Too many baths?

[TurboPiggy]

I have only bathed my pigs one time, right before they moved into their new cage. They were all stinky from introductions. Now Scooter has taken to laying in the tubes where he poos and pees and his under belly is all icky. I clean the tubes daily, but unless I stand watch 24/7, he's going to get dirty. He has longer hair so it really makes a mess on him. My question is would it be ok to wash his belly, only his belly, when it gets gross? That would probably require a partial bath 2 or 3 times a week. I'm really hoping he'll grow out of it since he's just a baby right now.

 

[Slap Maxwell]

That is a lot, 2 or 3 days a week. If you don't use shampoo, that is fine. Since he will most likely have long hair, a full bath every month or two should be sufficient. Regular pigs should have a bath around three times a year.

Some people give their boars "butt baths" because the grease gland gets nasty.

 

[Daisy Duke]

Yes that would be fine. Remember not to go to rough.

 

[TurboPiggy]

Hmm. Well I'm not talking about a full bath, just his under belly where it gets gross.

 

[Slap Maxwell]

That is fine. Maybe very little or no safe shampoo.

 

[Sabriel]

I have a leave in shampoo I use for that (I have a sloth for a pig. Sakura seems to love to sleep in her voids) It's called Quick and Clean Instant Shampoo by Super Pet. I just spray on the stinky area, wait a bit, then brush. Works good on stinky/gunky boars too.

 

[Daisy Duke]

I have that also. It works really well.

 

[Sabriel]

It's a life saver for Kero, my boar. He hates baths. Sakura loves baths (which is goos since she is so messy) and Tomoyo would rather take a bath then be in a different room than Sakura

 

[Daisy Duke]

Ya, Coco hates going into water so it is good for her and Honey could care less.lol

 

[Lyndsay]

I have a boar that refuses to sit still for more than 2 minutes in the bath. I try to regularly clean his bottom area, as he seems to get hay stuck in his butt, but he hates having his belly exposed. What would you suggest I do, as he has already jumped out of my high bath tub. *I was under the impression that they don't jump at all*

 

[Daisy Duke]

Hmmm.... Maybe just put him on a towel and put him on his back or everyday you tilt him a little more backwards so he gets used to being on his back.

 

[Lyndsay]

I have been trying that for awhile, but he just hates it, he flails his limbs, and goes nuts. My rabbit is the same way. Cutting his nails is such a hassle. Bathing him is even more insane. I have to get my mom to hold him still, cause he just fights away.

 

[Daisy Duke]

Hmm... that is tough. I don't really know what to say, but to keep doing what you are doing now. Goodluck! SOrry I could not help.

 

[Lyndsay]

Thats ok, sometimes there are problems in animals you just can't fix. I handle him daily, and bathe him when he absolutly needs it.

 

[Sabriel]

If he just gets hay stuck up his butt you can use a Q-Tip and some mineral oil to clean out his sac. You don't need to flip him over. I just put Kero on a towel on top of the toilet and clean away. He stays pretty still. I just get those "Mom, quit poking my butt" looks.

You can also clean his backside without flipping him over. Just put him in the bathtub on a towel and get his butt wet using a cup. Then lather, rinse, repeat.

 

[Slap Maxwell]

That is what I do too- no need to flip them over. I clean Simon's sac about once every two weeks. Is that too much/too little?

 

[Sabriel]

I just clean it when it looks like it need it. About once a week. Kero seems to get very distraught when he loses hair and trys to save it.

He also seems to like to barber anything. Me, the cats, his stuffed animal. My husband didn't take it well when he tried barber and hump him. Though I feel for Kero. My husband's hair is longr then mine. I want to cut it and steal it too.

 

[TurboPiggy]

Well he got his partial bath. His belly was sooooo disgusting. The water turned brown instantly. I didn't get the rest of him wet as much as possible. Then we went to the bathroom for a blow dry. You thought he was a fluffball before...I should have taken a picture.

 

[Myspoiltpiggies]

Guinea pigs get dry skin if bathed too much.. so I have been told anyhow!

 

[Ly&Pigs]

My suggestion is that if your pigs fur on the belly is long, trim it down and also trim the hair short around the butt area. If you need to wash the belly area, do it with a warm wash cloth and no soap and towel dry before putting Scooter back into the cage. I would not wash his belly more than once or twice a week as his skin could get dried out.