How to Bathe Guinea Pigs
As with most pets, guinea pigs will get dirty. Of course, how dirty your guinea pig will get depends on different factors, such as the breed of guinea pig you own, the environment that your guinea pig lives in, and even your guinea pig's personality. If you have a naughty guinea pig that likes to get mucky, chances are you will have to bathe them more often than a polite, prim and proper guinea pig.
In this article, we will provide you with all you need to know about keeping your guinea pigs clean, from whether or not you can bathe them, to how often you should, if you can. We will also provide you with the information you need regarding what products to use should you choose to bathe your guinea pig, including what to use and what to avoid. Of course, you should always keep good care of your pets, and should never let them get into a state where they desperately need to be cleaned.
Key Takeaways
Guinea Pigs Can Be Bathed, But Be Careful:
While you can bathe a guinea pig to keep them clean, many guinea pigs dislike water and may become stressed. Only bathe them if necessary and ensure they are comfortable during the process.
Bathe Only When Needed:
How often you should bathe your guinea pig depends on their breed and how dirty they get. Generally, bathing every few months is enough if you groom them regularly. Long-haired breeds might need more frequent baths.
Use the Right Shampoo:
Avoid using human or dog shampoos on guinea pigs, as they can be too harsh for their skin. Instead, use shampoos specifically designed for guinea pigs or other small animals to prevent skin irritation.
Can you bathe a guinea pig?
When your guinea pigs are dirty, or when they begin to smell like they need a little bit of a spruce up, you may be wondering whether you can bathe them, much in the same way as you would bathe yourself. Some breeds of guinea pigs can have very long, thick fur, and this can become dirtier than a shorter-haired guinea pig. Unfortunately, guinea pigs for the most part will dislike being near or in water, so actually being able to bathe them can be a struggle.
However, if you can get your guinea pig into the water, bathing them is a great way of keeping them clean. Some guinea pigs will actually be scared of water, so you should be careful with how you introduce them to the bath. If your guinea pig reacts violently by lashing out, you should take them away from the water as they can become stressed and may cause themselves an injury. Your guinea pig may also turn on you if you persist, and they could bite.
How to bathe your guinea pig for the first time
When you decide that you want to bathe your guinea pigs for the first time, it is important to ensure that they are comfortable. By following our guide, you can ensure you are cleaning your guinea pigs effectively, whilst also keeping them happy.
Firstly, you are going to need a bowl big enough to fit your guinea pig in comfortably. You will also need a flannel or cloth, a jug, a towel, a hair dryer, a gentle shampoo, and a brush.
Fill the bowl to around halfway full with lukewarm water. Then, submerge a cloth or flannel so that it sits in the bottom of the bowl, this is to ensure that your guinea pig is not sliding around when they are standing in the bowl.
Place your guinea pig in the water gently, if they begin to thrash around or react badly to the water then remove them. Never expose your guinea pig to unnecessary stress.
When your guinea pig is comfortable in the bowl, use the jug to gently wet your guinea pig all over, paying close attention to avoid the eyes.
Then gently scrub a small amount of gentle shampoo into your guinea pig's fur, again, keeping it away from the eyes. Rinse the shampoo out using the jug.
Take your guinea pig out of the bowl and wrap them in a towel. If the towel becomes too wet, swap it for a dry one to ensure your guinea pig is not getting cold.
Slowly towel dry your guinea pig, using a brush as you do so to ensure the hair is not knotting.
When your guinea pig is almost dry, use a hair dryer on the lowest possible setting and temperature to finish drying your guinea pig, still using the brush.
Guinea Pig Bathing FAQs
How often should you bathe a guinea pig?
If you are lucky enough to have a guinea pig that does not mind being in or near water, then you may be wondering how often you should be bathing your guinea pig. Again, this can depend on different factors such as environment and breed. You may find that breeds with longer hair, such as Peruvian or Silkie guinea pigs, will get dirtier than breeds with shorter hair, such as Abyssinian, American, or Rex guinea pigs.
You should bathe your guinea pigs as and when you think that they need it. You should never let your guinea pig get into a state where they look physically dirty, and you may wish to consider grooming them once or twice a week by brushing their hair. This will keep them clean and will also help to prevent shedding. You should only need to bathe your guinea pig once every few months if you regularly groom them, however, you may need to do it more regularly if you find that your guinea pig is particularly pungent. There are a few reasons why a guinea pig may smell worse than usual. A guinea pig may smell bad because it is attempting to mark its territory, which they do by secreting a scent from its grease gland, located just underneath its tail. If this gland is not cleaned then the smell can worsen, and it could even lead to infection.
Can you bathe a guinea pig with baby shampoo?
You may be wondering what shampoo is best to use when bathing your guinea pig, and it may be tempting to use gentle shampoos, such as baby shampoo. However, you may wish to avoid baby shampoo as they are designed to be gentle on highly sensitive skin. Some ingredients that are included in the baby shampoo will actually lead to the skin of your guinea pig becoming dry. In reality, any human shampoo will be too harsh on the skin of a guinea pig. You should only use a shampoo that has been specially designed for small animals.
Can you bathe a guinea pig with dog shampoo?
So, can you use dog shampoo on a guinea pig, even though it is not necessarily a ‘small animal’ shampoo? Again, dog shampoo may actually be too harsh on guinea pig skin, even if the shampoo is for small dogs. The best shampoo for guinea pigs is either shampoo that has been specially designed for guinea pigs or shampoo for small animals such as rabbits. You can also use shampoo for kittens such as Sebocalm shampoo as this is much more gentle than shampoo for cats.