Use a guinea pig shampoo, which you can find in most pet stores. Speak to him in soothing tones, and pet him gently if you are able. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Animal Shelter. To be very frank, you should not be presented with the need to bathe your guinea pig for the entirety of its life except for on special occasions or for medical reasons. Use water that is of an appropriate temperature, do not use any harsh chemicals on the piggy, etc. An untimely bath can spell bad news for larger animals like cats and dogs so naturally, you have to be quite careful with tiny critters like guinea pigs. Guinea pigs that like to strut their stuff and show pals they’re boss or those that are newly introduced may have more active grease glands as well. So, make sure that you do not let your guinea pig swim, especially if there is no reason for it. I just wondered if there is a more up to date guide for bum baths and grease glands than the boar bits one pinned here? Guinea pigs have a very potent sense of smell, and they might be sensitive to the fragrances in soaps. Guinea pigs are small, delicate animals, and therefore, it is understandable to be concerned about giving them baths. So, should you bathe your guinea pig? I bought some shampoo after the fact and will use it next time I wash them. In fact, remember to check for lethargy, breathing issues, and any other health condition first as well. Patrice’s grease gland looks a bit dirty doesn’t it? Now, we did mention previously that bathing your guinea pig during an illness is not recommended. How I bath my piggies, the products I use and recommend and helpful advice about bathing guinea pigs in general! In fact, guinea pigs like to remain at their physical best at any given time. This is one of the reasons why it is said that you should keep more than one guinea pig as a pet. My name is Nadine; I am a passionate writer and a pet lover. Make sure you use a special shampoo for small animals only. The content of this website is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Many times one bath is not enough. Similarly, if you bathe your guinea pig when it seems sick or lethargic, this could also take a toll on its health. Sometimes you can even leave them to groom themselves for their entire lifetime. Calm your guinea before bathing it. You must log in or register to reply here. Naturally, this means that long hair guinea pigs often demand baths more frequently than short hair variety. Guinea pigs are small, delicate animals, and therefore, it is understandable to be concerned about giving them baths. Most common… Guinea Pigs and Mites Mites are common parasites for Guinea Pigs because they always live on them and there is no chance … Even the smallest amount of carelessness and neglect can strip them of their prestige as show guinea pigs. So make sure you don’t bathe your long hair guinea pig more than three to four times a year unless it is absolutely necessary. You can also give your guinea pig a treat such as a lettuce leaf or cucumber slice to distract it. Do Guppies Lay Eggs? While a bum bath may be in order anyway for those pigs with long, luscious locks, you might find it doesn’t totally take care of the grease gland goop. These guinea pigs need to be bathed and groomed by the owner at least once a month if they are a longhair breed. For shorthair cavies, you can be a little more prudent and bathe them once every two months at the most. I used coconut oil the first time I washed the boys’ grease glands. They can advise you better regarding anything that can irritate him. Bianca needs a bum bath ... Saskia at the Los Angeles Guinea Pig Rescue. Short hair cavies need to be washed even less often. Bum baths? Once the grease is cleaned you can use regular guinea pig shampoo and either bath them fully (only if needed) or just give a final touch at their bum part. Pregnant guinea pigs and those under six months old should never get a bath. After two minutes, if he or she is still in a panic, remove the guinea pig from the water and skip to step five. This response is more of a survival instinct that prevents them from drowning rather than be something they actively enjoy. It is always a good idea to consult your vet regarding the products that you will use on the little critter. Remember to always ask a veterinarian for help regarding all of your pets. I use a gentle pig shampoo on my two because they smell, but I bath them every 6 weeks or less. If your guinea pig is very dirty, you will want to use some kind of shampoo on it. If you must bathe your guinea pig, make sure you do not do it more than once a month. It is a good idea to consult your vet before you use any kind of chemicals on your guinea pig. When you pick your guinea pig, make sure that your hands are clean, or you can also use medical gloves for cleaning your guinea pig bum and pet them until they feel calm. It's a Pug Thing. In most cases, even that is too much. To help prevent eye problems in your guinea pig, keep his cage clean and provide a quality diet. Keep a soft brush at hand for this purpose. Step1 Hold your guinea pig firmly (but gently) and lower him into the plastic tub. Guinea pigs do not like to swim. If you unnecessarily decide to wash the little critter too often, it can take a toll on its physical and mental health. Even though guinea pigs can brush themselves and they do a pretty spectacular job with it, you can chip in as well since they actually enjoy the brushing process. Always check if your guinea pig is at the best of its health by inspecting it once a week or so. Step 2 – Prepare a guinea pig for a bath. Keep a shampoo for small animals at hand, along with two washing bowls, a small makeshift bath mat, and a soft towel to dry them off. To ensure that your guinea pigs remain clean, you need to make sure that the place they live in is clean as well. People usually call me by the nickname “Joy” because they think that I am …keep reading, Fluffyplanet.