Dustbath Questions

[mojito]

Hey everyone! I'm new here on the site so I'll tell you a little about myself. For Christmas my boyfriend and I bought our first new baby, Dexter. We got him at 3 months and we have bonded super well so far. I live in South Carolina (in Columbia, the heart of SC) where it's a bit humid during warm seasons (not too bad right now though), and sometimes I let the window open (I check the humidity first) to cool down my room. I give him a dustbath every Monday and Thursday. My first question is, how often do you give your chins a bath? I was told once a week at first, but for where I live about everyday so I'm not sure. His fur seems clean and healthy but I know long term issues can arise if you aren't careful.

My second question is, Dexter has been peekng in his dustbath within 3 minutes of me putting it down for him to climb in. It's been like that for the past 5 dustbaths in a row. Before he didn't do that. I tried washing out the bathhouse with soap and water, now I'm about to bleach it. Is there any way to fix this?

Thanks for the help

[chinclub]

You can give the dust bath 3 times a week if you want to.  You just don't want to do it every day because it will dry out his skin.  Are you dusting him during the day or at night?  If its during the day I'm wondering if he is sort of sleeping and the waking up and getting moving has him peeing as soon as he is in the dust. Maybe dusting at night once he is up an active would help.    Is his cage wire bottom or is he right in the shavings?  If he is on a wire he might be associating the dust with bedding and is wetting for that reason.  If he is on wire you might try a pan of shavings in his cage. 

[mojito]

I'm dusting him in the evening or at night. His cage has shavings, and he pees always in the same general area. His play area is in the bathroom, where he has a small towel he always pees on too, which is why I don't understand why he keeps peeing in the dustbath too. I will try a pan and let you know how he does, thank you!

[jmdebb]

youo can also try to wait a bit before he gets his bath, like let him run around for awhile and after you notice he goes, then give him his dustbath

[mojito]

I haven't even thought of that!! I will try both things tonight! He got a new tube that he pees in once, but after cleaning it out and not letting him in it for a while he hasn't done it since! Let's hope the same is for the dustbath:)

[judyg]

Are chins suppose to pee in one spot? When I had my old cage he peed in one corner. I received a new cage for christmas and I noticed he started peeing in different spots...Is this normal? I got concerned today when I pulled out some of his hay (the stuff he discards on the floor) and found he peed only because that is where his food and water are...

[mojito]

I have been putting Dexter in an open bowl/pan I found and he's not peed in it since! Thanks for all the great advice!:)

And Judy- my chin has always peed in one general area, but I have heard they don't always. There are litterboxes for chins that will help show them where to use the bathroom, or you can try putting some of the soiled bedding in the area you want them to go (that's basically what the litter box does as well) hope this helps!

[jmdebb]