General Texel care

[kittymalone]

I have been thinking about looking for a Texel guinea pig. I have researched online about care but I wanted to post here to get some real life stories. How is care different between short haired and long haired pigs (I know Texels require more grooming)? Anything I should be aware of? Any suggestions about owning a Texel? Any information you could pass on will be helpful.

 

[lucas]

I'm pretty sure a Texel have more sinitive backs so they may not liked to be petted a lot.... but good luck with your Texel

 

[SurfingPigs]

My most recent adoptee is a Peruvian who had quite the head of hair until I shaved her recently. The biggest difference about a long haired pig is, as you said, the grooming needs. You should brush every day, and bathe when necessary. Gorgeous Guineas makes a great shampoo, and you need to be sure to use theirs or another shampoo specifically formulated for guinea pigs.

I would also be sure to trim hair shorter around his/her butt. Longer hair can get soaked with urine and cause infection much more easily, so it is imperative to pay extra attention to that.

Routine trims with scissors are good, and a pair of electric clippers will work if you ever need to give a short hair cut for warm weather.

 

[Crystalkate]

I have a texel. Just like others said they require a lot of grooming. I have to keep her hair up off the floor because she will drag it all in her poo and urine. It's not fun to cut, because she absolutely hates it. She bucks all over the place. I normally have to have my husband or my friend hold her. I also Buuuut she is completely adorable! She has this little bush of hair on the top of her head that is a complete mess, and I absolutely love it. Sometimes I will put it up in a ponytail for a bit, and I call her my little sumo.

 

[kittymalone]

I looked at the Gorgeous Guineas website and, specifically the "posh and go" shampoo for long haired breeds, which sounds like what I might need. Are there any other shampoos people like?

 

[kittymalone]

I have a texel. Just like others said they require a lot of grooming. I have to keep her hair up off the floor because she will drag it all in her poo and urine. It's not fun to cut, because she absolutely hates it. She bucks all over the place. I normally have to have my husband or my friend hold her. I also Buuuut she is completely adorable! She has this little bush of hair on the top of her head that is a complete mess, and I absolutely love it. Sometimes I will put it up in a ponytail for a bit, and I call her my little sumo.

They are adorable, I agree! I have 2 angora rabbits-one that LOVES grooming time and one that HATES it. I'm always trimming away at the butt fur. I like them to have the longer hair so there are almost daily brushings and complete hair cuts every 3 months (with trims in between). It's a pain but I LOVE them so it's worth every minute!

 

[Crystalkate]

They are adorable, I agree! I have 2 angora rabbits-one that LOVES grooming time and one that HATES it. I'm always trimming away at the butt fur. I like them to have the longer hair so there are almost daily brushings and complete hair cuts every 3 months (with trims in between). It's a pain but I LOVE them so it's worth every minute!

Same here, I wouldn't want her any other way! Texel's are my favorite.

 

[SeeSpotSit]

I have a young Texel male and so far the most I've done to him is cut the hair on the inside of his back legs and butt area. I plan on cutting more hair soon, but I just make sure to pick any hay out of his hair and I spread the curls apart to prevent matting/clumping. I was told that normally people don't actually brush the texels because it takes away the kink in the hair so I have never brushed, just separated the waves. He is such a sweet little boy so the hair cuts and the one bath were super easy

 

[Crystalkate]

Some texel's have long hair. I am not sure what Carliee is completely. My guess would be texel/Abyssinian. I adopted her from craigslist when she was one. Her hair will continually grow if I do not cut it. But she is extremely curly and kinky.

 

[foggycreekcavy]

Crystalkate, all texels have long hair. If the pig doesn't have long hair, then it's not a texel.

Most long haired pigs really hate being brushed. It pulls, and hurts. It's best to keep the hair trimmed short so you don't need to brush or comb it out. Texels often get stuff like bedding and hay stuck inside the waves so you need to check often or it ends up making huge mats. SeeSpotSit is right--brushing texels takes out the waves/kinks.

If you do bathe, you need to make sure the pig is completely dried, and that can be hard with the frizzy texel fur. I would advise against bathing unless the pig absolutely needs it.

 

[Crystalkate]

I had a texel six years ago, and his hair didn't get long like Carliee's. I have a conditioning spray for guinea pig that I spray in it before I brush. I have to brush it or it knots and gets very matted, even when I keep it short.