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com We do not provide veterinary suggestions. Step 4 – Place a guinea pig in a sink or a basin. But he looks cute! At these times its own self-care methods are more or less futile, and you have to step in with some thorough cleaning. If you notice that your guinea pig frequently has a wet bottom, ask your vet what can be done. Please excuse my tiny hands and double chin - this is 100% not my angle! That's from 2016 and still mentions swarfega and washing up liquid which I wouldnt use anyway but it seems to have caused a bit of controversy when. [1] X Research source If you need to bathe m… Bathing (including cleaning grease glands). He loves to be dried and pampered. Always bathe your guinea pigs with lukewarm water so that they do not get shocked by the temperature difference. Only use products that are approved by your vet for use on the guinea pig. Use one bowl to shampoo the guinea pig and the other to wash it off. Maya the Cat. Generally, A bath once a month or two months would be more than enough. So if your little ones are a long hair breed and get dirty very easily, you will want to bathe them once a month at most. Prior to bathing you need to remove dirt from the coat. Guinea pigs prefer to be groomed rather than bathed. Make sure that it is not emitting high heat that can damage the little one in any way. Public Figure. In this article, we will be discussing different reasons why you should or should not bathe your little guinea pig. Guinea pigs are pretty reliable at cleaning themselves. You can try focusing on other ways to care for your guinea pig, like grooming. I give him a bath once a month sometimes twice (I would do it more if it wouldn’t dry him out or strip his natural oils, because he loves it)! This is especially true if the guinea pig has a respiratory issue. Guinea pigs usually don’t need a frequent bath, so make sure you dry them out quickly if you happen to give them one. For example, both long and short hair cavies need to be brushed, long hair more than short hair. Bath Time. You should never leave your guinea pigs damp or wet after a shower. Guinea pigs can get several types of cysts, with the most common being a sebaceous cyst. In fact, giving them a bath once every three to four months is more than enough in this regard. Blind guinea pigs are usually able to live relatively normal lives. Oreo the sassy bunny. Put some tissue on the bottom so a guinea pig doesn’t slip. Previous Article Plenty of water. Now, if your guinea pigs have a thick matt or hard hair clumps around their bum, you might need to give them a bum bath first. They enjoy grooming each other and do it quite often. So keep in mind that in these cases, prevention is definitely better than the cure. Some guinea pigs are born blind, while others can go blind as a result of old age. Below we take a look at how to bathe a guinea pig, with tips and tricks to make sure it goes smoothly for everyone. Rabbits are often considered to be same as hares, but they are quite different and it is important to know about these Most Common Causes of Sudden Death in Rabbits before you think of bringing one home.. Having fall sick is one thing, where there could be visible symptoms of illness, otherwise, there may also be some adverse situations where the cute little guinea pig … Baths are also a big no-no if your guinea pig has a cold or respiratory infection. Sebaceous cysts contain oil from the skin glands that produce oil (sebaceous glands). Making a wrong move in for the sake of extra cleanliness could cost them their health or even their life. Because guinea pigs are so clean on their own, it is not recommended that you put extra stress on their bodies by bathing them often. Experienced Guinea Pig Bather and Los Angeles Guinea Pig Rescue Volunteer, Scott shows you The Easy Way to Give a Guinea Pig a Bath! Bath time and nail clipping. But there was still some left. Guinea pigs are generally clean creatures. I usually give my guinea pigs a bum bath every month to keep their bum clean and maybe a complete wash in two months or whenever needed. However, if you decide to put one in a bathtub, you would see that it does swim or dog paddle in the water. If your guinea pig gets a little dirty, try to do spot cleaning with a baby wipe or a shampoo formulated for small animals. There may still be other times when bathing the guinea pig might seem like a good idea. Why is my guinea pig shaking after a bath? Never use shampoo for people, as this can dry out your guinea pig’s skin. I cut the hair round their bums short - I tried clippers which was successful in that the hair was short, but both girls cried I find bum baths best though as … Holding a guinea pig while cleaning its bum is essential as guinea pigs resist having a bum bath. Some medicines can be prescribed, or your vet may recommend that your guinea pig be examined for a urinary tract infection. In fact, even a simple cold or flu could prove to be fatal if you bathe the guinea pig at this time. In many cases, you don’t even have to bathe them even once in their lifetime since guinea pigs are generally clean creatures. However, you might find that your vet recommends a bath in case of an infection or other such conditions. Step 3 – Use a wet cloth to wipe guinea pig’s fur. Some Guinea Pigs love it and others, well you need 10 hands !! Make sure that the soap you use to wash your guinea pig is unscented. Bathe your guinea pig regularly. Keep a piece of cloth or bath math near the bowl to keep the guinea pig from slipping and hurting itself. Interest. Following this step will help you to hold your guinea pig while cleaning their bum. You don’t need a lot of things to bathe your guinea pig. And how often? Not only do they keep each other company and play with each other, but they also spend a large part of their day grooming each other. If you suspect a guinea pig is under the weather, take him to an exotics veterinarian right away. Just make sure that you use a shampoo made especially for small animals since they are gentler. We gave her a “bum bath” so that she felt fresh and clean. So keep that in mind whenever you consider the hygienic status of your guinea pigs. Shampoos made for large animals can irritate the skin of your guinea pig and give them skin diseases. You will have to give it multiple baths over the course of a few weeks till you are sure that the infestation has ended. Only reach for the second one after the first has been washed and dried. Guinea pig shampoo that is safe for guinea pigs skin and fur. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. These harsh chemicals can irritate their skin and may develop dermatological conditions in them.

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