Can you bathe a guinea pig?

Let’s say right away that bathing a guinea pig should only be done in case of emergency. For example, in the event that, due to indigestion, the wool becomes dirty, or if the animal becomes very dirty and bathing is the only way out.

And although bathing does not have any health hazards for pigs (provided that it is carried out correctly, in compliance with all the recommendations described below), the vast majority of foreign and Russian breeders are unanimous in their opinion – Bathe your guinea pigs only when absolutely necessary!

Guinea pigs are very clean animals, they do an excellent job with hygiene procedures on their own. If order is maintained in the home of the pig, then there is no need to arrange water procedures for the pig.

If there are objective reasons for swimming, then please pay attention to the recommendations of the specialists listed below.

YOU WILL NEED::

• Detergent (can be omitted if the soiling is light) – unscented baby shampoo or special shampoo for guinea pigs or rodents (available at the pet store)
• Basin (can be directly in the sink)
• Towel
• Hairdryer

PROCEDURE:

• Fill the basin with warm water to a height of 2-3 cm from the bottom.
• Submerge the guinea pig in the water, soaking it only as much as necessary.
• Wash the pig carefully, making sure that its head is always above the surface of the water.
• Do not touch the head of the animal when washing!
• Rinse thoroughly.
• At the end of the bath, remove the pig from the water and gently dry with a towel.
• If the temperature in the room is above 20-22°C, it is enough to dry the animal and hold it in a dry towel for a while. If the room is cooler, you need to dry it with a hair dryer (on a cool setting!)

For pigs, bathing is already a stressful situation, and a noisy and loud hair dryer will only add stress, so if you have time, it is better to wrap the pig in a dry towel and warm it with the warmth of your hands. So the animal will calm down much faster.

This recommendation is not suitable for long haired gilts. This is exactly the case when you can not do without a hair dryer.

Only a completely dry pig can be released into the cage in order to avoid colds and re-contamination. A freshly bathed guinea pig is especially sensitive to drafts and cold, and is susceptible to colds, so dry the pig thoroughly.

A LITTLE SECRET: while bathing, keep something tasty nearby to distract the pig (just don’t accidentally pour shampoo on the treat!) The chewing process will distract the pig a little, and you can safely complete hygiene procedures.

A special case is when it is necessary to treat a guinea pig with a special parasite shampoo. Here the procedure will be slightly different.

Wet the pig first. You can pour warm water on top, avoiding the head. The hair on the head will need to be wetted with your fingertips.

Then take the animal out of the water, lay it on your lap on a towel, squeeze some of the shampoo into your hand and gently apply it all over the guinea pig’s body. We also apply the shampoo on the head with our fingertips to avoid getting it into the eyes. Be sure to follow the instructions on the product you are using!

Then rinse the coat several times with warm water and check carefully for shampoo residues.

Dry the pig with a towel or hair dryer.

With a light steam your piggy! 🙂