Oh No, Think Poopy Bear Needs a Bath!

[alpacasqueak]

My lovely six and a half year old neutered boar Rupert is all white. Recently his botty is looking rather yellow, have done the 'baby wipe baths', rubbed with flannels etc but is not going to shift so think in need of a good bath and a scrub.
What's worrying me is his age, the fact he's a little wobbly on his back legs (when standing up at side of cage etc) and that he's a bladder piggy, really don't want to stress him but think I may have to

My last boars were older too, Reggie had impaction and Sheepy was an alpaca so lots of cleaning involved! Had baths and were a bit more used to it, he's never really needed a bath, has always been a really clean lad. Has his nails done/bits and bobs cleaned and the occasional clean/trim of bum knots but that's about it, is great throughout but think water may freak him a bit!

Just wondering if any tips to make it a smooth process and not upset him too much? Tiny bit of water, soaking him with flannels first etc. Old boy and love him dearly Thanks for any advice

 

[Bill & Ted]

Aw, Rupert is absolutely gorgeous. What a lovely photo of him. My two get the occasional bum bath being mainly white too. Ted sleeps very deeply on his side and sometimes wees in this sleep lol all down his leg. They both also have very waxy grease glands!

I tend to us an old washing up bowl on the floor with an inch of warm water and support their tummy with one hand and shampoo back end. Then rinse off with a jug of warm water. Both don’t mind much but love to scamble onto my chest when finished, I think this means “we are wet and we are now going to soak you”. They will let me blowdry them on a low setting too. The wax is a problem, it’s almost impossible to clear it completely, try to just check that there’s no infection and leave it be most of the time

How Pedro hope he is ok x

 

[alpacasqueak]

He is blooming gorgeous he's a huge cuddler (only the last few years, didn't like much contact before that!) and the most relaxed piggy I've ever had, why I'm a bit scared to get him in water and scare my poor bab!
And yep, likes to do the Ted thing and doesn't care where he pees, even on himself!

Used to do the same with my two old boys with the bathing, hopefully if works for your boys and my past boys without too much trouble (scared about him jumping around with his old bones though!) then will work with him. Will just have to put some chillout music on and do it as quickly and carefully as possible!


He's great with pics
Thought he'd beat his chinchilla brother and have no eyes on the second one

Ped's doing ok though thanks, not much of a change from the other day but wound's getting a bit better each day so will hopefully have some good pics of him soon being a happy chap

 

[Bill & Ted]

Great little Pedro is getting there, and his mate Rupert is an absolute stunner, aw and so happy to be photographed. Hope all goes well with the bum bath, I always worry they might catch a cold, but keep them nice and warm for a few hours. They look so cute peeping out of towels x

 

[Claire W]

Aw he’s beautiful could you just give him a bum bath rather than a whole bath?

 

[alpacasqueak]

Well yeah that's what I was thinking at first but with his back legs being a bit wobbly, I'm sorted of scared to hold him in an uncomfortable position in case I hurt him! I've given him a good clean with flannels and stuff but think he needs a bit of a soak.
Don't want to though really, if I can get away with an easier option that's good for both of us!

 

[alpacasqueak]

It's funny I should worry really with all the stuff I've had to put Pedro through recently! Only 2 boys in the house and it's them!
But Rupert went through a lot a couple of years ago with bladder stones and UTIs and thought I'd lose him so quite protective! My special piggy boy xx

 

[Claire W]

Yeah I get what you mean. It’s a tough one as giving him a full bath will still mean him standing on his back legs x

 

[Merab]

I have just finished giving Priscilla her first bum bath as she seemed to have been sleeping in wee.
Jemimah also needed some attention as she had a wet wee patch on her back end.
I put some small animal shampoo in a bowl with tepid water, sat the girls in turn on the table and used cotton wool to wash their bums.
Priscilla wriggled and Jemimah grumbled Nut it seemed to work.
I didn’t like the idea of putting them into the water

 

[alpacasqueak]

I wonder if I could roll a towel up at the side of bowl and have him sort of rest on it to have a soak? On his back end, to make it a bit easier on him if he's got something to lean on?
And obv make sure he doesn't try and escape! Doubt it with him, he's an angel bless him x

 

[alpacasqueak]

I have just finished giving Priscilla her first bum bath as she seemed to have been sleeping in wee.
Jemimah also needed some attention as she had a wet wee patch on her back end.
I put some small animal shampoo in a bowl with tepid water, sat the girls in turn on the table and used cotton wool to wash their bums.
Priscilla wriggled and Jemimah grumbled Nut it seemed to work.
I didn’t like the idea of putting them into the water

Yeah I haven't had to bathe any beasties in a while, well Pedro's eye socket but that's slightly different!

