How can you bathe a guinea pig at home: how to wash and how often should you bathe in the water

Soon after buying a new pet, the question often arises of how to wash a guinea pig. Sometimes the animal is purchased at a pet store where the conditions were not ideal, or it has too long hair that is difficult to clean on its own. The owner of fluffy clean fur is much more pleasant to pick up, but before arranging bath procedures for the pig, you should familiarize yourself with the features of this process.

Can you bathe a guinea pig

These decorative rodents are distinguished by cleanliness, constantly washing themselves, carefully monitoring their coat. The sebum of pigs tends to be easily cleaned – the owners often notice that their fluffy pets have almost no smell, or they smell pleasantly like hay. Therefore, it is usually not necessary to additionally bathe guinea pigs in water.

But there are a number of exceptions to this rule, which must be taken into account:

• the density and length of the coat, especially in breeds bred for decorative purposes, often does not allow the animal to fully care for itself;
• wool can get dirty in the juice of fruits and berries, and if the pig is not accustomed to the tray, then in excrement;
• a tight cage or infrequent cleaning will also lead to contamination of the coat.

The accumulation of dirt and sebum leads to the multiplication of harmful microorganisms. This can cause inflammation and irritation of the skin, weaken the immune system, the animal can become seriously ill. Therefore, in all cases when the pet cannot cope with self-care, it is recommended to help him with the help of bathing.

Another reason to take a bath can be the exhausting summer heat. If the temperature is above 25-30 degrees at home, it will be very difficult for the animal in its thick warm coat. In this case, contact with water will bring him relief. Therefore, you can wash the animal or simply wet the coat if a full bath is not required.

IMPORTANT: It must also be remembered that the negative side of washing is a high risk of getting hypothermia. Wet thick wool dries slowly, so the guinea pig can catch a cold.

If you decide to bathe your pet, make sure that the temperature in the room is high enough, at least 18 degrees. It is recommended to carry out bath procedures only in the warm season.

Do guinea pigs like to swim

In nature, guinea pigs often cross streams and other water obstacles in search of food, so the ability to swim is innate in them. The bathing procedure itself will not harm the animal, and the risk of drowning is excluded. But these rodents do not experience much love for water, and perceive contact with it as a stressful situation, often water procedures even cause them to panic.

IMPORTANT: If the pet shows signs of severe anxiety and breaks out while bathing, it is best to stop the procedure.

Sometimes it is not necessary to wash guinea pigs in water – the fur and paws can be cleaned with unscented wet wipes, a cloth soaked in warm soapy water is also suitable. But this less stressful exit is only suitable for short-haired breeds.

Fortunately, not all pigs are afraid of water, often animals show alarm only for the first time, reacting to an unfamiliar situation. Most can be calmed down by stroking and talking softly while bathing. Treating a favorite treat also usually helps the pig to come to terms with the bath procedures. Some pets are very fond of bathing and express their joy about this by purring and whistling.

How often can you bathe a guinea pig

Owners of fluffy decorative rodents often wonder – how many times a month is it right to bathe a pet? This is especially true of long-haired breeds, which are completely dependent on the person in terms of self-care. But to clean long hair, regular brushing is often enough, you can use dry shampoo as needed.

Regular washing is not useful even if the rodent likes to bathe. Water and soapy water dry out the delicate skin of a pig, so frequent bathing can lead to skin diseases. It is recommended to wash the animal no more than once a month in the summer, and once every two to three months in the rest of the year.

How to bathe a guinea pig at home

Bathing guinea pigs should take place in a warm room, well protected from drafts. Usually the bathroom is used for this. Beforehand, it is better to try to accustom the animal to new elements – bring it to the bathroom, let’s look around, open the tap so that it gets used to the sound of water. Accompany such visits with treats and stroking. The washing procedure itself is best done in several stages:

1. Pour enough warm water into a basin or sink. The level should be no higher than 3 cm – so that the pig can calmly stand on the bottom, keeping its muzzle above the surface.
2. If this is the first bath, it is better to put a towel on the bottom of the container – a stable surface on which paws do not slip will reduce the stress of the pig.
   

   

3. The pet must be calmed before the procedure. Contact with water should not be a surprise and stress for him. Therefore, hold him in your arms for a while, stroke his fur, if possible, let him inspect and sniff the prepared bath and shampoo.
4. If you have multiple guinea pigs, only wash them individually so you have full control over the process.
5. Gently place your pet in the water, holding it with your hand and stroking it. You can at this moment offer the animal a tasty piece.
6. Give your pet a few minutes to settle in and make sure nothing bad is happening. If the animal began to look around and move around, you can proceed to the next step.
7. Gently holding the pig, pour water over it until all the fur is wet. Try to avoid getting water in your ears, nose, and eyes – the hair on your head can get wet just by stroking it with wet fingers.
8. Apply a little shampoo to the back of the animal and begin to rub gently, spreading the foam over the torso. You don’t need to wash your head – the pig will wash its face when it cleans itself up after bathing.
   

