guineas fur

Question
I just adopted a peruvian guinea pig today. He seems just fine and I love him very much already. He has a small bald spot behind each ear. Is this normal? I didn't know if this was a normal hair pattern for the peruvian or if it's something I should see a vet about. Thanks.
I also was curious if I can use small hair clips to hold back his hair, or if this could be dangerous to him if he takes them out and chews on them.  

Answer
Kim -

You are pretty brave to adopt a peruvian right off.  They are usually something even experienced breeders don't want to tackle (because of the hair).  :)  The bald spot behind the ears is normal.  In fact, you'll find that bald spot behind the ears of every guinea pig if you check.

As for controlling the hair -- are you planning on using him for show?  If not, I would recommend just trimming the hair.  It's relatively easy.  Put the guinea pig on a table (cover it with a towel first) and, using a pair of sharp scissors, trim the hair to about 1-2 inches in length.  If you're not going to show him, it doesn't have to be pretty.  

If you're going to show him, or if you just want to try growing out the hair, you can roll it, which involves strips of fabric.  What you'll do is using that same towel-covered table, roll 1-inch wide pieces of hair around strips of fabric (like it was a hair roller or a curling iron) and once all the hair is wrapped, you'll tie off the ends in a regular knot.  This is pretty time consuming, and you'll have to re-do this every couple of days, brushing the hair in between.  

I personally recommend the cutting method.  It'll keep him from chewing her hair and keep it from getting dirty in the cage.

I hope this is helpful.  If you have any more questions, please feel free to contact me.  Good luck!

Lorena