With him being an older boy I just don't want to have both male rodents in the house hating me! And sore!

 

[PigglePuggle]

I've only bathed Jezzy floof once when we first got her, she liked the bath bit but it took 2 days for all her floofy under layers to dry properly! She's got rather stinky yellow wee pants now because she likes to sleep lying down in the hay/toilet tray but its too cold and drafty in my house to have a soggy floofy pig in January, I"ll give her a spring clean once the weather warms up...

 

[Seven7]

My long haired Finn needs bum baths every 4 months or so. He has had his bum bath last Thanksgiving so he looked decent for the Advent Calendar photoshoot.
I am actually waiting for the weather to warm up a bit so I can give him a bum bath. I don't want him catching a cold from a bum bath even though he is an indoor piggy.

Here is Finn after a bum bath and a haircut last Thanksgiving. His haircut is a hit or miss because he complains a lot.

 

[Swissgreys]

I have only done a few bum baths in my time, but something I find helps them relax is putting a flannel or microfiber cleaning cloth on the bottom of the container, and then adding a couple of inches of warm water.
I think they feel more secure standing on something that is a bit grippy rather than a slippery sink or wash basin.
Good luck - he looks like such a sweet boy, and I have a huge soft spot for the old ones.

 

[alpacasqueak]

Thanks @Swissgreys, will definitely do that to help him stay a bit more stable!
I love oldies

 

[GPTV]

Must admit I've done a few bum baths in my time.

I usually try &get a little organised before Guinea has any idea of my plans...

get fluffy, absorbant towels &place on radiator to warm- ready to grab quickly after the deed is done!

Hairdryer prepared to grab on lowest speed & heat level on table with brush or comb.

Dustbin for loose hairs/poops to be dropped in easily.

Bribing veggie tray on table in readiness

Run some tepid warm water into sink (approx 1.5inches deep), adding a little shampoo & sploshing around to make a few bubbles
Fill a jug with clean tepid warm water to rinse with & Place in easy reach of sink.

Change into a T-shirt that I don't mind getting drenched (in)!

Then check water temperature again-not too hot!

Catch piggy.... Always a fun bit!
I always hold my guineas against my chest & they stand on my forearm, facing the crook of my arm, which means I can cup their botty in my hand with her back feet resting on my fingers, so supporting them & they don't slip or slide on the sink when lowered into it.

With my other hand I cup water into it & wash just the botty end of hair... At this point a very wet, very speedy, very annoyed Guinea tries to sprint up up my arm & snuggle her wetness into my neck

Normality resumes for just long enough to pour prepared jug of rinsing water on wet suddy botty, sometimes a freshly run (tepid warm) sink of rinsing water is needed if I've been a little too generous with the shampoo!

Then a firm stroke & squeeze of botty hair to remove excess water, whisking her away to the table grabbing warmed towel on route!
Place piggy in warmed towel & floof her up.

If they don't mind the hairdryer I put it on the lowest speed & warm setting placing hairdryer on table about 12-15 inches away pointing towards soggy botty & brush or comb hair gently to untangle & dry it.

If you keep your hand generally between piggy botty & hair dryer most of the heat will go on your hands/fingers & won't get too hot for a sensitive piggy botty.

My old girl Grace hated baths but Loved being blow dried... Especially if a piggy salon snack was provided!

When piggy is thoroughly dry place back in piggy home

Then spend the next 2hrs cleaning up... Taking piggy poop out of the sink, off the floor unblocking the plughole of piggy hair, etc.
Drying off soaking wet t-shirt & replacing sopping wet bra that looks rather worse for wear!

Well that's how I do it... Although I'm sure there must be easier ways! Lol!
A full bath is always far more challenging!

