Whether guinea pigs stink or not, the reasons for the smell from a rodent

People fascinated by the cute appearance of guinea pigs and wanting to make such a friend at home, begin to be interested in the nuances of their content. And one of the main concerns of future owners is this: do guinea pigs stink or not. After all, a sharp or unpleasant smell emanating from an animal will repel the idea of ​​uXNUMXbuXNUMXbcontent and is simply unacceptable in human housing.

natural animal scent

All living beings, including you and me, have their own natural specific smell. Guinea pigs will not be an exception. But that has nothing to do with stink. A healthy and well-groomed animal smells almost nothing. This is due to nature, in natural conditions, a strong smell will give out a rodent and attract the attention of a predator. In addition, these animals are quite clean and able to independently care for their hair.

Sometimes a pet can see a milky discharge from the corners of the eyes. This is the secret of the garder glands, with the help of which the animal cleans its skin.

Content Hygiene

The smell from guinea pigs and from the cage can be due to the neglect of regular cleaning of the habitat.

Untimely cleaning leads not only to stink, but also to the development of fungal and catarrhal diseases in the pet, the appearance of fly larvae. Subject to cleanliness, the cage should smell like sawdust and fresh hay.

The frequency of cleaning depends on several factors:

• the size of the cage, in a very small pet will have to defecate literally under itself;
• the number of animals contained in it, the more there are, the more often it will be necessary to clean;
• the type of filler used, the degree of moisture absorption and odor binding depends on it.

Cell cleaning

Complete cleaning of the cage should be done about once a week. At the same time, the filler is completely changed, the cage tray, feeders and drinkers are washed. For washing, laundry or baby soap is suitable. A 10% vinegar solution does a good job of removing miasma and urine stains. The use of strong chlorine-based cleaners is not recommended.

A special spray for cleaning cages, which is sold in pet stores, is very convenient. It eliminates the smell of bowel movements and is safe for pets. It is enough to spray the tray with a spray and after a few minutes wipe it with a clean, dry cloth. It is not necessary to wash the pallet after the spray.

Important! Absorbent cat litter made from inorganic materials should not be used, as pigs can eat them and get health problems.

As a filler, medium fraction sawdust without flavorings, shavings, hay, corn or paper filler are suitable. Small sawdust dusts and causes sneezing. Some owners use a reusable PVC mat and fleece pads that are laid on top of the filler. The rug lets moisture through, thanks to which the paws of the animal always remain dry.

You can use paper towels, napkins, toilet paper, but you will have to change them much more often. Another option is absorbent diapers. If a fleece or a PVC mat is laid on top of the diaper, then the rodent will not be able to gut it.

The daily care of the animal includes cleaning up the remains of succulent and stale food, washing the feeders and replacing the filler in the toilet.

Restroom

An attentive owner will notice that the pet prefers one of the corners of his home for the administration of natural needs. In this place, to facilitate cleaning, it is worth installing a homemade toilet or a toilet purchased at a pet store.

Optimally, as a filler, pressed sawdust in the form of granules is suitable for it.

In order for your animal to quickly orientate, a little used bedding with excrement should be placed in the toilet. To consolidate success after defecation in the right place, it is worth rewarding your pet with something tasty.

The toilet tray should be cleaned daily by rinsing it with a soda solution. Before laying fresh filler, you can also add a little soda to the bottom of the tray so that there is no smell.

Water procedures

Pigs do not need regular bathing, they take excellent care of their fur on their own. Regular brushing with a soft-bristled toothbrush can help with grooming. Long-haired animals can be trimmed a little to make them less dirty. But sometimes the need for bathing may arise, for example, on the recommendation of a veterinarian after certain diseases, if the cage is too dirty, especially pets with a long cover.

Ordinary human shampoo, soap, detergents or cleaners are not suitable. For water procedures, you should purchase a special shampoo for guinea pigs.

You don’t need to wash your pets more than once a month. From frequent bathing, the natural fatty layer on the skin, which performs a protective function, is washed off, bald patches may appear.

Bathe the animals in warm water, filling the basin with a small amount of water. Rodents are accustomed to the procedure gradually. Avoid getting water in your ears. During the washing process and after it, you can treat your pet with a particularly tasty treat.

Important! A wet pet can easily catch a cold, so after taking a bath, wrap it in a warm towel, dry it thoroughly and protect it from drafts.

Other Reasons Why Guinea Pigs Can Smell

As it turned out, if your pet smells strongly of urine, you should clean his home more often. But what if, with proper maintenance, an unpleasant odor is still present? There are several other reasons to consider.

Food

Feeding large quantities of cabbage, tomatoes, cucumbers, pears, radishes can cause diarrhea, bloating and a corresponding stench. Small portions of these products do not cause digestive problems. From a radish, tops are suitable for nutrition, not a root crop. Hay with the addition of cilantro, mint, parsley or dandelion diversifies the diet of pets and adds a pleasant aroma to the cage.

Hormonal changes

The natural scent of males is slightly stronger than that of females during courtship. Childbirth in females can temporarily cause a slight specific smell.

Diseases

If, while maintaining cleanliness in the home, your pet began to smell bad, you need to carefully examine it. The smell of rot appears with weeping eczema, pododermatitis. The cause of the stench can be other skin diseases, fungus, ear or subcutaneous mites, and other diseases. Do not put off a visit to the veterinarian.

We hope that what you read will convince you of acquiring such wonderful pets. Keep your pets clean, take care of their health, and no one can tell you that guinea pigs are smelly!

We recommend that you read the information in the articles “How to identify and treat a guinea pig allergy” and “The pros and cons of guinea pigs”.

Video: do guinea pigs smell or where does the bad smell come from