bathing pigs

[Dodge]

hi guys, i was reading on a website and i wanted to get all your opinions. someone said to bath guinea pigs in an inch of water weekly and use critter shampoo for small animals and wash them, what are your suggestions?

[pigsforlife]

Pigs rarely need baths. 3-4 times a year max.

[mommyoffive]

Too many baths will dry out their skin which is really bad. Only bath your guinea pig or any other animals when neccessary

[wiggley_narco]

GPs should only be bathed in one inch of water, and that shampoo is fine, but under NO circumstances should you bathe them once a week. They should only be bathed when absolutely necessary, and as pigsforlife said, a MAX of 3-4 times a year. And that only really applies to long-haired pigs. Most short-haired pigs never need a bath in their entire lives.

[pigsforlife]

Long haired pigs may need weekly bum washes. But not full blown washes.

[Char-x]

My long haired piggies get bottom washes (in the bath tub walking around, half an inch of luke warm water, no shampoo) about once every two/three months and only if they need it. My short hair pig gets a bath only when he needs it which is about twice a year if that. I agree you shouldnt bath animals unless they need it since they have natural oils that keep them pretty clean and shouldn't be messed with too much.

[Cherish]

As has already been said, they only need bathing a few times a year, unless a cavy-savvy vet recommends otherwise for a particular reason.

For example, one of my boys would have had to have been put to sleep because of his painful leg problems, had our vet not recommended that we allow him to swim in an inch or so of warm water once or twice a week, to build up his weakened leg muscles.

Now he only gets a bath about twice a year, which is a shame, because the little guy really loves it!

[auburnmare5]

I recently asked a similar question. I think that BATHING a pig 1x a week is way too much! Their skin can become extremely dry, and that is not good! As mentioned in the previous, 3-4 times a year MAXIMUM! Also mentioned in the previous, weekly rinses for the tushies may be needed for long haired or very dirty piggers. Also, only wash if they really need it!

[Feylin]

Cherish, i have one who really seems to love his bath time too! I keep his hair trimmed and he's on fleece, but it just absorbs the pee anyhow. I put him in just enough warm water to cover the dirty hair and he walks around, sniffs the water, and burbles happily to himself.