Post wash & blow dry, pre trim.
View attachment 197228

Post trim ...
View attachment 197229
Still doesn't seem to have reduced the size of her incredibly large derriere ...Mum, does my bum look big in this?
"... No darling...that's 'healthy heft' ...honest!"

Ah thank you for the pictures! She’s so lovely. She looks kind of similar in terms of hair direction with the two I’ve just got! They’re having a health check up at the vet today, i cut my other two shorthair pigs nails myself regularly but these two, their nails are growing in all sorts of direction so the vet said they can give a trim round the back too! At least then I can upkeep it all. I’ve noticed their personality is so much more calm compared to my 2 shorthairs. Really good to know all the above advice, and I love the idea you had of the mat with the food in front as you’re doing it! Will copy that.

 

[Engel]

I have the very long haired Tiggy, she needs a reasonable amount of grooming, I keep her bottom hair trimmed quite short, it's less likely to get matted & she can't wee on it then!

She's not a lover of brushing, but I find if I start at the ends holding her hair close to her body it doesn't pull as much.
@Betsy 's guide is a good place to start

She hates baths but sometimes it's easier to brush & cut wet hair than dry hair.
I actually gave her a bath last week as she had a couple of matts I couldn't get rid of so had to resort to cutting into them to make her more comfortable.
I'll try and find pictures later.

She's part Aby so has a few rosettes that curl round. She's definitely lower maintenance with trimmed hair! ✂

Here's a few older pigtures
View attachment 197195

View attachment 197189

View attachment 197222

View attachment 197188

View attachment 197190

View attachment 197191

View attachment 197198

View attachment 197194

Is there a guinea pig under there?

 

[GPTV]

Ah thank you for the pictures! She’s so lovely. She looks kind of similar in terms of hair direction with the two I’ve just got! They’re having a health check up at the vet today, i cut my other two shorthair pigs nails myself regularly but these two, their nails are growing in all sorts of direction so the vet said they can give a trim round the back too! At least then I can upkeep it all. I’ve noticed their personality is so much more calm compared to my 2 shorthairs. Really good to know all the above advice, and I love the idea you had of the mat with the food in front as you’re doing it! Will copy that.

Awww they're gorgeous
Well done for taking them on

I never wanted long haired Guinea's because of the extra work, but I took her on at approx. 15wks she's my only pet shop piggie, she was the only female in store so kept out the back, away from the boys, two batches of females had picked on her.
I was asked if I wanted to see her... Of course I said no I was passed this squealing, scrappy looking creature all skin, bones & hair... I felt so sorry for her, I was smitten . She's now a big, cuddly, snuggle monster...still covered in hair.

Enjoy your grooming sessions! To fair brushing her can be therapeutic at times, as long as there's food in constant supply!
The mats are car washing noodle mitts,they soak up excess water off if her little tubby tummy really well, a lot of members have the bigger bathroom noodle mats. Hay doesn't stick to them like fleece either

Is there a guinea pig under there?

Oh yes a big lump of guinea pig... About 1.5kg of one!
She's a proper diva!
@Bill & Ted 's posh is her twin