Salt

Question
One of my piggy's likes to lick me I was told to get them a salt lick. Do piggy's need these?

Answer
Hello Carol,

No, salt and/or mineral licks/wheels are actually not good for piggies. They through off the piggies' mineral balance. It also may not be the reason they are licking you. If I wash the salt off my hands before handling them they still lick me. I also have several who will lick only me and no one else. This may very well just be something they do because they love you. Alot of animals groom each other to show affection or submissiveness which often involves licking. It MAY be because of the salt, but the "they love you" thing sounds nicer (and often seems much closer to the truth).

-kkat
http://www.geocities.com/abyssinianguineapigs