Stop a Guinea Pig from Shedding

Guinea pigs can shed quite heavily, especially in Spring as the weather warms up. This can cause a furry mess in their cage and around your house and exacerbate allergies. While you can't completely stop your guinea pig's shedding, you can reduce the amount of fur your pet sheds.

Steps

Managing the Hair Loss

1. Brush your guinea pig regularly. Daily brushing will help reduce the amount of hair your guinea pig sheds. Be sure to brush gently and never scrape the brush over bald patches of skin. Guinea pigs have very sensitive skin and this can hurt them.
   • Use a soft baby brush or a metal greyhound comb to remove loose hair and keep your guinea pig’s coat shiny and healthy.
2. Invest in a de-shedding tool. De-shedding tools are typically metal combs designed to catch loose fur when you brush it over your pet’s fur. Any de-shedder will work for your guinea pig. Ones designed for small cats and kittens work especially well.
   • Be sure to avoid damaging your guinea pig’s sensitive skin. De-shedding brushes and combs can be sharp and abrasive, so take care to be gentle when using a de-shedder.
3. Clean their cage regularly. Cleaning your guinea pig’s cage daily or at least several times a week is vital to their health. Since your guinea pig doesn’t get immunizations at the vet like dogs and cats do, they are more susceptible to illness if left in a dirty cage. This can cause a variety of health problems, including infections that can trigger hair loss.
   • Avoid using harsh chemical cleaners when you clean your guinea pig’s cage. Instead, opt for mild soap and water or a solution of vinegar and water. Make sure the cage has time to dry before you put your pet back in it.
4. Remember that guinea pigs are seasonal shedders. It’s important to keep in mind that you won’t be able to completely stop your pet from shedding. Guinea pigs, especially long-haired ones, shed seasonally, so you can expect to find more hair than usual when they lose their winter coats in the spring and early summer.
5. Remember that babies shed their baby fur so their adult fur can grow in. Baby guinea pigs’ fur thins out to make room for their thicker, slightly coarser adult fur to grow in. This is a natural process and cause of shedding and is nothing to be concerned about.
   • For this stage, there are no preventative steps to take because it’s a necessary part of your guinea pig growing into a healthy adult. To minimize the mess from this shedding process, keep their cages cleaned out and sweep or vacuum your home to pick up extra hair.

Finding the Cause of Shedding

1. Give them vitamin C supplements. Vitamin C deficiency in guinea pigs can lead to excessive shedding and hair loss. Although guinea pig pellets are fortified with vitamin C, the vitamin C in these can degrade over time. The best way to ensure that your pet isn’t losing fur due to a vitamin deficiency is to feed them fresh fruits and vegetables that are high in vitamin C.
   • Some good options for your guinea pig include oranges, tomato, broccoli, and cabbage.
   • You can also find vitamin C powders and drops at your local health food store, and you can mix these supplements into your pet’s water.
2. Make sure they are getting enough protein. Although your guinea pig is a herbivore, they still require protein in their diet. Too little protein can cause excessive hair loss. Aim to make 15% of their daily diet come from a protein source.
   • Vegetarian sources of protein suitable for guinea pigs include oatmeal, peas, beans, and artichokes.
3. Check for fungal infections. Itchy bald spots on your guinea pig are tell-tale signs of a fungal infection. These infections almost always cause some degree of excess shedding. Treatments for fungal infections include topical creams and oils. However, you will want to see your vet so they can properly diagnose your pet.
   • Try to keep your guinea pig’s environment cool and dry. Warm, humid environments can lead to fungal infections.
4. Check for parasites. Mites, lice, and other parasites can take up residence with your guinea pig, causing them to itch and excessively shed. If you check under their fur and see small black bugs, your pet likely has a parasite infestation. Take them to the vet so he or she can prescribe medicines that will kill the parasites and help stop your pet’s itching and hair loss.
5. Don’t use cedar chips in their cages. Some owners think cedar chips are good for their pet’s cage because cedar will keep it smelling fresh. While this is true, cedar chips should never be used in guinea pig cages because they can exacerbate skin problems and shedding, and the oils in cedar chips can cause liver and respiratory problems in guinea pigs.
   • Opt instead for bedding made of paper, which won’t cause health problems for your pet.
6. Eliminate stress for your pet. Guinea pigs can shed excessively if they feel stressed out. They are sensitive animals and nervous by nature. Their stress can often manifest as hair loss if the stressor isn’t resolved.
   • For example, if you have two guinea pigs and one is being the “alpha” and bullying the other one, this can be a source of stress for the quieter pig. Try giving them some time apart or putting a physical barrier up in their cage so they can still see one another, but the “alpha” pig cannot harass the other one.

Getting a Medical Diagnosis

1. Rule out hormonal imbalances. As humans, when our hormones are out of whack, we experience a variety of health problems, including hair loss and balding. Hormonal imbalances can have the same effect on your guinea pig, causing patchy hair loss and excessive shedding.
   • Talk to your doctor if your pet’s fur falls out in clumps or you notice bare patches of skin, as this is not normal or seasonal shedding.
2. Have your vet check for Cushing’s disease. Cushing’s disease is a condition that affects the way adrenal glands work in the body. Enlarged adrenal glands can also lead to shedding. Guinea pigs are susceptible to this disease, and it can cause excessive hair loss and bald patches. Talk to your vet about testing your guinea pig for adrenal problems like Cushing’s disease.
   • Testing your pet's health will consist of a physical exam and blood testing. Blood work will tell your vet whether your pet has thyroid or adrenal issues or infections. The physical exam will check the general health of your pet, such as its temperature, the quality of its coat, and the health of its eyes and ears.
   • Guinea pigs cannot handle penicillin. Most vets should be aware of this, but a vet inexperienced with guinea pigs might not know this. For the safety of your pet, double check that any antibiotics the vet prescribes don't contain penicillin.
3. Consider pregnancy as a possible cause. If you have a female guinea pig who has been around other male guinea pigs, consider that pregnancy might be the cause of her shedding. Just like with human women’s hair, female guinea pigs experience changes to their fur while pregnant. Your pig’s shedding problem might resolve itself once she delivers her babies.

Tips

• Don’t let your guinea pig suffer. Their skin is extremely sensitive, so if you try to help their shedding and it still seems excessive, take your pet to the vet for a formal diagnosis.
• There's always a chance that adding Vitamin C powders or supplements in their water may make them refuse to drink it.

What You’ll Need

• Vitamin C supplements
• Fresh fruit and vegetables
• Soft baby brush
• De-shedding tool
• Vinegar
• Soap and water

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Sources and Citations

See also

• Bathe a Guinea Pig
• Keep Your Guinea Pigs Smelling Good
• Cut Guinea Pig Claws