How to Bathe Your Guinea Pig? Step by Step Guide

Guinea pigs don’t like being wet and don’t like bathing too much. For that reason, a bath on an extremely hot day might sound like a good idea, however, there are a few things to consider before offering your guinea pigs a good bath.

It is important to note that guinea pigs are scent-oriented animals. So, if you happen to wash one of them, the others may fail to recognize a different scent and attack the clean counterpart.

To avoid this, bath all your guinea pigs simultaneously. That way, all of them would smell the same and would not trigger an unhealthy brawl.

Should You Bathe Your Guinea Pig?

Guinea pigs do not clean themselves like hamsters, mice or cats, so they will require bathing. They don’t require bathing as often as dogs, because guinea pigs are quite clean animals.

To avoid smell in your home, it is recommended to bathe your guinea pigs once every 3-4 months.

In the following, I will guide you through the process of how to choose a good, organic, and safe shampoo for your pets and how to bathe your animals:

Guinea Pig Shampoo

Bathing a guinea pig requires prior preparation. While they are specifically made shampoos for guinea pigs, you can also use mild baby options. All in all, the best choice is a certified organic shampoo.

The main characteristics of a suitable pet shampoo include:

Synthetic Free and Highly Concentrated

Without the toxic artificial ingredients, this type of shampoo is the best option especially for those with sensitive skins. Note that the product is also safe for the pet owner and only requires minimal portions for a successful job.

Organic Oils

Buy a shampoo that contains 100% natural ingredients. Safe ingredients to check out include coconut, jojoba oil, olive, aloe vera, rosemary, lemongrass, and others. Also, settle for the products with natural preservatives and certified by the United States Department of Agriculture.

Made for Sensitive Skin

Most pets and keepers become affected by chemicals used in the animal’s shampoos. From sulfates, parabens, phosphates, petrochemicals, petrochemicals, to synthetic fragrances, pet shampoos comprise a whole load of chemical elements.

As a result, compare the ingredients before exposing yourself and your pet to harmful components. Instead, buy a shampoo that soothes and itchy or sensitive skin without escalating the condition.

Not likely to Result in an Allergic Reaction

With so many bogus products in the market, it can be a challenge to select the safest shampoo for your pet. Guinea pig’s skin reacts better to eco-friendly products.

Not only does the shampoo hydrate your pet’s coat and skin, but it also prevents the skin from breaking out in adverse reactions.

Bath Preparation

Some of the important things that you should compile before a bath include a towel, scrubbing brush, big bowl or sink, hairdryer, and shampoo.

It is worth noting that bathing your pet without cleaning its habitat would not make any sense.

Therefore, start by placing your piggy in another enclosure out of the cage. Remove all the stuff from the cage and wash the bowls, water bottles, beddings, and the entire pen with mild detergent and hot water. Next, set the mode for your pet. Bear in mind that bath time makes most animals anxious.

To keep your pets calm, try to engage them in the activities that they love. Some easy techniques include cuddling, giving a treat, playing music, or petting.

If you have not brushed your pet’s hair recently, this is the best time to work on it. Using a narrow comb or brush, detangle the hair and remove debris in it.

In the process, you can remove loose hair while examining your pet’s skin for parasitic invasions. If you detect mites, fungal or bacterial infection, take your little friend to the vet right away.

Bathing Process

Here are a few steps you can follow to make bathing easy and fun for your guinea pig:

– Step 1: Start with a Gentle Prewash

Dip a towel in water and remove any sticky or crusty spots on your pig. Then using a soft washcloth gently rub around the soiled areas to loosen the hair.

– Step 2: Get Ready for the Bath

Given that a guinea pig may jump off from a bathing tub, place the bowl on the floor. Do not overfill with water but ensure that it does not exceed two inches deep.

Make sure the water is not too cold or too hot. The ideal water temperature for bathing guinea pigs is around 95-100 °F (35-38 °C). In this water temperature, your pet will feel comfortable for a couple of minutes.

Fold the previously used washing cloth as padding in the bowl. Bear in mind that guinea pigs easily catch a chill when wet. So set the bath in the warmest part of the house.

– Step 3: Dip your Guinea Pig in the Water

Dab one foot with warm water to help them get accustomed. To keep them focused, keep a tasty treat around. After your pet calms down, lower the entire body into the bowl and ensure that you do not cover the nose and mouth.

Gently scoop some water and pour it on the skin until the animal gets thoroughly wet. Squeeze a little bit of the pet shampoo and lather it systematically into the skin.

By all means, avoid getting the shampoo into the eyes, eyes, and mouth. For an anti-parasite soak, follow the commands on the packet.

– Step 4: Rinse and Dry

Rinse your pet with plenty of water to remove the shampoo residual. Wrap a cotton towel around them to absorb all the water.

While on it, ensure that the head pokes out of the towel to enable breathing. Then, dry your pet thoroughly using a hairdryer. Once dry, keep them in a warm place for a couple of hours to avoid chilling.

If you have a Peruvian guinea pig or other which longer hair, you might also need to groom their fur, which will take more time. So, take all these factors into consideration when preparing your pets for a bath.

How Often do you Bathe Guinea Pigs?

Save for the days that your guinea pig requires an anti-parasite dip, a once in a month bath is sufficient in summer. In the colder seasons, piggies need to shower once in two months.

The reason behind this is that regular bathing strips off the natural oils and makes them prone to chills and infections.

Can You Bathe Your Guinea Pig With Just Water?

A plain water bath may not thoroughly clean your pet. Even if guinea pigs are naturally clean animals, a mild shampoo would help in reducing parasites and giving them a fresh scent.

Wrap Up

Bathing times remains one of the tensest moments for a guinea pig. To make it brief and enjoyable, arrange your tools way in advance. Then ensure that you keep a treat within hand for your pet to cooperate.