When keeping any pets in a house or apartment, the issue of hygiene arises. Nature provides opportunities for self-cleansing of animals. This process is not always associated with water procedures.
Guinea pigs are very clean. But, despite the intriguing name, they do not like to swim. It is possible that a specific smell will be heard from the animal. And then you can’t do without water and shampoo. It is important to know how to bathe your guinea pig correctly so as not to harm it.
When should you bathe your guinea pig?
It is better not to carry out bathing procedures for pigs without compelling reasons. This is extra stress for her. Washing your guinea pig just for fun is not worth it.
Arguments that speak in favor of swimming:
- The rodent's fur is overgrown with clumps, dirty areas are clearly visible;
- the animal’s fur coat has become dull; despite all his efforts, he is unable to put it in order on his own;
- before the “introduction”, in preparation for the upcoming exhibition, bathing guinea pigs is a common procedure;
- sticky growths have formed in the tail area;
- a bad smell began to emanate from the animal.
Most often, pigs are bathed if they spend most of their time in enclosures built in the yard.
What you need to remember if you decide to give your pig a bath
First, she must be an adult.
Small rodents are already very sensitive to temperature changes and drafts to expose their body to such a test at a tender age.
Secondly, no matter how strange it may sound, the pig must be quite dirty.
Washing is a great stress and risk for the animal, and more than compelling arguments must be given in its favor.
And only sometimes their fur becomes so clogged that washing becomes necessary.
Thirdly, it is advisable to wash the pig in the warm season , but even if it’s hot summer outside, you need to make sure that there are no drafts in the room where the pig will dry.
When should you not bathe your guinea pig?
It is not always possible to wash your guinea pig. Factors that do not allow this to be done at this point in time:
- The pet is still very small, its delicate coat is not yet dirty;
- when a rodent has just changed its place of residence, you need to wait until it gets used to it and stops worrying about its housewarming;
- This cannot be done in the cold season, there is a very high probability of hypothermia from a draft;
- Swimming is strictly contraindicated for a pregnant female;
- a sick animal may not tolerate bathing, you need to wait until it recovers;
- If, when immersed in water, the pet desperately escapes from your hands and squeaks loudly, bathing should be postponed and limited to wiping the fur with a damp cloth.
Before you decide to bathe a capricious pet, you need to think carefully about whether this can be done? If there is at least one of the contraindications, the water activity should be abandoned until better times.
Do they like to swim?
This is not to say that pigs are enthusiastic about the idea of bathing. Yes, the animals have swimming skills - in natural conditions they can overcome water obstacles (streams, for example). If you bathe an animal, you will not cause it much harm, but bathing will not cause any pleasant sensations.
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If, after immersing an animal in water, you see panic, aggression, or high anxiety in your pet, do not train it, do not teach it patience - take the animal out of the water . If you think it is dirty, just wipe the paw and fur with damp, fragrance-free wipes. You can simply moisten a piece of cloth in warm soapy water and wipe the animal - in most cases this is enough.
And although most guinea pigs try to avoid bathing, there are specimens among their brethren who enjoy taking a bath. If the owners treat them kindly, if the water is comfortable for the animal, nothing stings the animal’s eyes, it is relaxed and calm, the animal will take bathing well. It may even purr and whistle with pleasure.
But if your animal does not show such emotions, do not try to force it or teach it to take a bath: your activity will scare it even more.
At what age can you bathe?
Small guinea pigs should not be bathed. Their immunity has not yet been formed, and their exposure to stress is extremely high. Young animals have a hard time withstanding temperature changes; a draft after a bath in almost 100% of cases leads to a cold and further health complications.
It is recommended to bathe pigs at home no earlier than they are 5–6 months old.
How to prepare an animal for a bath
There are very rare exceptions to the rules when a pig willingly dives into water and also swims with pleasure. This means that the genes of distant ancestors who lived near water made themselves felt.
Most often, if an animal unexpectedly finds itself in the water, it will be perceived with aggression and fear. To avoid such a negative reaction, the pig should be prepared in advance for the fact that it will have to take a bath.
At least 5 days before the planned bathing, they begin to accustom the animal to going to the bathroom. He needs to get comfortable in a new place and perceive this place without fear or suspicion. If the animal gets scared, you can calm it down with gentle intonations of your voice, give it your favorite treat, or pet it.
You can train your rodent to brush its hair in the bathroom. When he gets used to the environment, the next stage begins: carefully place him in a cup without water. The bath procedure will be carried out in this container in the future. The next day, turn on warm water. The animal's paws will get wet, it will explore a new sensation in a familiar environment, without fear listening to the sound of falling water.
Washing guinea pigs will not be difficult if all these preparatory steps have been completed.
Fluffy doesn't drink, what should I do?
There are cases when an animal refuses water from ball drinkers; let’s look at the most common reasons for refusal:
- If a rodent previously used a drinking bowl and suddenly stopped, this may indicate a disease. Be sure to visit a veterinarian.
