Methods to Forestall & Handle Fur Trims

Barbering in guinea pigs is sadly frequent, and usually occurs because of underlying well being issues or poor residing situations. Guinea pigs might chew their very own fur or that of one other piggy, and can usually eat it as properly.

On this article, we’ll focus on all the things there may be to learn about barbering in guinea pigs, the way it’s recognized, and how one can cease it.

What’s Barbering in Guinea Pigs?

Barbering in guinea pigs is once they chew on their very own fur or that of one other guinea pig. This may end up in patches of shorter hair or bald spots, also referred to as alopecia.

The pores and skin beneath barbered fur will normally seem wholesome and freed from bites. In any other case, your piggies’ alopecia might have one other trigger similar to an infection, ringworm, or combating between cage mates.

Why Do Guinea Pigs Barber Every Different?

When guinea pigs barber each other, it’s usually the dominant pig munching on the fur of the extra submissive guinea pig.

Barbering is usually seen in domesticated animals residing in unsuitable situations. This consists of crowded environments, small cages, having predator species lurking across the cage, improper food regimen, and extra.

In case your guinea pigs beforehand lived in a neglectful scenario, they could proceed barbering even as soon as they’re in an appropriate atmosphere.

Can Guinea Pigs Barber Themselves?

Guinea pigs can barber themselves. Self-barbering is usually attributable to stress or ache. Though we must always usually assume barbering is being carried out by a cagemate, barbering that avoids areas a guinea pig can not attain by themselves, such because the again of the neck and head, can typically level to self-barbering.

Guinea Lynx notes that guinea pigs might barber because of gasoline, bloat, and even tumors underneath the pores and skin in that space. Generally, piggies gained’t cease barbering themselves as soon as they get into the behavior.

In case your guinea pig barbers themselves, it’s vital to get them into the veterinarian. It might be because of underlying well being issues. Generally, house owners misdiagnose barbering and a piggy is definitely dropping fur for an additional cause.

In case your veterinarian determines your guinea pig is wholesome, they is perhaps burdened. Stress will be attributable to lack of a cage mate, too small of a cage, or predator pets like canine and cats coming too shut.

How is Barbering in Guinea Pigs Identified?

Step one in case your guinea pigs are barbering, both themselves or each other, is to deliver them to the veterinarian.

Your vet will start prognosis by getting your guinea pig’s historical past. They could ask the place you adopted your piggy from, what their atmosphere is like at residence, and in case you’ve observed every other signs or behavioral modifications.

Then, they’ll work to rule out underlying diseases. This consists of different causes of alopecia apart from barbering, similar to parasites or fungal an infection. It additionally consists of causes your guinea pig might be barbering, similar to bloat, ache, or tumors underneath the pores and skin.

They’ll carry out a primary examination and any essential testing earlier than offering a prognosis. In the event that they decide your piggies are probably barbering, they’ll then advocate therapy choices.

How Do You Deal with Barbering in Guinea Pigs?

Remedy will fluctuate relying on the reason for the barbering. If there are underlying illnesses, your veterinarian will counsel medicines or different therapies.

In case your guinea pig is barbering because of stress or insufficient situations, therapy might embody any of the next (or a mixture):

• Fixed entry to contemporary hay. Fiber deficiency has been proven to trigger barbering in rabbits, and guinea pigs is perhaps related. In case your guinea pigs don’t have fixed entry to giant quantities of contemporary, clear hay, this needs to be mounted instantly.
• Enrichment. This consists of a minimum of one disguise per guinea pig, secure picket gadgets to chew, toys, a cage mate, and ample house to run and train within the cage.
• Reevaluation of cage mates. Guinea pigs might self-barber because of bullying by a cage mate. Piggies are additionally extra more likely to barber in overcrowded conditions, which may imply holding too many piggies collectively and even holding two in a small house. Being alone also can set off self-barbering, as guinea pigs are social animals and should stay with companions.
• Holding different pets away from the cage. Many people discover it cute when piggies spend time with their canine, cats, or different pets–however for guinea pigs, it’s normally very annoying. It’s additionally extremely harmful, irrespective of how docile your different pets are.
• A quiet atmosphere. Loud, chaotic environments can stress guinea pigs out, resulting in barbering.

It’s finest to supply all that your guinea pig wants earlier than barbering begins, as a result of it may be tough to cease as soon as it begins. At all times do your analysis and arrange a correct house for any new pet earlier than bringing them residence.

Whereas barbering is generally aesthetic in the case of fur loss, it might probably trigger issues for the piggy doing the barbering as we’ll focus on beneath.

Keep away from punishing your guinea pigs for barbering or making use of bitter sprays to the sufferer. Bodily punishments aren’t understood and are abusive. Bitter sprays not often work, and may cease piggies from grooming themselves.

Is It Harmful for Guinea Pigs to Eat Fur?

Some guinea pigs do find yourself with well being issues from consuming fur whereas barbering. They’ll develop intestinal blockages or the fur can get caught of their tooth or gums.

In case your guinea pig is barbering, pay additional consideration to their digestion. In the event that they cease consuming or pooping, deliver them to the vet instantly.

Try to be checking your guinea pigs’ tooth routinely anyway. For barbering piggies, look additional intently for any fur caught within the tooth or gums. In case your guinea pig stops consuming or their urge for food modifications in any method, this might be attributable to unseen fur caught at the back of the mouth.

Guinea Pig Barbering vs Mites

Your veterinarian can assist you establish whether or not your guinea pig is being barbered or has mites. As a result of each require a visit to the vet, I like to recommend not worrying an excessive amount of about which your guinea pig has.

However to appease your nerves in case you’re stressing about it earlier than your appointment, listed here are some variations between the 2:

• Mites may cause thick, yellow, crusty pores and skin
• In case your guinea pig is itching within the affected areas, it’s probably mites (or one other pest or pores and skin difficulty)
• Weight reduction is frequent in guinea pigs with mites
• In case your guinea pig’s fur is brief however there aren’t bald patches, it’s extra probably barbering
• If you happen to can really feel quick, prickly fur round a brand new bald patch or the fur is uneven, it’s extra probably barbering

Your veterinarian will study your guinea pig for mites and should carry out testing to both diagnose them or rule them out as a reason behind alopecia.

Mites on guinea pigs aren’t seen to the bare eye, so each you and your vet will depend on observing signs in addition to testing to get the suitable prognosis.

In Conclusion

The easiest way to cease barbering in guinea pigs is to forestall it earlier than it begins. This implies giving your guinea pigs the most effective lives potential, and watching newly-bonded guinea pigs intently.

Common vet appointments also can typically assist to diagnose well being situations earlier than they trigger your guinea pig to self-barber.

Nonetheless, barbering isn’t at all times preventable. We are able to’t at all times cease our piggies from getting sick, and we will’t management the place they arrive from or how they had been handled up to now.

In these circumstances, offering a low-stress atmosphere, treating underlying well being situations, and ensuring they’re properly cared for is all you are able to do. These items may cease the barbering, or it is perhaps recurring and far more durable to eliminate.