Drying a Cavy

[Ramon]

I was wondering if it was safe to use a blow dryer on a pig? I haven't used one because I didn't think it was safe, but when I try using a towel, they don't get dry very quickly and I have to put them back in their cage and it isn't perfectly clean either.

 

[CavyLover94]

The best way to dry a cavy is to towel dry and then use a blow dryer set on low and warm not hot.

 

[Pablosmummy]

I've just tonight bathed Pablo for the first time and he went mad when we turned the hair dryer on. We've towel dried him as much as we can and hes pretty dry now but I was wondering if he would get used to it over time? or if anyone has had any experience in this?

I was thinking maybe I could turn it on (not on him, just in the same room) everyday and he might get more used to it? I think it was the noise rather than the feel of it that scared him.

 

[Fay]

You could try getting the guinea pig used to the sound but I would stop using it if the pig continues to be stressed out everytime it's put on or aimed at him.

 

[weaseldropping]

I find it helps to get someone else to hold the hairdryer vertically, with the airflow pointing down. I can then manoeuver the pig and twizzle her around in the warm air to get all the nooks and crannies dry. Mine seem to enjoy it - well they think it is better than being damp - and the ones not being held like to sit under the air as well.

 

[envisionary333]

It is definitely safer to gently dry a piggy with a hair dryer than to leave your piggy damp- they might get chilled and even sick. What I do is fill a small laundry basket with lots of clean towels, then I put the piggy in and gently dry them from above from a couple feet away, with the dry on low/warm and constantly checking how hot it feels on my hand. Most piggies will never like being dried and they will move around a lot, but keeping them in a contained space makes it easier than trying to hold them at the same time. When I bathed all time of my piggies I put them all in the laundry basket with towels and dried them all at the same time! They also had a tray of veggies to keep them distracted.

 

[Piggersrule]

I don't usually bath my piggies but when I do, I towel dry and than blow dry on low heat. My girls don't mind the blow dryer....as long as they have a carrot to munch on.