There will always be a need for vets. That idea, plus my huge love of animals, has led me down the path of becoming a veterinarian. I have not graduated from my course yet, but the reason behind this blog is to share my learning journey. I intend to write blog posts on subjects like the veterinarian education path, my thoughts on whether to be a general or specialist vet and how I wish to use alternative treatments like acupuncture in my practice. If you too have a love of animals and want to make this your job, then my blog will be interesting to you.
Why Is Your Guinea Pig's Fur Matted on its Bottom?
If you regularly groom your guinea pig to get rid of excess fur and tangles, then you'll know how its fur normally looks and feels. So, you may worry if you notice that your guinea pig's fur has started to mat around its bottom. What does this matting mean and what can you do about it?
Reasons Why Guinea Pig Fur Mats
Without regular grooming, guinea pig fur can get tangled and matted, especially if your pet is a long-haired variety. While short-haired guinea pigs may not need much help with their own grooming, longer-haired pets may need their owners to give them a regular groom to keep their fur lying flat and straight.
Even if you groom your guinea pig, there are times when its fur might mat around its bottom anyway. For example, the guinea pig may have been messing around in dirty hay or water. This can cause matting when the fur dries off.
Sometimes, matted fur is caused by an underlying illness or medical problem. For example, your guinea pig may stop grooming around its rear end if it has a skin infection, a rash or broken skin. Grooming may be painful, so your guinea pig may leave the area alone at which point the fur might mat. More serious conditions, like flystrike, may also cause mats in fur. If a guinea pig has flystrike, then flies may have laid eggs in their fur and on their skin. This can mat the fur.
How to Deal With Matted Guinea Pig Fur
If your guinea pig will allow you to groom it, then it's worth trying to gently comb through the mat to see if it helps. Be very gentle here so that you don't hurt your pet's skin. If the mat doesn't untangle easily, then wetting it may help.
If the mat doesn't come out easily, then you should leave grooming for now. If the mat is at the top end of your guinea pig's fur rather than close to its skin, then you may be able to cut it off with a pair of scissors. Again, be careful here—you don't want to accidentally cut your pet's skin.
If the mat is tangled close to your guinea pig's skin, then it's a good idea to take your pet to the vet for pet grooming services. They can clip the matted fur off for you. Once this area is clear, your vet can also check for underlying issues and treat them if necessary.