How Do I Give My Pig A Bath?
Potbellied pigs love to be brushed and rubbed, and they also like water. So after
getting use to being put into a bathtub or shower, bathing should be a fun
experience for both you and your pig. Pigs are naturally very clean animals, with
a tendency towards dry skin. They should not to be bathed with a shampoo more
frequently than once every six weeks because the shampoo can cause their skin
to become too dry. Due to the nature of their dry skin, with less body oils than
other pets like cats and dogs, they normally do not have a body odor, even when
wet. Smelling an odor from your neutered pet pig can usually be attributed to
something in their environment.
Pigs have a natural love of water, but piglets show some concern when the water
is running, noisily I might add from the piglet’s prospective, from the kitchen or
bathroom tap. It is wise to begin familiarizing your piglet with bath time, as
soon it feels secure in your home. The best method is to place a rubber mat in
the bottom of the tub or sink if you pig is still very little. Run a couple of inches
of warm water in the tub. Float a few of your piglet’s favorite treats like
cheerios or lettuce on the water, and put your piglet into the tub. Allow your
piglet time to get acquainted with its new surroundings and at the same time
play or nibble on its floating treats. Then with a small brush or a round ball type
plastic pot scrubber, begin to rub your piglet as it plays in the water. When your
piglet has shown you that this is really a very pleasant experience it time to
apply the water and shampoo. Do not use baby shampoo or dog or cat shampoo.
These types of shampoo can cause your pig’s skin to become too dry. There are
several good choices such as a non-fragrant human shampoo, horse shampoo, or
one formulated especially for potbellied pigs.
Be sure to remove the treats prior to applying the shampoo. After a good
lathering of shampoo and a thorough scrubbing
of the dead skin from your piglet, use a plastic
cup to rinse the shampoo from your pet. Should
the water become very dirty, it is wise to let the
dirty water out and slowly refill the tub with
clean water. Remember in most cases it is the
sound of running water that frightens your piglet.
As the piglet ages and gains more experience with bath time is it possible to use
a spray device that can be attached to faucet of your tub.
Bath time for the older, larger, and more experienced pig is done in a very
similar fashion. Use a rubber mat in the tub so the pig will not slip, apply
shampoo, vigorously rub to get the all the dead skin off, rinse by means of an
attached sprayer and apply a good hair conditioner with a final rinse. Your
concern for the older pig is exactly how the pig gets in and out of the bathtub. If
your pig is too large to be picked up, it is wise to help your pig in by placing its
front legs on the tub’s edge and then lift your pig’s back legs up and over. You
can use the same procedure when helping your pet out. An excellent alternative
to the bathtub for the larger, mature potbellied pig is a walk-in shower or an
outdoor sun heated child’s wading pool.
Remember to wash your pig with soap based on the condition of its skin. Over
bathing with soap can contribute to your pig’s naturally dry skin. It is
recommended that you not apply external oils to your pig; they actually defeat
the good attribute your pig has of not having a body odor. Oils will contribute
to your pig’s skin retaining unwanted dirt and growing more bacteria, that can
cause your pig to smell and to have the need for more frequent bathing and more
dry skin problems.
© Kathleen Myers 2000, All Rights Reserved Worldwide
This is an excerpt from The Complete Guide to the Care and Training of Pet Potbellied Pigs
By Kathleen Myers.
For Ordering Information Go To.
Bath time for the older, larger, and more experienced pig is done in a very
similar fashion. Use a rubber mat in the tub so the pig will not slip, apply
shampoo, vigorously rub to get the all the dead skin off, rinse by means of an
attached sprayer and apply a good hair conditioner with a final rinse. Your
concern for the older pig is exactly how the pig gets in and out of the bathtub. If
your pig is too large to be picked up, it is wise to help your pig in by placing its
front legs on the tub’s edge and then lift your pig’s back legs up and over. You
can use the same procedure when helping your pet out. An excellent alternative
to the bathtub for the larger, mature potbellied pig is a walk-in shower or an
outdoor sun heated child’s wading pool.
Remember to wash your pig with soap based on the condition of its skin. Over
bathing with soap can contribute to your pig’s naturally dry skin. It is
recommended that you not apply external oils to your pig; they actually defeat
the good attribute your pig has of not having a body odor. Oils will contribute
to your pig’s skin retaining unwanted dirt and growing more bacteria, that can
cause your pig to smell and to have the need for more frequent bathing and more
dry skin problems.
By Kathleen Myers.
For Ordering Information Go To.
