Bathing

[Bear]

I have never given Penelope a bath because she does not smell and has not had any skin issues. I always figured that they were like cats and groomed themselves. I saw a You Tube video where a guy was bathing his squirrel and it just didn't look right. I know chinchillas bath in dirt what do squirrels do?

Bear :thinking

[pappy1264]

They groom themselves, they do not need baths (but if they get something sticky on them, you can use baby wipes or even the bathroom wipes meant to use after potty, just be sure to dry them very good after.)

[JakesLittlePrincess]

Agreed, bathing is traumatizing, use wipes or warm cloth. We use a non dusty reptile bedding for our guys. They love to bathe in it. Chinchilla dust I was told is bad for them too. of course you could use regular dirt that you baked to get rid of the nastiness too. They love to flop around in it and it gets everywhere but it is fun to watch them.

[Rhapsody]

It depends on what the bath was for....... many of us long time rahabbers have to give baths to squirrels (with dawn dish soap) when they get a bad case of fleas or mites, but are to young to be treated with Revolution..... a squirrel should be at least 8 weeks of age before they are treated with kitten Revolution (one drop).

(ex) Mange / Mite Bath:
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27151&page=2&highlight=mange+mites

[2ndHandRanchRescue]

Yea - I saw that too. I only give baths like the others - for babies with Dawn when they come in for fleas/mites (sometimes the smell is horrid and sickly) For my NRs in the house - never a bath. I've had folks bring me coonies and squirrels that they bathed nightly - and the oils were so messed up. My current over winter coonie was bathed so much that he was matted - so I guess next spring I'll have to sedate and shave????? oh goodness.

[Sweet Simon's Mommy]

Well....... then there are people like me who are the bathing queens:D
If they pee on themselves because they cant help it from an injury, then you must bath........and often and yes they hate it. If you don't they will get urine blisters on their little delicate skin.:shakehead
I have wiped and or dunked my poor little guy since we got him, now over 3 months.
I use Johnson's baby head-to-toe wash, sometimes nothing just water, depends on how bad he is, he can go 2 or 3 days now, he is getting better.

[2ndHandRanchRescue]

oh yes, its very important on our injured babies - the urine burns are so bad. And of course if these NR are living in our house - they need to not be stinky! I know when Bear came in he smelled like road kill - its was bad. bath made the world of difference - got the muck & blood off his poor battered body.