Bathing

Guinea Pigs are naturally very clean animals. Bathing is rarely needed and should be on rare occasions. Some instance of a pig that may need more frequent baths:

A SENIOR/DISABLED/SICK OR INJURED PIG WHO IS UNABLE TO SELF-CLEAN MAY REQUIRE BUM BATHS OR FULL BATHS DUE TO THE INABILITY TO SELF-CLEAN THEMSELVES.
SOME PIGS ARE JUST DIRTIER THAN OTHERS. KAREN TENDS TO GET POOP STUCK TO HER NAILS AND HAS TO GET BUM BATHS EVERY FEW MONTHS.
A MEDICAL BATH- LICE, RINGWORM, ETC
Some pigs with a skin condition may require baths with a special shampoo for killing lice, getting rid of skin conditions, etc
BATHING OFTEN CAN STRIP THEM OF THEIR NATURAL OILS AND IS ACTUALLY VERY BAD FOR THEIR HEALTH. BUT, IN CASES WHERE A BATH IS REQUIRED, I HAVE THESE TIPS.
BUM BATHS:

USE A GUINEA PIG SAFE SHAMPOO. GORGEOUS GUINEAS IS THE BEST GUINEA PIG SHAMPOO. IT IS SPECIALLY FORMULATED FOR THEM AND HAS NO HARSH SCENTS TO UPSET THEIR SENSITIVE RESPIRATORY SYSTEMS. THEY ALSO HAVE WONDERFUL SALVES, MELTS, AND OTHER PRODUCTS WORTH CHECKING OUT IF THEY’RE NEEDED FOR YOUR PIGGY.

MIX A SMALL AMOUNT (USUALLY ABOUT THE SIZE OF A PENNY) OF SHAMPOO WITH WARM WATER. MAKE SURE YOUR GUINEA PIG WILL BE AS COMFORTABLE AS POSSIBLE SO WARM WATER IS IMPORTANT.

YOU CAN JUST RUB THE SHAMPOO WATER OVER THE DIRTY AREA OF YOUR PIG. RUBBING AND RINSING THE SHAMPOO WATER WITH CLEAN WATER UNTIL CLEAN. ALTERNATIVELY, YOU CAN PUT THE SHAMPOO DIRECTLY ONTO THE FUR AND RUB AND THEN RINSE OFF.

MAKE SURE TO RINSE ALL SHAMPOO RESIDUE COMPLETELY AND ENSURE YOUR PIG IS COMPLETELY DRY BEFORE PUTTING THEM BACK IN THE CAGE. KEEP THEM WARM DURING THIS TIME AS WELL TO PREVENT ANY POSSIBLE RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS.

FULL BODY BATHS:

AGAIN, THESE SHOULD ONLY BE DONE WHEN NECESSARY AS IT CAN DO MORE BAD THAN GOOD IF NOT NEEDED.

FIND SOMETHING YOU CAN PUT YOUR PIGGY INTO. THIS CAN BE THE SINK BASIN, A LARGE BOWL, ETC. LINE THE BOTTOM WITH A TOWEL TO GIVE YOUR PIGGY TRACTION TO PREVENT SLIDING AND TO MAKE THEM FEEL SAFE. FILL WHATEVER THE PIG WILL BE IN WITH WARM WATER. THE WATER SHOULD NOT GO ABOVE THE BOTTOM OF THEIR BELLY.

EITHER APPLY THE GUINEA PIG SHAMPOO DIRECTLY ONTO THE FUR WITH DAMP HANDS AND RUB. OR CREATE A SHAMPOO-WATER SOLUTION.

IMPORTANT!

Do NOT get the face or ears wet under any circumstances. If their chin is dirty, use a soft cloth with warm shampoo water and gently wipe until the debris is removed.

ONCE THE SHAMPOO IS THOROUGHLY RUBBED IN, BEGIN RINSING WITH WARM WATER, AGAIN AVOIDING THE HEAD AND EARS. ONCE ALL SHAMPOO RESIDUE IS REMOVED, FULLY DRY THEM WITH A CLEAN TOWEL. YOU CAN TRY A BLOW DRYER ON LOW HEAT AND THE LOWEST POWER. IF THE PIG IS SCARED OF THE NOISE, STOP AND GO BACK TO TOWEL DRYING.

DO NOT PUT THEM BACK IN THE CAGE UNTIL THEY ARE FULLY DRIED. KEEP THE ROOM WARM FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT FEW HOURS TO MINIMIZE THE RISK OF THEM GETTING A RESPIRATORY INFECTION.

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