Depressed after bath time :-(

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pawsup

pawsup

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Bathed my piggies for the first time today.
It was advised when I adopted them because of suspected skin problems. I had my doubts as they scratch occasionally but not excessively and their skin and coat look lovely. but I am not a expert so I brought the products (coco neem melt and Makuna and neem shampoo) as instructed and went ahead with it!

I think it's safe to say we all HATED the experience!
I did not enjoy making them so afraid and they were terrified and shaking!

Tango seemed to quite enjoy a little bit of hair drying though (bless him) Lacey didn't like it so I just towel dried her as best I could.

Now I am worried about Lacey! She is very lethargic and sitting all hunched up she keeps shutting her eyes like she can't keep them open :-(

Is this post bath depression? and is it normal?
 
Hi,

Piggies generally don't enjoy bathtime so this is nothing unusual so don't be worried about that. Our piggies generally get washed every three to four months max. They still don't really enjoy it but it is less of a drama each time. Excessive washing is not advised for a lot of reasons...

That's part one. Don't be worried that they didn't enjoy the experience as bathing can be quite traumatic.

Secondly, if they are still a little upset after the whole event, they may be a little traumatised and you just need to give them time to come round. What you really need to do though is make absolutely sure that they're dry - a wet tummy or a wet anywhere is very dnagerous.

Finally - you didn't wash their heads/faces did you? The head is the only part of the piggy you can't wash/get wet. If not, I'm sure they're just a little traumatised but will cheer up in their own time :)
 
It may take a couple of days until you are forgiven, but there is nothing wrong with them, apart from too much adrenalin and the aftereffects of that!

While a few piggies enjoy a bath, the majority doesn't, so only do it when necessary, like for medical treatment or if they are very dirty. Some breeds and longhair piggies pick up dirt more quickly than others.

Bathing is like so much a matter of practice and experience. You will eventually find your own way of doing it as quickly and as stress free as possible. While your piggies won;t enjoy the experience, they will get more used to the routine over time.

I always give mine some grass to munch on while they have to soak and another treat afterwards.
 
How warm is your house? I'd definitely make sure that she's somewhere very warm and maybe even put the heating on or use a portable heater. In cooler weather it doesn't take much for piggies to get a bit chilled even after a regular bath, but as the GG melts require piggy to sit for 20 mins or so, while the melts soak in, it's even more vital to make sure that she's kept very warm, especially if she's long-haired.
 
I didn't get her head very wet. I just used a damp flannel and some of the soap from her body to give her face a bit of a wash.

I think she is warm enough. It's a sunny day and the room they are in gets very warm in the afternoons. I would usually open the window but have not done today so they get warm and dry. She was very wet however! I didn't realise they took so long to dry!

I hope she is just exhausted from the stress of the whole experience! She has been eating (which doesn't mean much when it comes to pigs) but I think it's a good sign!

The most telling time will be when I take their veggies up later. She usually goes crazy when I take them in!
 
Sounds like they're having a bit of a sulk - perfectly normal, a treat might help perk them up. Yes, they do take AGES to dry. We always whack up the heating and give them all a thorough going over with the hairdryer and I still think they feel a bit damp hours later so make sure you keep the house nice and warm for the rest of the evening even if it means you're walking around in shorts and t-shirt! :)) ;)
 
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