Skin Problems: Dry Skin Treatment?

[PiggieMamaKelly]

Originally Posted by katiewilson

Sometimes we have to take a route OTHER than the easy one for the safety and health of our animals. Suggesting otherwise and encouraging everyone else to do so is the real problem.

Katiewilson- what do you do for your itchy teddy?

[Paula]

Originally Posted by PiggieMamaKelly

Katiewilson- what do you do for your itchy teddy?

I’m not sure what it matters what she does or doesn’t do. I can assure you she wouldn’t do something that’s ill-advised in the first place, or if she did, she’d have the good sense not to get on a forum and post about doing it knowing full well that it’s something the moderators or admin have specifically said not to do. And it goes without saying that she’d surely not encourage other people to do the same.

You’re right, sunflower seeds certainly aren’t a death sentence for pigs, but considering they are seeds and on a list of items not to feed, which is posted on this website, I think it’s fair that the moderators here respectfully ask that members not encourage feeding them for any reason. To me it seems it’s in the best interest of the GPC's goals as a site not to have contradicting advice given out should a person new to pigs come along and do a search.

[PiggieMamaKelly]

Originally Posted by paula.m.moore

I’m not sure what it matters what she does or doesn’t do.

Really? This is a thread about treating dry skin. To the people who have been reading this thread in order to find answers, I think it matters a great deal what the participants of the thread have found and not found to be successful. I have followed this thread because I have a need for dry skin remedies. I assumed that if Katiewilson had something to say on the topic that she has experience with dry skin and teddies. I am interested in hearing from experienced teddy mamas and papas and their approach to the problem because so far I have not found anything that has been completely effective.

I'm not sure why you mentioned sunflower seeds. I thought we were back on the topic of treating dry skin.

[Paula]

Originally Posted by PiggieMamaKelly

Really? This is a thread about treating dry skin. To the people who have been reading this thread in order to find answers, I think it matters a great deal what the participants of the thread have found and not found to be successful.

Well, unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), having experience with a topic isn't necessarily a prerequisite for posting about it here. I read Katiewilson's post to say that doing what's "easy" and doing what's "right" for your animal's welfare don't always go hand-in-hand. Further, the point I think she was trying to make was that what's easy for us to do isn't always in the best interest of the animal, and the best interest of the animal is what needs to come first. WICavy suggests giving sunflower seeds to help dry skin, but that is a direct contradiction to what Ly and other mods have said. And for good reason, sunflower seeds can do more harm than good for the health of a pig. So, that it's an easy solution doesn't mean it's the right solution.

Originally Posted by PiggieMamaKelly

I'm not sure why you mentioned sunflower seeds. I thought we were back on the topic of treating dry skin.

I'm baffled by your confusion, since it's a suggestion to feed sunflower seeds to remedy dry skin that started this debate in the first place.

[katiewilson]

Originally Posted by PiggieMamaKelly

I assumed that if Katiewilson had something to say on the topic that she has experience with dry skin and teddies.

I never commented on my experience with treating teddies with dry skin. I commented on how problematic it is for people opting to take the easier way out when caring for their animals rather than the correct/healthier/safer method that may be messier or take longer, and how unfortunate it is that it was presented as good advice on a forum that strenuously discourages such a practice. It was meant to be universal, not about you or your gp, specifically.

[PiggieMamaKelly]

Originally Posted by paula.m.moore

I'm baffled by your confusion, since it's a suggestion to feed sunflower seeds to remedy dry skin that started this debate in the first place.

And Ly asked that the topic get back on track (i.e. NOT talk about sunflower seeds). I was finished talking about sunflower seeds a long time ago.

It would be great if we could have a productive discussion about how to deal with dry skin and the problems that arise- such as how to moisturize the face. It would be most useful if people with real experiences could share those. So if you have experience with teddies and their skin paula.m.moore, I would love to hear them.

[salana]

So the question is basically topical application (coconut oil, possibly grapeseed oil although we don't know the safety of it) vs. internal application (sunflower seeds, other oils), with environmental modification (humidifiers) thrown in.

Obviously sunflower seeds pose the risk of choking as well as the risk of ingesting too much fat. I wonder what level of ingested fat would be effective to help teddies with their skin, vs. how much would cause metabolic distress. It's possible that a weekly snack of 1cc of flax oil, plus spot application in extremely dry areas (behind ears, on the butt, whatever), plus a humidifier, might do a lot to improve a lot of teddies' skin. I know some people on GL have used small amounts of flax oil as an additive for bulking up underweight pigs.

I am completely talking out of my butt here about the amount and frequency, because I don't have a teddy, but perhaps we could move on to a discussion of pigs' fat needs without getting hung up on the sunflower seeds, because there are ways to administer fats without choking.

[Paula]

I’ve used the Aloe Melt from Gorgeous Guineas. I love their products, actually, because they leave your pig smelling heavenly.

And I agree, PiggyMamaKelly, on your point about having a productive discussion, but it would certainly help if the condescension and sense of self-importance could be left out of it altogether.

[guineapigluver1]

Can plain (nothing added to it), organic aloe vera gel (or juice) be ingested by a guinea pig?