bathing a potbellied pig

Question
We have a 4 month old potbellied pig that absolutely hates baths!! I have tried floating lettuce and other vegetables in the water, she is fine until you actually go to washing her. Then she starts screaming and jumping trying to get out of the tub. I stop and give her a min to calm down and then start again slowly but within no time she is back to screaming and jumping making it impossible to clean her properly, and I am afraid she will get hurt. Can you please give me some advice and tips on bathing her, how often should she get bathed etc...when there is no bath involved she is very sweet natured and loving loves to be scratched rubbed etc. Thanks in advance for the help.

Answer
Pigs living in the house need to stay clean. Aside from that, pigs don't need baths. Adult pigs have thick, dry skin and no sweat glands. They like to roll in mud or swim in pools to stay cool. Pigs in the wild often go potty in streams and ponds, so predators can not track them by the smell.

Sponge baths or showers work well for most house pigs. But, be ready, some pigs go potty as soon as their feet get wet. It's a natural instinct. If your pig does this, the first step is to desensitize her to wet feet by wiping her feet with a wet cloth or sponge, let her potty, then wipe her feet again. Wipe her feet when she gets up in the morning, after she potties, before nap time, etc. Pretty soon she'll get used to it.

Then get her used to being in the tub or shower stall by feeding her there, and taking her in at least once a day. At first don't try to wash her or anything. The second or third time start wiping her feet before she goes in and after she comes out. Finally try wiping her feet while she's in the tub. When you can do that with her, she's ready for the next step.

Get a bucket of warm (not hot) water and a soft cloth or sponge ready. Put piggy in the tub or shower stall, and distract her with grapes or cut up apple. Starting with her feet and working up, wash her with the cloth, rinsing it frequently in the warm water. Avoid getting water in her ears and avoid her face altogether. Clean the face after the bath with a warm damp cloth.

Plain warm water is fine. If you feel soap is necessary, any shampoo for human infants will work. Heartland Animal Health healthypigs.easystorecreator.com carries shampoos and lotions specifically for pot-bellied pigs. Put the soap in one bucket, rinse water in a second bucket with a fresh sponge or cloth. Again, watch out for the ears and avoid the face.

If you have one of those hand held shower heads in your shower, you can try using the gentlest spray at room temperature or just slightly warm to rinse piggy off. Some piggies enjoy the sensation of a shower, other pigs hate it.

After the bath, give piggy a good rub down with any good lotion. Cornhuskers and Udder Cream are two inexpensive, non-greasy, readily available brands. This is a good time to clean the eyes with a tissue, and wipe the face with a warm damp cloth.