Itchy Piggies

[Dilly's Piggies]

I've had very itchy piggies for a long time but no cause is known, they've all been skin tested and examined at the vet and nothing has ever shown up. They have oxbow hay and live on fleece which is washed in ecover zero powder. Really not sure why they are so itchy, there is not even dry skin in the itchy areas.

As I have 8 pigs it's really hard to bathe all of them every 4-6 weeks like gorgeous guineas recommend, they get a bath once every 6 months ish. Could this be the cause of their itching, they need to be bathed more? Could it be a food allergy? (They eat oxbow adult pellets)

 

[Wiebke]

I've had very itchy piggies for a long time but no cause is known, they've all been skin tested and examined at the vet and nothing has ever shown up. They have oxbow hay and live on fleece which is washed in ecover zero powder. Really not sure why they are so itchy, there is not even dry skin in the itchy areas.

As I have 8 pigs it's really hard to bathe all of them every 4-6 weeks like gorgeous guineas recommend, they get a bath once every 6 months ish. Could this be the cause of their itching, they need to be bathed more? Could it be a food allergy? (They eat oxbow adult pellets)

Overbathing can make things worse rather than better. The stance on bathing has changes a lot in the last few years and it is no longer recommended to bathe frequently unless it is a specific medical course (which yours isn't) or because a piggy is really mucky.

 

[Dilly's Piggies]

Overbathing can make things worse rather than better. The stance on bathing has changes a lot in the last few years and it is no longer recommended to bathe frequently unless it is a specific medical course (which yours isn't) or because a piggy is really mucky.

Why does gorgeous guineas recommend it?

 

[Wiebke]

Why does gorgeous guineas recommend it?

Gorgeous guineas run a business after all and have done so for over a decade.

If you feel happy with following their advice then please do so. Personally I have become rather wary of using stuff on spec.

Have you tried for some steaming water in the room to see whether more humid air makes a difference?

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

You could always try them on a grain free food and see if that helps? If my cat has wheat products she itches a lot and has even lost hair.

Wheat products are a common cause of allergies/skin problems among animals, and even humans! I've made all my animals wheat free and even grain free now. I swear by it

 

[Wheekallweek]

You could always try them on a grain free food and see if that helps? If my cat has wheat products she itches a lot and has even lost hair.

Wheat products are a common cause of allergies/skin problems among animals, and even humans! I've made all my animals wheat free and even grain free now. I swear by it

We had a guinea pig at the rescue called Tina who used to get terribly bloated for no reason, we switched her into Rosewood grain free food and she was fine after that!

I’d definitely recommend trying grain free food

 

[Swissgreys]

We have had our four piggies for well over 18 months, and in that time only one of then has ever had a bath (and even then it was only a bum bath).

What I would say is if you feel they are itchy it might be worth considering a course of Xeno.
When Eddi had mites he had multiple skin scrapings and tests and nothing ever showed up, but he was clearly itchy and was much, much better after a course of Xeno (3 treatments, 8 days apart).
All piggies were treated at the same time and the general levels of itchiness decreased dramatically.