• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

scratching and other questions

Status
Not open for further replies.
biscandmatt

biscandmatt

Senior Guinea Pig
Joined
Mar 6, 2009
Messages
6,919
Reaction score
3,018
Points
1,315
Location
manchester
my piggie seems to be scratching a bit. he is always burrowed under hay so could this be making him itchy? i checked him over and can't see anything wrong and i treated him with bugs be gone powder from gorgeous guineas just incase he has mites, as he was nervous when he first arrived here on thursday so could have got mites.

is there anything i can use on him regularly to keep him in good condition? i already have bugs be gone powder from gg and the neem gel. is there anything else you could recommend from there?

what about shampooing etc?

i change all his bedding etc everyday so he is in a clean environment but i want to make sure he is clean and feeling happy etc.

thank you.
 
You could get some gorgous gunieas shampoo I have the just for boars one & quite like it. They only need a bath now and then (when they smell really or if they have a skin irration). They can go months without being bathed. It may help soothe the itching. If you e-mail them at gourgous gunieas they are really helpful and will suggest anything they think may help
 
thanks, i will have a look on gorgeous guineas. i'm a bit worried about stressing him because he has only been here since thursday. i might look for something to put on him to help and bath him when he's more settled. :)p
 
Bathing every 3 months is a good estimate. It keeps the skin healthy and clean (and, in my experience, in better condition than not bathing at all), but bathing too often (more than once a month) can have the opposite effect and can actually dry the skin out. Gorgeous Guineas are the most popular shampoos, and the ones I trust in the most for routine bathing.
 
CCC4 said:
Bathing every 3 months is a good estimate. It keeps the skin healthy and clean (and, in my experience, in better condition than not bathing at all), but bathing too often (more than once a month) can have the opposite effect and can actually dry the skin out. Gorgeous Guineas are the most popular shampoos, and the ones I trust in the most for routine bathing.
Click to expand...

ok, i'll bath him every three months then. how long would be sensible to leave him to settle first? also, i read about cleaning the scent gland where the tail would be? how do i do this and how often?
 
Let him settle in for at least a few weeks, until you are confident with handling him.
The grease gland only needs cleaning when bathing, unless it is a particularly active gland, in which case play it by ear - some with very heavily 'greased' glands need it cleaning up weekly. Most are fine with just every few months though. A dab of washing up liquid tends to soften the grease up well; be sure to rinse thoroughly,
 
Some people recommend Swarfega but it is such a strong de-greasing agent I would not use it on a guinea pig. Mild green fairy liquid everytime, 1 drop.!
 
does it have to be fairy liquid, as i only use the asda own brand washing up liquid as fairy test on animals.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top