Moisturiser

[A Guinea Pig]

Do some guinea pigs need to be with moisturised regularly in winter months to keep their skin healthy? I see some people recommending coconut oil, is that accurate?

 

[ScrufflesRules]

I think the coconut oil thing is a bit of a myth personally, and that regularly moisturising a healthy guinea pig will cause their skin more harm than good.
Do you mean outdoor guinea pigs or indoor piggies by the way, and are you specifically referring to hairless ones or all guinea pigs?

 

[Piggies&buns]

 

[Lady Kelly]

I've never used a moisturiser on a piggy and only ever heard it being used on a skinny pig

 

[Lorcan]

Even on skinnies I wouldn't recommend regular coconut oil or other moisturisers, they shouldn't need it.

 

[VickiA]

I have never used moisturiser on a guinea pig. I’ve never kept skinnies, though. If a hairy pig has skin that is dry and/or flaky that would indicate to me that they had an issue that moisturiser wouldn’t help (mites or ringworm etc) that would need vet review and not a home remedy. Two of my past teddies had dry skin. They were thoroughly vet checked and never needed any additional coat care other than regular brushing.

 

[weepweeps]

You can use coconut oil to degrease their grease glands.

 

[A Guinea Pig]

I don’t have any problems with my piggies, I just wondering.

 

[Betsy]

Unfortunately, there's lots of "helpful" advice about piggies that isn't helpful at all.

 

[eileen]

My skinny pigs are well,but one has dry skin she was checked by the exotic vet yesterday.
Suggested I use a small amount of E45 cream on her.
I agree it's not something that should be done without a vet check.