Fur Condition

[Emma]

Hey guys

We got our 2 little chins last week and they've got a problem with their fur.

They were from a national pet shop, which I know we shouldn't really get pets from, but we went there for fish food and couldn't bear the thought of them having to stay there any longer once we'd seen them! They were in their adoption section, so at least the money we paid went to charity.

They're 3 1/2 (male) and 2 (female) and were in the shop for 3 weeks.

They seem to have tufts of hair longer than the rest of their fur mainly on the lower part of their body. They had this when we got them, and was told it was water damage...however, I'm not so sure. :wacko:

I've been trying to research what it could be all week but haven't really figured it out.

Is it 'fur chewing'? And if so, is there anything we can do to help it? I read that it could be due to stress, which maybe they could have gotten whilst they had people staring at them all day in the shop?

I've attached a few pictures for you to look at (and one of Nibbler in his dust bath making a mess!)

Thanks for any advice!

And

 

[Olallie]

Aw your nibbler loosk so cute! I would try to pull the tuffs of hair off him, they might have just been slipped. If not maybe get a comb and see if its matts.

 

[sheri7]

It just looks like a little fur slip to me....but I'm not an expert.

 

[cindyv3737]

I love their color. To me it just looks like fur slips. I agree with Olallie try to pull them out. If they are slips they should just come right off with no problem.

 

[Peep_erz]

That looks like fur slipping. Your chins were scared when they were handled and let go of little tufts of fur. You should be able to gently wiggle them out or you can just leave them and they'll fall off eventually.

You got some cuties by the way!

 

[Jazicat]

I just wanted to say that they are both really cute and I am so glad they are with you!

 

[Emma]

Thanks for the responses! I'm glad it isn't likely to be fur chewing.

I have tried to remove the hairs gently, but they both run off before I can give it a good go...they're still not keen on being picked up!

And

 

[Ash]

If you can hold them by the base of the tail, and blow on your hand, then run it down their body, that will help get the loose hairs. Definitely just looks like fur slipping.

 

[jags]

Looks like small mattes to me. Gently pluck the long fur tuffs out and they will look much better and they will not get any worse. Fur slips leave a hole in the fur where you can see a gap and if large enough you can see bare skin.

 

[tunes]

And - Unless one or the other of them are surgically sterile, please don't let these two play together. It takes literally seconds for the male to impregnate the female. I know that malocclusion is a huge issue in the UK and without knowing exactly where these two came from and their breeding, it would be a really bad idea to let them breed.

They are both cute as can be, but please keep them separate.

 

[Emma]

And - Unless one or the other of them are surgically sterile, please don't let these two play together. It takes literally seconds for the male to impregnate the female. I know that malocclusion is a huge issue in the UK and without knowing exactly where these two came from and their breeding, it would be a really bad idea to let them breed.

They are both cute as can be, but please keep them separate.

The male has been neutered. Appreciate the thought though!

 

[Emma]

If you can hold them by the base of the tail, and blow on your hand, then run it down their body, that will help get the loose hairs. Definitely just looks like fur slipping.

Still having a bit of an issue picking them up so I might have to leave it for now. Is that ok, or should I try and remove the tufts?

 

[Ash]

The tufts of fur aren't going to hurt them as long as they aren't mats. Have you given a dust bath? They might help.