- No experience - if your pet has always drank from a bowl, he may simply not understand what to do with a new thing. But kids often imitate their elders and learn on their own.
- If you have replaced the home with a new one, the rodent will not immediately be able to detect the source of water, just point it in the right direction.
- If you are sure that the animal is healthy, but still refuses to drink, the quality of the water or the contamination of the bowl/drinker may be to blame. Try washing the device and changing the water. Guinea pigs normally consume about 200 ml of water.
There are times when a guinea pig does not drink and there is a loss of appetite, this mainly indicates that the animal is sick. A loving owner should not ignore these signals. Such periods may occur when the season changes: try to eliminate the blues on your own and boost your immunity by preparing a vitamin puree. Grind the lettuce, feed and add a little water. Feed the animal every 3-4 hours using a syringe. Give clean water after feeding.
How to bathe a guinea pig correctly
If you place an animal in a bathtub or in a cup with high sides, it will have the desire to jump out of there. You need to be prepared for the fact that the soaped body is very slippery, and it will be difficult to hold the pig with your hands. It must be remembered that falling from any height means inevitable injury, sometimes incompatible with life.
If you carefully think through the place for swimming, the procedure will be easier. It is possible that your pet will even enjoy bathing and will ask you to do it from time to time.
The water in the basin, which will serve as a bath, should be filled no more than to the level of the pet’s abdomen.
The pig will be more comfortable if a small woven cotton napkin is placed at the bottom of the bathing container. By grabbing it with her paws, she will stand more confidently.
Even if the animal normally tolerates the sound of a running stream from a tap, turn on the water if absolutely necessary. It is convenient to water the animal from a scoop without lifting it high.
When the entire coat is wet, apply shampoo. When a guinea pig bathes, it is advisable to calm it down with a calm monologue and gentle stroking.
You need to foam the shampoo carefully, without making sudden movements. When massaging your back, you should not press hard on it. Particularly dirty areas, especially in the tail area, are cleaned with soapy cotton wool.
While your pet is in the basin, you need to make sure that water and detergent do not get into his eyes or ears. This may cause conjunctivitis and otitis media.
The detergent is washed off as thoroughly as possible to prevent further entry into the rodent’s food tract.
Long-haired animals could use a little balm, after which the hair will be combable better and will become smooth and shiny.
Immediately after finishing the bathing procedures, the animal is wrapped in a soft, slightly warm towel to absorb water. He is released into the cage after he has dried thoroughly.
Pros and cons"
The rodent is considered a clean animal. Normally, he cleans himself up, and the guinea pig does not need to be washed additionally. In the natural environment, of course, no one gives water treatments to animals.
The rodent takes care of the fur on its own: licks it with its tongue as needed, and then smoothes it with its paws.
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If the animal is healthy, if the conditions that you have organized for it are favorable, you should not bathe it. For a rodent, water procedures will be stressful: and children, who most often insist on a piggy bath, should explain this immediately after purchase.
But there are arguments that suggest that sometimes a guinea pig still needs to be washed.
Let's consider in what situations the animal should be washed.
- If tangles, lumps, or impurities formed due to various reasons are visible on its fur with the naked eye. This can happen to a pig if it “runs off for a walk” or walks in an outdoor enclosure during the warm season.
- If you see that your pet’s fur has become dull, if you can’t call it shiny and lively, perhaps the pig is unable to wash itself. This also happens. In this situation, she needs help.
- If the next day is an important exhibition where you are going to show your pet in all its glory, the pig needs a bath as a spa. In order for the fur to shine, the animal will have to endure water treatments.
- If the pig begins to smell unpleasant, you should definitely wash it as carefully as possible.
- Pay attention to the condition of the pig's sebaceous gland. Where the animal has a tail, there is an organ responsible for the production of sebum. To be more precise, a special secretion is produced from the gland, which, like pheromones, acts on representatives of the opposite sex. The sebaceous gland is a fatty, oily area that looks like a small bald spot. And if you find crusts in this place, the guinea pig definitely needs to be bathed.
As you can see, the reasons for swimming do not include “curiosity,” “idle interest,” or reasons like “I think she wants to swim.” Therefore, do not expose the animal to stress again: water is a frightening situation for him.
How to properly dry guinea pigs after bathing
Dry the animal using a soft towel. Gently massage the back, changing the wet towel to a dry one if necessary. When the fur coat becomes almost dry, it needs to be combed. If this is not done immediately, the wool may become matted.
Blow drying your pet is not a good idea. Most animals are terrified of this device. You can scare a pig so much that bathing it next time will be a big problem. Pet owners justify blow-drying by the coolness of the room and the fear of catching a cold in their pet. However, bathing an animal in the cold is generally contraindicated.
A hot air stream from a hairdryer can easily dry out the animal's skin or even burn it. If you choose a low temperature, your pig will catch a cold. Therefore, there are more dangers from a hairdryer than benefits.
Bathing process
For the water procedure, the owner must take:
- towel;
- hair dryer;
- shampoo for children or animals with a neutral pH level;
- cotton swabs and disks;
- latex gloves;
- vegetable oil.
