Hi! I have two questions:
1. My piggies have been itching themselves quite a lot lately (maybe 4-5x per hour)? Are there other signs/symptoms of mites or fleas that I should look out for?
2. Should I bathe my piggies? I have not bathed them since I adopted them 1 year ago. I have heard mixed things about bathing - some say that piggies can clean themselves, and bathing only serves to scare them and irritate their skin. Others say it can be a nice, calm bonding experience and cleansing if you use the right, gentle shampoo. If I should bathe them, do you have any products to recommend? (obviously, all natural, no irritating chemicals, etc.)
Hi! Please have your guinea pigs vet checked, so they get the appropriate treatment and do not treat on spec with cheap low dosed broad spectrum shop products - they won't solve the problem, prolong your piggies discomfort and will cost you more in the end as the condition will be much more advanced when you finally take them to a vet.
It is likely either a skin parasite (and, no, guinea pigs do not have species specific fleas; but mites are invisible to the naked eye), a fungal skin infection or dry skin in reaction to the drier indoors air when the radiators come on. We cannot diagnose; you need a vet for that, so you can treat with the appropriate product. Please do not give a bath or cream before seeing a vet - for an informed diagnosis, it is the equivalent of wiping a crime scene clean, and your vet will not be pleased at all!
As to bathing: Most guinea pigs only require a bum bath with hand-warm water if their back end is very soiled. Some breeds soil easier than others, and so do some piggies, especially boars. Generally the trend has come away from giving baths unless it is for medical reasons or a guinea pig is visibly filthy and/or not able to clean itself (arthritis etc.)
The vast majority of guinea pigs find bathing very stressful. Always bathe in a bowl on the floor on a preferably wipeable surface (shower, bathtub or kitchen floor) so your guinea pig cannot injure itself badly if it makes a sudden blind jump in order to escape in a panic.
Our bathing guide is several years old and in need of an overhaul re. some recommendations, especially as the pictures from a no longer active member have been deleted by photobucket.
When there is really need for a bath, preferably use products that are specifically formulated for the guinea pig skin ph. UK based Gorgeous Guineas offer a range of shampoos which they are happy to post worldwide and Wee Companions offer guinea pig shampoos in their rescue shop for US wide shipping.
Gorgeous Guineas - Aromatherapy skincare products for guinea pigs
Wee Companions Small Animal Adoption, Inc. - Animal Accessories
The same goes for bonding baths - they are only really needed if you are separating riled up boars after a tussle and are reintroducing on neutral them after a night out to calm down but before they have had a chance of cleaning the excess testosterone from their coats that has come from spraying with testosterone laden pee. In any other case it has proven in our long term experience as not significant for the outcome of the bonding or as in fact counterproductive rather than helpful.
'Buddy baths' are one of these "sure-fire" tips that have NOT stood the test of time, but that sadly still make the rounds online and that you can bet on some helpful person without a lot of personal bonding experience inevitably bringing up whenever bonding is discussed!
