Anyone with a long haired Guinea Pig? Mats in hair.

[queenofthehivemomof5]

My office mate is Mimi the Guinea Pig and while I love having her squeeky companionship while I work we have an issue with her getting mats on her hind end. She has very long hair and I try to comb it every other day or so but it seems that overnight she can get it matted up with her bedding (she is bedded on pine shavings which her vet says are just fine)

Should I just shave her butt (or have a groomer do it) or does anyone have any recommendation or ideas about how to keep her from getting matted up?
When she gets them I just clip them off with scissors.

[3timesoccermom]

No experience at all here but if she gets bathed would hair conditioner help? I'm thinking they don't get bathed though.

[everprincess]

I'm don't have a guinea pig but I do have a old kitty and she is having the same problem. DH keeps promising to get my kitties to the vet since the other has a lazy eye. I may have to take them over Christmas break since that's the only time I have off work. Maybe I can google some info for you. I'm thinking of changing the cat food to a premium brand to see if that helps.

[CouponQueen83]

I would ask a groomer to do a "Sanitary grooming" on her (I think it's called that). They essentially do shave her hindquarters. I have to keep my Yorkie's hair really short otherwise it mats up. I simply do not have the time and/or skills it takes to have a Yorkie with long hair. I like her better with short hair, anyway (she's a teacup and looks like a puppy still).
Anyway, I digress...Yes, have a groomer shave her 'area' lol.

[abond0017]

no experience with guinea pigs, but I wouldn't think you need to shave it...perhaps just cut it shorter back there. Experiement with the length until you get it short enough that it doesnt matt. That way you can keep it as long as possible. HTH

[queenofthehivemomof5]

Good suggestions, keep them coming. Any thoughts on bedding outside of pine shavings? I would be willing to try switching to something else even though I have a HUGE bag of shavings (25 lbs) for $5 at the feed store out in my garage.

Anyone use newspaper?

I cannot be the only guinea pig owner out there on HCW! LOL

[queenofthehivemomof5]

No experience at all here but if she gets bathed would hair conditioner help? I'm thinking they don't get bathed though.

We don't bathe her. Not even sure how do go about that process. LOL

[CouponQueen83]

If you ever DO try to bathe her, I'd like to request that you video tape it. Pretty pleaseeeee!!!!

[queenofthehivemomof5]

If you ever DO try to bathe her, I'd like to request that you video tape it. Pretty pleaseeeee!!!!

lol!

[everprincess]

If you ever DO try to bathe her, I'd like to request that you video tape it. Pretty pleaseeeee!!!!

lol!

Me too! I can just see me trying to bathe Rosie the cat I would be dead due to blood loss in minutes. She is sooo wild she will not let me pet her outside the house and the other animals are scared of her. My dogs don't blink a eye when she passes them~structs her stuff too. I once saw a small hotdog type of dog do cartwheels to get away from her. Of course I put her inside and got the dog back to it's owner.