Good luck

 

[Betsy]

Must admit I've done a few bum baths in my time.

I usually try &get a little organised before Guinea has any idea of my plans...

get fluffy, absorbant towels &place on radiator to warm- ready to grab quickly after the deed is done!

Hairdryer prepared to grab on lowest speed & heat level on table with brush or comb.

Dustbin for loose hairs/poops to be dropped in easily.

Bribing veggie tray on table in readiness

Run some tepid warm water into sink (approx 1.5inches deep), adding a little shampoo & sploshing around to make a few bubbles
Fill a jug with clean tepid warm water to rinse with & Place in easy reach of sink.

Change into a T-shirt that I don't mind getting drenched (in)!

Then check water temperature again-not too hot!

Catch piggy.... Always a fun bit!
I always hold my guineas against my chest & they stand on my forearm, facing the crook of my arm, which means I can cup their botty in my hand with her back feet resting on my fingers, so supporting them & they don't slip or slide on the sink when lowered into it.

With my other hand I cup water into it & wash just the botty end of hair... At this point a very wet, very speedy, very annoyed Guinea tries to sprint up up my arm & snuggle her wetness into my neck

Normality resumes for just long enough to pour prepared jug of rinsing water on wet suddy botty, sometimes a freshly run (tepid warm) sink of rinsing water is needed if I've been a little too generous with the shampoo!

Then a firm stroke & squeeze of botty hair to remove excess water, whisking her away to the table grabbing warmed towel on route!
Place piggy in warmed towel & floof her up.

If they don't mind the hairdryer I put it on the lowest speed & warm setting placing hairdryer on table about 12-15 inches away pointing towards soggy botty & brush or comb hair gently to untangle & dry it.

If you keep your hand generally between piggy botty & hair dryer most of the heat will go on your hands/fingers & won't get too hot for a sensitive piggy botty.

My old girl Grace hated baths but Loved being blow dried... Especially if a piggy salon snack was provided!

When piggy is thoroughly dry place back in piggy home

Then spend the next 2hrs cleaning up... Taking piggy poop out of the sink, off the floor unblocking the plughole of piggy hair, etc.
Drying off soaking wet t-shirt & replacing sopping wet bra that looks rather worse for wear!

Well that's how I do it... Although I'm sure there must be easier ways! Lol!
A full bath is always far more challenging!

Good luck

Wow that's so comprehensive! Can we have pictures please?

 

[GPTV]

Wow that's so comprehensive! Can we have pictures please?

I do have some photos on my old mobile but it's not letting me transfer them across - I'll try on my laptop tomorrow... I do have a short blow-dry video but no YouTube account so not sure how I can add it

 

[Betsy]

I do have some photos on my old mobile but it's not letting me transfer them across - I'll try on my laptop tomorrow... I do have a short blow-dry video but no YouTube account so not sure how I can add it

It's easy to make a you tube account. I am completely useless with technology and stuff and even I managed. To work out how to make an account and to upload videos and transfer them over to here without asking one of my sons I might add!

 

[GPTV]

It's easy to make a you tube account. I am completely useless with technology and stuff and even I managed. To work out how to make an account and to upload videos and transfer them over to here without asking one of my sons I might add!

Smartarse
Xx

 

[Reenie]

I occasionally have to bathe my two long haired piggies, and I use the big bath with a couple of inches of warm water. I pit a towel on the bottom so they have a bit of grip. They are both fine with this. I let them walk around the bath under supervision.

 

[GPTV]

@alpacasqueak @Betsy I can't transfer my photos from my old mobile of Grace, but here's a photo of a photo... Dumpling one of my first trio pre & post drying ...



Ahh edit
Some photos taken from my old mobile screen of Grace's blow dry




@Betsy Sorry can't sort attaching video

 

[alpacasqueak]

Thanks @GPTV, great step-to-step guide!
Beautiful piggies, they always look so teeny when they're sloppy wet pigs!

@Reenie I'm thinking the big bath may be a better option with him actually, doesn't have to be too restrained or have sides of bowls to grab on to and attempt an old boy escape! With a towel under wouldn't cause issues slipping around.

Thinking his lady can have one too then and can be have a nice spring clean together! That's hopefully not too stressful!