Smelly piggy :(

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CPHill

CPHill

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Hi everyone. I've just picked up mickey to cut his nails but noticed that his tummy was rather damp and he was really quite smelly of wee. I think he needs a bath but I've never bathed him. He's about a year now. Is baby shampoo ok to use? Any tips for first bath welcome too!

He lives with his 3 friends, if I bath one should I bath them all and if so together or separately! I don't want to risk any debonding!

Thanks,Claire x
 
if its just his belly i would just clean it with a damp cloth. i wouldn't bath especially not in the cold weather
 
Thanks - they are indoor piggies so is it ok then?
 
Hi there, I asked so many questions at a rescue I was in and I asked how often can I bathe them. The person told me at once a month was good enough, I then asked how about every week and she said even that if you want.

There are some youtube videos on bathing your guinea pig. Here are some:

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJ7u_zp7BVs[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDZ9oGMwWvc[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gab1FHgG5sA&feature=related[/ame] (she maybe young but her guinea pig looks really calm!)

I don't own a guinea pig just yet so I don't know exactly how it is done but those videos seem helpful and I am sure others will tell you what's right and what's not.

I would say bathe your guinea pig if it smells, then towel dry the guinea pig and from the book I am reading now, it says you can use a hairdryer on low power and brush softly at the same time to help dry the guinea pig. It says you should not put your guinea pig in the cage if it is not dry as it will catch a cold, especially during this cold season. Perhaps putting the heating on will help to keep them warm and dry quicker too?

The book also mentions that if you bathe one guinea pig, you should bathe the other one too as the clean guinea pig will get dirty quicker if it is playing with the dirtier one so better to do them all.

Hope that helps and remember I am not an expert, I am still learning but I hope I have helped you a little :)
 
do not bath your piggy every month or every wekk you strip the oils out of their fur/skin and will cause more problems.

indoors is fine just make sure he is warm, i would still try the damp cloth first.
 
Please check why your pigs belly is wet and smelly.

I.E could he have a bladder problem, infection. Could he be laying in one spot for a particular reason (being unwell or being bullied) Is the bedding/cage otherwise clean?
 
Please keep an eye on piggy

Hi,

Sadly my last piggy, buttons, was put down yesterday. I'm so broken, and it all started from a wet belly and bum.
I dont want to scare you at all, but once you bath him check the next day and if it is wet again take him to the vet. It may be UTI or something. Better safe than sorry, wish I picked it up sooner, I now regret not getting her out more often but we nurtured her the 5 days she had left after it started.

Please please keep an eye on her!!
 
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Thanks ever so much. Just given a little inch deep bath with a tiny bit of baby shampoo and thoroughly dried. Smells much better :)

Will keep an eye on to check there isnt more of an issue going on. Thanks again
 
Just seen other replies too. Thank * so much for the warning and becky I'm so sorry about buttons :(

Micky seems well in all other ways. Bedding is fleece and kept clean. Doesn't seem in any pain when weeing - that would be a main indicator would it for infection?
 
lauralucy said:
do not bath your piggy every month or every wekk you strip the oils out of their fur/skin and will cause more problems.

indoors is fine just make sure he is warm, i would still try the damp cloth first.
Click to expand...

I never knew sorry!

I guess baths are once every 3-4 months then? Or only when they smell.
 
Aww.Keep an eye on your piggie and let us know how he gets on.May just be that he has lay where he has had a wee?.I am hoping to bath George at the weekend,will be his first time.I rescued him a few weeks back.He is an indoor piggie too and its allways nice and warm in my house.Will get hubby to clean out his cage while I am bathing piggie,then it will be all nice,fresh and dry :)
 
What colour is your piggy? Theo has a white belly and although hes perfectly healthy occasionally his belly gets all yellow. Usually hes just been sleeping and not woke up for a wee. Its rare but it happens. I usually just fill the sink an inch or so just enough so that when I put him in its his belly feets and bum that get wet. I give his wee bellly a gentle stroke to get the wee away and then dry off with towel as much as possible, turn up the heating and let him dry off popcorning over fresh veggies :).
I dont use shampoo just some warm water, dunk him in, quick rub and then out, seeing as he hates it so much.
 
Thanks. Micky's belly seems much better today and not so wet like last night. He does whiff off wee a bit though and his bum area is a bit moist, not dry like the others. He is fine in himself though so not too worried. Think I'll keep close eye on him though. X
 
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