How Do You Wash a Guinea Pig?

How Do You Bathe a Guinea Pig?

Guinea pigs are not huge fans of water, so it’s important to make sure your guinea pig feels comfortable at all times. Keep some tasty treats at hand for the process. Before starting, it’s good to have these tools to hand:

·       Large washing up bowl, preferably two

·       Shampoo, or shampoo alternative

·       A comb

·       A plastic jug or other suitable item

The Steps to Bathe a Guinea Pig

The first step in washing your guinea pig is to fill your washing up bowls with warm water. Make sure it is just lukewarm, anything too hot or cold may be a shock to their system and potentially cause harm. The water level shouldn’t be too high either, just enough to allow them to still hold their heads normally.

Once your bowls are ready, and your guinea pigs are as comfortable as possible, it’s time to place them into one of the bowls. Ensure their fur is nicely soaked through and try to avoid getting water in their eyes and ears.

When they’re wet, massage the guinea pig shampoo or your alternative gently into the fur. Use your fingers to remove any stubborn bits of dirt.

When satisfied with their cleanliness, move them into the other bowl and rinse thoroughly. Use the jug to pour the water onto the back to make sure all the shampoo is removed.

After washing, use a clean towel to pat them dry. Don’t rub them with it, just pat around enough for the towel to soak up the water. Once finished, you may want to comb through their fur to keep it from tangling.

Don’t forget to reward your guinea pigs for their good behaviour!

How Often Are You Supposed to Bath Your Guinea Pig?

Guinea pigs are very clean animals and are perfectly capable of grooming themselves and each other. You don’t need to bathe them often at all, once a month at the absolute most. You should do your best to avoid it, and only bathe when necessary. Any more than once a month can cause dry skin on guinea pig and strip their fur of natural oils.

What Kind of Shampoo Should I Use to Bathe My Guinea Pig?

The ideal guinea pig shampoo is a small animal shampoo.

These are made without the harsh chemicals human shampoo is made from, and will reduce the probability of causing irritation to the skin.

There are also specific shampoos to combat lice and mites. If you’re wanting to wash your guinea big specifically because of guinea pig lice, you will want to keep your eyes peeled for those specialty shampoos.

For long-haired guinea pigs, you may want to invest in a small animal conditioner. This will help you to later detangle their hair while brushing and better prevent a build up of knots or potential matting.

How to Wash Your Guinea Pig Without Shampoo

While avoiding using shampoo may be a little tricky, it doesn’t mean it isn’t possible. If you want to avoid extra products all together, then it’s perfectly okay to just simply allow your guinea pig to soak in warm water. You can use your fingers, or an appropriate comb, to work through the fur to remove any bits of dirt or muck that may be stuck. Just using warm water will also reduce the chance of skin irritation or potential allergic reactions.

Some may opt for an oatmeal bath. This may not remove dirt and grime from your guinea pig too effectively, but it can be soothing for their skin and help hydrate the skin. It may be a better option for a guinea pig with irritated skin.

Apple cider vinegar is a potential alternative. While it must be used diluted with water, it’s very effective at removing smells and dirt from your guinea pig. You’ll just need to be cautious and ensure it doesn’t get into their eyes and ears.

There are also rinse dry shampoos that can help clean your guinea pig without the need for a bath at all. These can help moisturise their skin and remove dirt without ever having to get them wet. This is a great option for piggies who especially hate the water.

Do Guinea Pigs Need Sand Baths?

Guinea pigs don’t need sand baths, so there is no need to supply sand. Guinea pigs happily and frequently groom themselves, while a sand bath would only help an animal that does not clean itself regularly such as a chinchilla or gerbil.

There is also the slight chance that having sand present will cause some respiratory issues if breathed in too much, so it’s best to avoid having sand in their enclosure.

Human shampoos aren’t recommended at all to be used on your guinea pigs.

Can I Use Normal Shampoo on My Guinea Pig?

Human shampoos contain chemicals that are far too harsh for a guinea pig’s delicate skin. Using these would be guaranteed to cause dry or flaky skin on guinea pig.

However, unscented baby shampoo may be safe when diluted with water. But this should only be used in an emergency situation if you’re unable to find any preferred products. Though if this is the only option you have, it may be better to just skip the bath all together if your piggy isn’t too dirty.