   

9. Rinse off the shampoo – you can do this by holding the pig under a gentle stream of warm water. Make sure the coat is rinsed thoroughly – dried shampoo residue can irritate sensitive skin.

Simultaneously with water procedures, it is better to clean the sebaceous gland and anal valve.

Anal valve hygiene

The gland is located on the back of the body, after steaming in warm water, it is abundantly smeared with baby cream, and after a few minutes it is wiped with a damp cloth. After that, you can carry out the procedure for washing the wool with shampoo. The anal valve is cleaned only if necessary – if its contamination is noticeable, a specific smell has appeared. To clean, you need to press on the lower abdomen and carefully remove the contents of the pocket with a cotton swab dipped in oil. Then you can continue water procedures.

At what age can you bathe a guinea pig

Washing small guinea pigs under the age of six months is prohibited. Their immune system is still too weak, and their susceptibility to stress is higher than that of adults. Young animals do not tolerate temperature changes, and even a small draft after bathing can lead to a cold and the development of complications.

How to dry guinea pigs after bathing

It is better to dry the wool with a soft towel. Gently lower the animal onto it and rub it with massaging movements until you are sure that most of the moisture from the wool has been removed. Immediately after that, carefully comb the coat so that it does not get tangled and matted.

Sometimes owners choose to blow-dry their pet – this method is very fast, but veterinarians recommend using it only if the temperature in the room drops below 18 degrees. The main danger is that the noise of a hair dryer can scare the pig, and hot air can burn or dry out delicate skin. To use the hair dryer, select the lowest temperature and keep the device at a sufficient distance.

After the pig is dried and combed, you can release it into the cage. Be sure to treat the animal to his favorite treats, then the whole procedure will be associated with pleasant sensations, and the animal will perceive the next bath without anxiety.

Shampoo for guinea pigs

How to wash a guinea pig – this question also often baffles inexperienced owners. Can I wash my guinea pig with regular shampoo or laundry soap? Veterinarians answer in the negative – furry animals have too sensitive skin, on which irritation easily begins. Therefore, the wool of these animals is washed only with a special shampoo, which is quite simple to find. In modern pet stores and veterinary pharmacies, a wide range of different options are presented:

• VEDA – Piggy shampoo based on plant components and glycerin, it qualitatively cleans the coat, making it silky and shiny;
• Agrovetzashchita “Shustrik” — natural zoo shampoo without fragrance and dyes, well suited for sensitive skin of guinea pigs, has a moisturizing and anti-inflammatory effect, facilitates combing hair;
• Api-San Royal Groom – a product based on plant components and vitamins takes care of the problematic skin of rodents, actively moisturizes and nourishes it, has a bactericidal and wound-healing effect, and helps against dandruff;
• Beaphar – hypoallergenic shampoo, ideal for sensitive skin, suitable for regular use.

If there is no special shampoo, but the need for bathing is acute, bathing with baby shampoo or soap is still allowed. It is not recommended to do this all the time, as the wrong product will damage the pet’s skin. But in the case of severely soiled wool, the harm from the lack of washing will be greater.

REFERENCE: Unlike other fluffy rodents – chinchillas, guinea pigs are not bathed in volcanic sand or talc. These animals have a completely different type of coat. Using sand will only make the coat more dirty, dry out and damage the sensitive skin of the pig.

Video: how to bathe a guinea pig at home

How to clean guinea pig ears

Simultaneously with the bathing procedure, you can clean the ears of the guinea pig. Pollution of the auricle in these rodents is common, especially in long-haired breeds. The animal cannot independently clean the ear, closed by long strands, so excess sulfur quickly accumulates in it. Over time, the pet may lose its hearing, and pollution often leads to inflammation of the ear canal. Therefore, when asked whether guinea pigs’ ears need to be cleaned, veterinarians give an affirmative answer.

In order to properly perform the procedure for cleaning the ears, you need to do the following:

1. Carefully inspect the animal’s ear. Sulfur will be immediately noticeable, because in guinea pigs it is the same color as the skin. Therefore, the discharge can be yellow, black or orange, the dried crusts darken.
2. If crusts are not visible, you can clean your ears with chlorhexidine. Moisten a cotton swab or damp cloth and gently wipe the ear.
3. If the pollution is old and crusts are present, you must first drip a special lotion into the ears of the animal. You can buy it at a pet store or veterinary pharmacy.
4. After instillation, massage the ears a little and after a few minutes wipe with a napkin.

If the pet breaks out and squeaks loudly when trying to clean his ears, he may have an ear infection or ear mites. Then it is better to drip the appropriate drops from a veterinary pharmacy – there are drugs of universal action, with anti-mite and anti-inflammatory effects.

To reduce the chance of wax buildup, it is recommended to carefully trim the long strands that block the ears. Also, do not forget about such a hygienic procedure as nail clipping.