How Often To Bath?

[guineapigz]

Hi everyone!
How often should you bath a Guinea Pig?
I bathed them for the first time today and Tincker loved it, where as Stincker wanted to get out.
Thanks!

[PigPog]

Most people give them a bath when they start to smell. Others do it once a fortnight, once every three weeks or once a month. Bathing too often can actually cause skin problems, especially in the Swiss breed where the skin is quite sensitive. Boars should also have their grease gland (above their bottoms) done regularly to stop the grease caking on. You can use either washing up liquid or Swarfega to loosen the caked grease before washing thoroughly with clean water.

Have a look at my bathing page.

[guineapigz]

Thanks for that!

[Tanya's Tribbles]

Jul 29, 2008 19:15:16 GMT PigPog said:

Most people give them a bath when they start to smell. Others do it once a fortnight, once every three weeks or once a month. Bathing too often can actually cause skin problems, especially in the Swiss breed where the skin is quite sensitive. Boars should also have their grease gland (above their bottoms) done regularly to stop the grease caking on. You can use either washing up liquid or Swarfega to loosen the caked grease before washing thoroughly with clean water.

Have a look at my bathing page.

I'm with you on this one kate.
Tanya

[piggiesgalorehere]

Ya I don't bath often...as I have also heard that it causes there skin to dry and all that. But I do it once in a great moon. Usually if they are boys I do it a little more often because it can get yucky/sticky in the back and such.

[guineapigz]

Ok. So does once every two months sound fine?

[eppingstrider]

Sounds good to me. Mine get bathed roughly every three months. I decide partly on the feel of their coats - but brushing once a week (mine are smooth coated) does make a lot of difference too. I've been wanting to do them for the last couple of weeks because I think they'd enjoy it in this hot weather, but I dont want to give Georgie a hard time with all his other troubles at the moment. (They weren't too keen last time I did it! )

[guineapigz]

Thanks, so mine have their next bath in a few months
I only have 2 so that should not be too hard work!

[PigPog]

I always bath all new pigs I bring home. Some of them have fur that actually feels greasy or slightly gritty and I like to get that cleaned for them as soon as they come home with me.

Once every two months sounds fine to me.

Pigs generally keep themselves very clean as they don't enjoy feeling dirty. They spend a lot of time preening and washing - the white liquid that comes out of their eyes when they wash is actually a cleaning fluid that they brush over their coat. Next time you see one washing, watch them wipe their paws over their eyes to collect the fluid and then over their coat to clean it.

[guineapigz]

Yeah, I've seen 'em do that alot!
This is my question:
Does bathing your Guinea Pig help them like you alot more?
Cus ever since I gave 'em a bath they have been lettin' me hold them and all sorts. Stuff they used to avoid...

[eppingstrider]

Jul 30, 2008 15:19:39 GMT PigPog said:

They spend a lot of time preening and washing - the white liquid that comes out of their eyes when they wash is actually a cleaning fluid that they brush over their coat. Next time you see one washing, watch them wipe their paws over their eyes to collect the fluid and then over their coat to clean it.

I didnt realise that! I just thought they spent a lot of time on their faces! You are a mine of information.

[guineapigz]

That is an interesting fact!