Dry skin on a skinny pig

[Emmamarie123]

Hi everyone, (me again sorry for all the questions)
Branston the skinny pig had some dry skin on his back so I applied some coconut oil and noticed bits of black flaking off and the pad going browny/black. Is this normal? Or should I be doing coconut oil more or less often?

 

[Wiebke]

I am linking in some experienced skinny owners for you:
@Jaycey @helen105281

 

[Emmamarie123]

Thank you

 

[VickiA]

@Flutterby also keeps skinnies

 

[Flutterby]

It could just be a general dirt build up. When this happens with my skinnies I give them a good bath and dry and see how they are afterwards. If he does have some dry skin it would be worth a trip to the vets just to make sure there is nothing fungal in origin going on.

 

[PigglePuggle]

We have a skinny pig and luckily so far she has lovely skin, but our vet isnt a fan of coconut oil at all, they think it takes off too many natural skin oils. Gorgeous guineas do a skinny pig moisturising cream with calendula which I've never needed to use but I bought anyway, no idea if its any good but generally all our vets seem to think milder moisturisers and creams specially formulated for piggies are probably better than overly greasy things that dont soak in and strip the natural skin oils. As I say we havent had a skinny pig skin problem yet, but we do have an older floofy lady with dry flaky skin, and the vet consensus seemed to be to just keep the skin clean then use less greasy creams and lotions rather than oils.

 

[Flutterby]

I agree definitely with not smothering their skin with things they dont need. Unless they have a problem then regular moisturising is just asking for more skin problems.

 

[Emmamarie123]

Thanks everyone, so I have kind and gentle shampoo by gorgeous Guineas but at the moment I am just using a little coconut oil. I assume that the stuff (on the pad) does not to come off and I am not doing more harm than good by removing it?

 

[Dindypig]

I've noticed that Skinnies aren't as adept at grooming as hairy pigs. Their skin tends to get grubby and the ocasional bath or wash down is needed to remove the built up dirt and dead skin cells. The dark stuff on your pads @Emmamarie123 is dirt and dead skin cells. Dark Skinnies tend to get a little scally on their back end and the light ones start to lose their baby pink colour.

 

[rhymer]

I've never had a skinny pig but did have a naked dumbo rat for several years. She was pretty much the same and needed a little bathe every so often.xx

 

[Flutterby]

I'd lay off the coconut oil and just give a good gentle bath when they get grubby, that is what I do.