help!!!!!

Question
hello i got a male guinea pig for a v-day gift last month and about a week after haveing him home he started scratching and biteing himself i called the place where i got him and they told me to bring him back and they will look at him so i did and they said they couldnt find anything but dry skin so they told me to put vegetable oil on a carrot and give it to the gp but he is still scratching and biteing himself and i have heard u can give gps a bath using kitten shampoo so should i do that or not plz help. thanx

Answer
Crystal -

Well, my question for you is this - do you feel that the place where you got this animal is qualified to diagnose and treat the animal?  Really, the only place that should be doing that is a veterinary clinic or perhaps a REALLY experienced breeder (if its a minor medical issue - anything more serious should ONLY be a vet).  I would recommend that if you have a question about the guinea pig's health in the future, that you find a reputable vet and take him there.  (For more information about how to find one, see www.guinealynx.info - its a great site with lots of helpful information on vet selection and medical information)

Incidentally, I recommend that if you do give your guinea pig a bath, to just use baby shampoo.  I know some breeders that use kitten shampoo, but baby shampoo has always worked well for me.  Just be careful to dry them EXTREMELY thoroughly to prevent illness.

Hope this is helpful.  If you have any more questions, please feel free to contact me again.  Good luck!

Lorena