Do Guinea Pigs Shed? Hair Loss Causes & Options

Nearly all breeds of guinea pig shed–even skinny pigs shed a little bit bit within the areas they’ve fur. Baldwin guinea pigs are fully bald and don’t shed in any respect. Nevertheless, they do have dander, which may nonetheless set off pet allergic reactions.

Under, we’ll speak all about guinea pig coats–from how typically 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 is likely to be shedding greater than common!

Guinea pigs shed extra in the course of the spring because it’s their shedding season. They lose their thick winter fur in favor of a extra breathable summer time coat.

In addition they shed closely when careworn. This needs to be short-term and resolve itself as soon as the piggy is out of the annoying state of affairs, reminiscent of a vet go to, however it might occur long-term as properly if a guinea pig is stored 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 may also barber one another, which generally is a signal of stress or a present of dominance.

Lastly, guinea pigs can shed excessively because of well being issues. These embody parasites, fungal infections, mites, and ovarian cysts. Particularly, guinea pigs with ovarian cysts are inclined to have symmetrical bald patches on their sides.

The best way to Cease a Guinea Pig From Shedding

You’ll by no means fully cease your guinea pig from shedding, until you undertake Baldwins as we mentioned earlier! Nevertheless, you possibly can 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 usually. Quick-haired piggies needs to be brushed round as soon as every week, and long-haired pigs needs to be brushed each day.
• Preserve their nails trimmed. Itching with lengthy nails could cause fur loss and pores and skin irritation or accidents.
• Feed them a well-balanced food plan. Identical to us, guinea pigs have more healthy hair when fed the precise meals. They need to have fixed entry to contemporary hay and water, round a cup of combined greens each 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 the very best sources of vitamin C for guinea pigs.
• Cut back your guinea pigs’ stress ranges. Piggies shed extra in the event that they’re careworn, and this could have a detrimental impact on their well being long-term. Preserve predator animals like cats and canine away from the cage, study to deal with your piggies with out inflicting undue stress (and educate kids 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 drawback.

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 encircling space usually, and use a cuddle cup or blanket when holding your piggies in your lap in the event you’d choose to not get fur in your garments.

What if I’m Allergic to Guinea Pigs?

Most individuals whose allergic reactions are triggered by proudly owning guinea pigs are literally allergic to timothy hay. Switching to orchard grass as a major hay typically helps.

Should you’re allergic to guinea pigs themselves, you’re seemingly not solely allergic to their fur but in addition their dander (which is lifeless pores and skin, or dandruff). That is vital to know, as a result of it implies that adopting a Baldwin guinea pig shouldn’t be more likely to cut back your allergic reactions. 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, speak to your physician earlier than adopting them. Some folks with gentle allergic reactions can tolerate residing along with piggies, whereas others could face extreme reactions. An allergist would possibly have the ability to provide therapies to assist as properly.

Do Guinea Pigs Want Baths?

Whereas different species, like canine, have higher coat well being when bathed (and sometimes shed much less), this doesn’t work for piggies.

Guinea pigs not often, if ever, want baths. It will depend on their surroundings, persona, coat sort, and well being. As an illustration, guinea pigs with fungal infections will seemingly want baths to recuperate. Piggies adopted from a unclean 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 typically given “butt-baths” to get their rear ends clear, since their fur drags on the underside of the cage.

However, some guinea pigs go their total lives with no need a shower in any respect. It ought to solely be carried out in the event that they’re soiled or they’ve a well being drawback that warrants it. Even then, guinea pigs ought to solely be bathed three to 4 instances a 12 months at most!

Why Does my Guinea Pig Have Bald Patches?

Bald patches could be brought on by barbering or well being issues.

Guinea pigs can barber themselves or one another because of boredom or stress. Examples embody a single piggy in a pet retailer cage who barbers because 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 deliver 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 have to rule out environmental issues inflicting them stress.

Your guinea pig would possibly want a piggy buddy, extra space, or separation if the barbering is extreme sufficient between two paired guinea pigs to influence their high quality of life.

Well being issues that trigger bald patches embody:

Search for parasites in your guinea pigs’ fur or crimson, flaky pores and skin which signifies ringworm.

Piggies with ovarian cysts could present different signs like crusty nipples and a young stomach. The hair loss sometimes 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 may also help you to find out the trigger and what your piggy will want going ahead.

In Conclusion

Most guinea pigs shed, however extreme shedding could be handled by reducing your guinea pigs’ stress ranges and bringing them to the veterinarian to verify 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 on 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 drawback.