Teddy pigs with dry skin

[Stephanie 784]

What to you guys do for teddies that have really dry skin my girls get bathed every 8-12 weeks depending on need but since they have turned four there skin is very dry and itchy. What can I put on them or products can I use to help them out. I also just got a male that was left on the back side of a gas station in the freezing cold and has cracked skin and frost bite on his ears. I’m treating him with cream I got from the vet but it’s just not working well? Thanks

 

[Betsy]

Well done for taking on that poor boy. Has he been vet checked yet? How long have you had him? Is he in his own until you can get him neutered and after the 6 week wait see if your girls will accept him?

 

[Merab]

Well done for taking on the abandoned boy.
He’s landed on his paws in getting such a caring owner.

Regarding the teddies - can I ask why you need to bathe the them?
I have a teddy who is nearly 5 and has never needed bathing as she keeps herself clean, unlike my long haired girl whose bum fur needs constant trimming and cleaning.

It may be that the bathing is causing the dry skin.

However - I am not a health expert so hopefully one of the experts can give better advice.

Such a cute piggy in the photo - is that your rescue?

 

[alpacasqueak]

How gorgeous Hope your new little boy is settling in well, hope you can help him with his ears.
I agree that it could be all the bathing, not a health expert either, but I’ve had my Jess nearly 7 years and I think she’s had 3 bum baths in all that time!

 

[xToNix]

I don’t bathe mine all that often either but have some calendula lotion from Gorgeous Guineas which is meant to be a good moisturiser. They also recommend using the Aloe Melt before shampooing with Kind n Gentle Shampoo. The Melt puts nourishment back into the skin and can be used once a week for 2 or 3 weeks initially (quoted by Gorgeous Guineas). But really they don’t need bathing very much at all.

 

[Eriathwen]

Once you've ruled out a health issue via the vet, I swear by Gorgeous Guineas Manuka and neem shampoo and the coconeem melt. These are great for curly coated breeds with skin dryness, my most recent rescue texel has awful skin from years of neglect and malnutrition bit these products removed pretty much all the itchy dry skin and really softened her hair. I use a little perfect paws ointment for her feet and ears too as they also get a bit dry.

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

I do find teddies prone to dry skin and the worst thing you can do is keep bathing them, as that dries out the natural oils in the skin. Definitely worth getting the vet to take a look first though and make sure the vet gives him a full check over and not just look at the skin. Our piggy, Freddie, had what appeared to be dry skin and thinning hair and despite full treatment for mites it never improved.
Then, when he went for a pre op check when he was being neutered, an internal abscess was detected. He had surgery to drain the abscess and over a month of antibiotics and has made a full recovery. Since the surgery the skin has improved and his hair has grown back lovely! We now wonder if it was a pain issue causing the problem and maybe he was overgrooming that area!

 

[Stephanie 784]

Well done for taking on the abandoned boy.
He’s landed on his paws in getting such a caring owner.

Regarding the teddies - can I ask why you need to bathe the them?
I have a teddy who is nearly 5 and has never needed bathing as she keeps herself clean, unlike my long haired girl whose bum fur needs constant trimming and cleaning.

It may be that the bathing is causing the dry skin.

However - I am not a health expert so hopefully one of the experts can give better advice.

Such a cute piggy in the photo - is that your rescue?

I have to wash them they get really dry skin if I don’t and they get crusty around there butts. Those are my girls in the photos

 

[Stephanie 784]

I do find teddies prone to dry skin and the worst thing you can do is keep bathing them, as that dries out the natural oils in the skin. Definitely worth getting the vet to take a look first though and make sure the vet gives him a full check over and not just look at the skin. Our piggy, Freddie, had what appeared to be dry skin and thinning hair and despite full treatment for mites it never improved.
Then, when he went for a pre op check when he was being neutered, an internal abscess was detected. He had surgery to drain the abscess and over a month of antibiotics and has made a full recovery. Since the surgery the skin has improved and his hair has grown back lovely! We now wonder if it was a pain issue causing the problem and maybe he was overgrooming that area!

Good to know thanks. they have seen the vet she didn’t find anything. But they do turn a gross yellow color and get supper flakey if I don’t bath them and it is about every 10 weeks they get like that give or take a week or two! After I bath them they are good for weeks so I’m just not sure I’m going to try the gorgeous Guineas stuff and see if that helps.