How to Stop a Guinea Pig from Shedding

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. Bell pepper is a great source of vitamin C, and so is strawberry (as a treat - too much fruit is harmful to guinea pigs!)

• Do not put vitamin C drops in the water! They will make the water taste funny and often cause your guinea pig to not drink as a result. Plus, the vitamin C breaks down in less than an hour, so your guinea pig isn't even getting much.

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.

• If you are feeding your guinea pigs 1/8 cup per day of good pellets (Timothy based and free of sugar, seeds, and colorful pieces), they will probably give them enough protein. It's rare for it to be an issue and should only be explored after ruling out other causes.

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 to get these medications and so they can properly diagnose your pet.^[5]

• Do not use an over-the-counter fungal creams for humans. They can contain chemicals that are dangerous for guinea pigs and may not help the infection.
• Try to keep your guinea pig’s environment cool and dry. Warm, humid environments can lead to fungal infections.

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. If you see wounds that the guinea pig is itching at, but no bugs, your guinea pig probably has mange mites, which are microscopic and burrow under the skin. They are the most common guinea pig parasite. If you suspect your guinea pig has a parasitic infection, it needs treatment.

• Many parasitic infections can be treated with topical ivermectin at home. You can buy pour-on ivermectin on Amazon (do not get paste). You will also need a 1 cc syringe (1cc = 1mL). Guinea pigs are dosed at .5 mg/kilogram of body weight. This is a dosage chart for typical .5% ivermectin pour-on solution: http://www.guinealynx.info/topical_ivermectin_pour-on.html. However, your solution is not necessarily this concentration, so check the package carefully! Also, when determining dose, make sure your scale is accurate (weigh something with a known weight to check). If you cannot definitely determine the dose or don't feel confident dosing your guinea pig(s), do not do it yourself. Ivermectin overdoses can be fatal. Also, only use ivermectin if your guinea pig weighs more than 340 grams (about 12 oz)
• If you have multiple guinea pigs, even if they live separately, they all need to be treated for parasitic infections.

Don’t use cedar or pine wood chips in their cages. Some owners think these woodchips are good for their pet’s cage because they'll keep it smelling fresh. In fact, the phenols in these products can irritate guinea pig's skin and respiratory tract, causing illness and sometimes shedding.^[6]

• Opt instead for bedding made of paper, which won’t cause health problems for your pet. You can also try fleece bedding, which is cheap and reusable. ^[7]

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.^[8]

• 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.
• If your guinea pig is in a very loud place (such as a kitchen), try to move it to somewhere with less noise. It's good for it to be in a busy area of the house (such as a family room), but a very loud environment can stress them out.

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.^[9]

• 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.

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.^[10]

• 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.^[11]
• Penicillin-based antibiotics can kill guinea pigs. Most vets should be aware of this, but a vet inexperienced with guinea pigs might not be aware. For the safety of your pet, make sure none of your guinea pig's antibiotics are penicillin based. Typically, these antibiotics will end in "illin" (such as amoxicillin). ^[12]