Shampoo scents

[Weatherlight]

I was wondering if cavies might mind scented shampoos. I try to keep anything strong-smelling away from them, as I don't know whether they would find it pleasant or horrible. Many humans like citrus scent while most cats hate it, and I don't know if there's anything similar with cavies. (My human friend also hates citrus but doesn't mind cat poop smell. To each hir own...)

Nearly all rabbit/kitten-safe shampoos seem to have some sort of scent, whether listed as fragrance, essential oil, herb, etc. Right now I'm looking at Earthbath - Totally Natural Pet Care and wondering whether my girls would like mango, cherry, rosemary... o.o Assuming p[FONT=Arial][FONT=Verdana]ropyl paraben is an okay ingredient, I might just go with Hypo-Allergenic or Clear Advantages.

I vaguely remember smelling Four Paws Bunny Bath when I was a little kid, and if I remember correctly it was strongly scented and I disliked that.

Any thoughts?[/FONT]
[/FONT]

[Jenni_Feathers]

BunnyBath has a very slight scent of babypowder, and I couldnt even smell it on my piggys.

[i-love-nev]

I use baby shampoo so I dont smell nothing on my pigs, when I bathed BB in some baby shampoo his coat was lovely and soft and his skin was as soft as silk! !

[PhoenixFeather]

Baby shampoo is not pH balanced correctly for small animals. You shouldn't really use it.

[i-love-nev]

Originally Posted by PhoenixFeather

Baby shampoo is not pH balanced correctly for small animals. You shouldn't really use it.

Its fine as long as its the senstive kind...I have used it since I got my first pet (rabbit) right through to now and had no problems

[daftscotslass]

Originally Posted by i-love-nev

Its fine as long as its the senstive kind...I have used it since I got my first pet (rabbit) right through to now and had no problems

There are no baby shampoos in the UK that are suitable for pigs I'm afraid. I also know people who won't use the most common brand on their (human) babies because of the drying effect it has.

[i-love-nev]

*Shrugs* I have always used baby shampoo with no ill effects - ANY pet shampoo I have used has dried out my guinea pigs skin and made him very itchy. The ferret sheen shampoo is ok on the ferts but I prefer baby shampoo.

[daftscotslass]

Originally Posted by i-love-nev

*Shrugs* I have always used baby shampoo with no ill effects - ANY pet shampoo I have used has dried out my guinea pigs skin and made him very itchy. The ferret sheen shampoo is ok on the ferts but I prefer baby shampoo.

Ever tried Gorgeous Guineas?

I stand by the fact that human baby shampoos are NOT suitable for pigs. Perhaps if you tried the alternative you would find that your pigs' skin could be even better?

[Guinea_Piggin]

While we're on the topic of shampoos...what do you think of this: Mrs. Meyers Oatmeal Pet Shampoo ? Is this bad for piggies as well? The third tab has an ingredients list for those that are curious.

[Ly&Pigs]

Originally Posted by i-love-nev

Its fine as long as its the senstive kind...I have used it since I got my first pet (rabbit) right through to now and had no problems

No, it's not fine even if it's for sensitive skin. Bottom line is that human shampoos/baby shampoos are NOT formulated for a pigs delicate skin.

[i-love-nev]

Originally Posted by daftscotslass

Ever tried Gorgeous Guineas?

I stand by the fact that human baby shampoos are NOT suitable for pigs. Perhaps if you tried the alternative you would find that your pigs' skin could be even better?

Yep, tryed gorgeous guineas, I thought of all shampoos that would work, but it also turns out that even special shampoos dont work for a piggys delicate skin anyway! I only ever bathed him once in it coz I had to get that other stuff off of him, it was my mums say-so to use it but I have used it all my life on all animals. My brother said gorgeous guineas is better on human skin

[Weatherlight]

I'd be much more concerned if the smell lingered on their fur but I more meant smelling it during the bath before it was rinsed off. I always found baby powder to be very smelly, and baby oil even worse; I think I might be sensitive to scented products, despite having a dull human nose ;) Sniffing it for a moment is bad enough, having to smell it for several minutes would be unpleasant for me.

I wouldn't want to risk human shampoo on a cavy; maybe certain baby shampoos on a dog. When I visited my half-brother when he was four months old (iirc), I helped bathe him, and my stepmother is very concerned about doing things right. She used just a bit of mild bar soap and spread it out on his skin.

As for pH balancing, there is no standard for what is labeled "pH balanced" from what I know, kind of like "fair wage" for workers or "free range" for farm animals (or "organically farmed" several years ago before the USDA created criteria that is now used as a standard in the US). People can slap the phrase on whatever product they want. What I'd really like to see is the actual pH on products, but nearly all won't specify.

About Mrs. Meyer's, they don't specify what type of "pets." Their pet products banner shows a cat and a dog. I would ask if it is designed to be safe for kittens and puppies (and if so, what age, eg 6 weeks, 8 weeks), rabbits, and rodents.

I tend to stay away from essential oils, as some might be unsafe, and other than having a nice effect (if the person likes the smell, that is!) I don't think they have any special health benefits. Furry mates probably wouldn't appreciate them at all :P

[i-love-nev]

My friend and I were talking the other day and she said she bathes her piggies in the baby shampoo then rubs her piggies over with cucumber!! She said that it dosent leave a smell behind and it gets rid of the shampoo scent, nor does it make a funny colour on there fur.