Bath fear!

[Dria]

So I used to give Tina baths in the sink....she always gets all restless and freaks out a big when we walk by the sink even if I'm not going to give her a bath...because she hates them so much. Recently before bed I've been making my lunch for work the next day so I bring Tina with me and just set her down on the counter for two seconds while I make a sandwich. Everynight without fail she's been peeing and pooping within seconds of beeing placed down there. I finally caught on last night so I wont' be doing that anymore since it's a nice big pain to clean up!

Do you think it's out of nerves because of her bath fear? I feel so bad for her!

[hemi_mygirl]

It could be... have you tried giving her a bath in the tub instead of the sink? I know Hemi was pretty nervous in the sink and it was a pain everytime I'd try to bath her. When I moved her to the tub, she calmed right down, and will happily splash for as long as I'll let her.

Try letting Tina run around in the bathtub with only about an inch of water, without soap or anything. Just let her play and get used to the water. After a couple days of this, gently pour some water over her back and talk soothingly to her. Eventually, she'll be calm about that, so you can start touching and rubbing her in the bath. Play with her feet, rub her back, and her belly. If she gets nervous, back off a bit.

It'll take time, but eventually, she may get over her fear of it.

[Nancy]

I use a bin for bathtime. It is approximately 16" x 24" x 16" tall. I use one of those bath mats that has the little fingerlike thinks on it that works great for cleaning poopy feet and also gives them a nice firm footing on the bottom. Sometimes they get worried if their feet slip around.

Quillson gets foot baths a couple of times a week or more as he has feet problems. Just getting him out of his cage the night after bath time and he thinks that is where he is headed. :laugh:

[Dria]

Oh yeah I've definitely started using the tub for the past few months and she likes it a lot better for sure. It's just too bad she's been so traumatized that she pees everytime we're near the old bath location :(

[hemi_mygirl]

I use a bin for bathtime. It is approximately 16" x 24" x 16" tall. I use one of those bath mats that has the little fingerlike thinks on it that works great for cleaning poopy feet and also gives them a nice firm footing on the bottom. Sometimes they get worried if their feet slip around.

Quillson gets foot baths a couple of times a week or more as he has feet problems. Just getting him out of his cage the night after bath time and he thinks that is where he is headed. :laugh:
hahah, that's a good idea.. little finger things.. ahah.

[Nancy]

hahah, that's a good idea.. little finger things.. ahah.
I had no clue what to call them. :laugh:

[hemi_mygirl]

You know I'm going to walk myself into the nearest Zellers and ask for bath mats with fingers, right? ahah.

[Nancy]

:p

[hemi_mygirl]

Then I'll post on here about how they laughed at me and "it's all your fault, Nancy, because my feelings are hurt."

:laugh:

[Nancy]

Try going to Walmart, they won't laugh cause that's where I got it from and they knew what I was talking about. :laugh: So there. :p