Q&A for How to Give Your Pig a Bath

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  • Question
    How often do I have to bathe a pig?
    Community Answer
    If it is a pig that you are raising for a 4-H project (for a local fair), it's good to give your pig a bath about once a month so that it gets used to being cleaned for when it goes to the fair (and needs to be cleaned almost daily). If you are raising a pig for meat, it is not necessary to clean your pig. It is good to spray off any pig with water if it is hot, though, because they don't have sweat glands. If you have a potbelly pig that lives in your home, give it a bath about once or twice a month.
  • Question
    How do I play with one?
    Community Answer
    I bought a hamster ball, enlarged the holes slightly, and filled it with piggy pellets. I ended up duct taping it because my pig figured out how to crack it open like an egg. To find it when you get home, look under couches, beds, counters, and other tight spaces; they are smart, they quickly learn to push it in tight spaces to so they don't have to chase it.
  • Question
    How old should the piglet be for the first bath?
    Community Answer
    The piglet can be of any age for the first bath.
  • Question
    When it's time to sleep, can the pig sleep with me, or should it be in the cage? What's best?
    Community Answer
    If your bed is higher off the ground and you have to lift him onto the bed, he should sleep in the kennel. If the pig can easily access the bed, it may sleep with you.
  • Question
    What shampoo should I use?
    Community Answer
    Use a soft shampoo, such as No More Tears, that will not damage your pig's eyes.
  • Question
    Will the Johnson's "Head to Toe" baby shampoo work? I can't find the "No More Tears" shampoo.
    Community Answer
    Yes, the "Head to Toe" shampoo is just as gentle as "No More Tears," they're both baby shampoos.
  • Question
    Is it bad to shower a mini pig every day?
    Community Answer
    Yes, this can dry out their skin, so you only want to bathe them about once a week or when they get really dirty.
  • Question
    Will Mane and Tail shampoo work and not hurt my little piglet's eyes?
    Community Answer
    Use baby shampoo when they are piglets, and when they get older you can use the Mane and Tail shampoo.
  • Question
    Is a dark spot on a piglet's head normal? It won't wash off during a bath.
    Community Answer
    If the skin is dark, the spot is probably just part of his/her markings. If the spot is raised, it could be some sort of scab or an irritated area. You may want your local vet to check it out.
  • Question
    Can I use a bathtub to shower my pig?
    Community Answer
    Pigs prefer the shower or at least the flattest bath in your house because their little hooves slip in the bath. My pig especially is scared when in the bath because he can't swim in place and it is too small to swim around. It also makes it harder to scrub his underside because it may or may not be under water. So, give the shower a try instead.
  • Question
    What do I do if my pig gets scared when bathing it?
    Community Answer
    Try tickling its belly and it might like it and think that every time it goes in the bath, this will happen. You can also try using treats, speaking softly and making sure no other people or pets are around to disturb it.
  • Question
    What do I do if my mini pig doesn't want to take a bath?
    Community Answer
    Drop treats in a trail and the pig should follow. If not, lift up the pig, put it in the bath and then give it treats or belly rubs.
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