Below is a detailed description of the procedure for bathing your pig.
- The owner puts on rubber gloves and takes the pet out of the cage.
- Warm water is filled into the basin. The thickness of the water layer should not be higher than the animal’s abdomen.
- If you plan to bathe in the sink, then the drain is not clogged, and the stream of water should not flow towards the animal, but next to it.
- The pet's body is poured with water. The head is not captured. It is not advisable to hold the watering can close to the animal, otherwise the baby may get scared.
- For convenience, while washing your pet, you can hold your hand under the front legs.
- The shampoo is foamed in a separate container and applied to the animal’s body up to the head.
- The foam is thoroughly washed off with water.
- The animal's head, eyelids and ears are wiped with a cotton pad moistened with water.
What should shampoo be like?
Detergents intended for humans are not suitable for pigs. When the question arises of how to wash your pet, you don’t need to listen to your friends who claim that they get by just fine with soap or regular shampoo. Veterinarians warn: small animals have very sensitive skin; it is easily irritated by improperly selected detergents.
If you choose between soap and shampoo, the second remedy is preferable. Soap is more difficult to rinse off and also makes the coat hard.
Special shampoos for rodents are sold in every pet store or veterinary pharmacy. Their price is not so high that you save on your pet’s health. Products intended for bathing dogs are not suitable. You can buy hygiene products for cats and rabbits.
A brief overview of detergents for rodents:
- “Piggy” - this pet shampoo contains hypoallergenic plant components and glycerin in its base. This product will give the animal silky and shiny fur.
- “Shustrik” is a specially developed detergent composition without dyes for animals that are sensitive to chemicals. The value of this shampoo is that it moisturizes the skin and has an anti-inflammatory effect. The fur will comb well, without tangling.
- Api-San Royal Groom is a fortified cleaning product that, thanks to selected herbal ingredients, moisturizes the skin well, acts as an effective bactericidal and healing agent, and treats dandruff.
- Beaphar is a pet shampoo that has no side effects, does not irritate sensitive skin, gently cleanses, foams well, and is environmentally friendly.
If it is not possible to purchase pet shampoo, and the contamination is severe, it is permissible to bathe the guinea pig at home with shampoo or soap intended for babies. But it is not recommended to constantly get out of the situation in this way.
Zoo shampoo is purchased in advance, in parallel with the equipment for the cage, so that if necessary it is always at hand.
Goals, means and attempts to achieve purity
It's important to remember two things: pigs are helpless compared to you, but they have teeth and claws.
In a calm environment, guinea pigs are very peaceful, but a scared pig can be as dangerous as an angry cat.
Your task is to minimize risks.
Encouragement and training for treats, which works great in such cases for cats or dogs, is almost useless in this case, so you can use ordinary affection and attention.
A couple of times this can be perfectly combined with combing the fur.
For washing you need to prepare:
- a basin with warm water (the temperature is tested on the skin of the wrist); cotton buds; towels; oil for baby skin; hair dryer; shampoo for rodents or universal - for dogs, cats and rodents.
When choosing the latter, you should listen to the opinion of the veterinarian.
While stroking the animal's back, carefully place it in a basin of water, the level of which should reach the pig's abdomen . You shouldn’t turn on the water : a rearing rodent is funny only for a couple of seconds, and scratches take a long time to heal. It is enough to water the pig from a scoop without lifting it significantly above her head.
This is done using baby oil and cotton swabs.:
Watch a video of one guinea pig bathing:
Try to bathe your guinea pig as little as possible. And with every bath, envelop her in calm and tranquility: the animal’s nervous system is in your hands.
Final procedures
It will not be possible to completely dry the animal right away; this process will be completed naturally within a few hours. Therefore, after a bath, you should not take the animal outside for about a day. Drafts and cold rooms are strictly contraindicated.
After finishing bathing, experts recommend wiping the animal’s sebaceous gland in the tail area with a cotton pad and treating this area with an antiseptic, for example, chlorhexidine.
There should be no sawdust in the cage. They may stick to the fur. During this period, you can lay paper or waffle towels on the bottom of the cage.
Before putting a washed and dried animal into the cage, you can offer it “snacks”. He will receive such encouragement for long-term patience with gratitude and remember this pleasant moment. It will be much easier to wash your guinea pig next time.
In what cases can you not do without water procedures?
Guinea pigs are by nature very clean animals; they brush their fur very often.
However, in some cases you cannot do without bathing:
- if the wool is heavily contaminated with the products of their vital activity. In this case, you should thoroughly clean the cage, change the filling in it (it should be at least 5 cm), and cut long-haired pigs into a bob;
- if you notice crusts or deposits in the area of the sebaceous glands;
- The animal emits unpleasant odors.
Important! During water procedures, it is necessary to ensure that moisture does not get into the eyes and ears of the guinea pig.
You should not worry if your pet never needs a bath during its life. With proper care, pets may not require water treatments. It might even be good for them.
