Guide To Grooming Guinea Pigs

Guinea pigs are one of the most popular types of small animals, and with them, there is never a dull moment. However, these little balls of fur need grooming regularly. Here are some things you can keep in mind when grooming your guinea pig!

Frequency: If you are a new pet parent, you might wonder how often are you required to groom your guinea pig? The answer is it depends. If you have a short-haired guinea pig, you can groom them every week. However, if you have a long-haired guinea pig you might have to groom them daily. 

Brushing: Like cats and dogs, guinea pigs also benefit from brushing regularly. Brushing can help them stay clean and also help you identify if any underlying health issues are there. There could be lice or sores on their skin which can be identified and prevented by brushing. 

Bathing the guinea pig: In order to bathe your guinea pig, you are required to have the shampoo. The materials used for bathing the guinea pig are supposed to be mild. You can get pet grooming supplies for small animals online. The temperature of the bathwater should also be ideal. Gently bathe your guinea pig and make sure that you have a towel handy. You can also use a hairdryer gently to dry your guinea pig out.

Trimming nails: Even for small animals, their nails are needed to be trimmed. It has been observed that a guinea pig’s nails grow quite quickly. At the same time, they tend to have very soft paws. This is why it becomes extremely important to make sure that their nails are cut regularly. This will reduce the chances of their nails getting stuck in their nail beds. Giving them regular pedicures will also be a good idea. You can practice slowly at first.

Cleaning ears: When you have a small animal, it is important to make sure that their ears are clean as well. Guinea pig’s ears might have wax buildup, infections, or even ear mites. If you do this regularly you can check their ear for foul smells or an abnormal matter in their ears. You can use cotton, mineral oils to clean their ears. If you notice any form of abnormality, it might be a good idea to visit your vet. 

Grease gland: When it comes to guinea pigs, apart from the regular brushing, bathing, and trimming of nails guinea pigs have grease glands that need to be cleaned. These are right beneath the skin and produce oil. This oil is produced for marking purposes. This gland of theirs is quite active and needs to be regularly cleaned. Otherwise, irritation might occur in that area. Also, cut the hair over that gland regularly. 

What to take care of?

When you have this cute little ball of fur, you need to make sure that you groom on a regular basis. You also need to make sure that you are using the grooming supplies gently. If you are a new pet parent, you need to go slow and consult your veterinarian in advance. This will help you understand if there are some exceptions with your pet in terms of the kind of skin or hair they have. Do not compromise on products otherwise it can even lead to infections.

Guinea pigs are generally cleaner animals and tend to keep themselves as clean as possible. Apart from their body, their environment and cage also need to stay clean.