Guinea Pigs - Rodents with Attitude

Guinea pigs should have a bath now and again to keep them clean and smelling great. Bathing also helps to reduce fungal and bacterial skin ailments and keeps their fur shiny and healthy. You can use bathing to neutralise personal guinea pig smells when creating new pairs or groups.

Our guinea pig Rose smiling for the camera

If using a new product your guinea pig has never experienced before, make sure you have done a patch test before using it in the bath just in case your guinea pig has an allergic reaction to it.

To do a patch test, sample a small amount of the product by applying it on the bald patch of skin just behind the ear, and then leaving it for 24 hours. If the skin does not come up in a rash or other irritation, then it is safe to use at bath time.

Always follow the instructions on the bottle! Do not use human shampoo on guinea pigs because human shampoo is designed for humans and is not suitable for use on animals. You can purchase standard small animal shampoo from most pet shops and suppliers. Some shampoos are better than others so you may need to try a couple before you find one you like.

My washing up bowl and Gorgeous Guineas products

I am an extremely big fan of the aromatherapy products by Gorgeous Guineas and I recommend them above all commercial small animal shampoos. The products range from standard shampoos, to shampoos for flaky skin or lice, pups, and even shampoo for boars! My guinea pigs always come up smelling lovely with the most wonderfully shiny fur and they stay clean for ages. As you can see, I have a quite a large collection of Gorgeous Guineas products!

During medical treatment my vet has previously given me prescription shampoo complete with instructions. It is especially important to follow instructions if given shampoo by your vet and all medicated shampoos must be used under veterinary guidance.

Your guinea pig. You can't give him a bath without him!

A plastic washing up bowl or your kitchen sink.

Two towels (old ones!)

Wear old clothes because you may end up getting soaked.

Small animal shampoo or recommended product.

Measuring container or jug.

A brush for small animals, a small comb, and small animal nail clippers (not nail clippers for humans).

The first thing you should remember before bathing, is never leave your guinea pig unattended while in the bath. Some guinea pigs are escape artists and will be out of that bath before you can blink! In serious cases of escape artistry you may need to get a friend or family member to help you to give your guinea pig a bath - sometimes four hands are better than two.

Fill the kitchen sink or plastic washing up bowl with warm water (not hot water!) to the level of your guinea pig's stomach. Ensure he is able to comfortably hold his head up above the water level. Your guinea pig may attempt to get out of the bath and you may get wet, which is a good reason for wearing old clothes!

Gently use your hands to pour the warm water from the bath over your guinea pig. Make sure you stay way from his nose, eyes and ears. He may need you to talk to him and stroke him to reassure him.

Follow the instructions written on your shampoo bottle (some products require you measure or dilute it against a certain amount of water, which is where your measuring container or jug comes in).

To rinse the shampoo out, lift your guinea pig out of the bath and sit him on a towel while you empty the bath water and refill it with fresh warm water to rinse him off.

Your guinea pig must be completely dry before he is allowed to continue his day. This is especially important if your guinea pig lives outside or in shed that has no heating.

Once rinsed, wrap your guinea pig in a towel, find somewhere comfortable to sit (in front of the TV usually works for me), and spend some time gently rubbing him down and drying him off. He may start to purr (vibrate) if he is enjoying the attention.

Some guinea pigs enjoy being dried with a hairdryer. If you choose to try this method, use the lowest heat setting and hold the hairdryer at a safe distance from your pet so you don't burn him. Lots of guinea pigs don't like the noise of a hairdryer, so this method is not suitable for everyone.

When your guinea pig is no longer wet and is just damp, swap to your other towel which should be completely dry and continue to rub him down with that.

This is a good time to do some grooming and some nail clipping.

Above: a clean grease gland

Male guinea pigs have a grease gland that is located on the rear end above the testicals. The grease gland regularly produces grease and this needs to be cleaned every so often or the grease will form a scab, and the skin underneath will become sore and sensitive.

To clean the grease gland, you need a tub of Swarfega gel (used by mechanics to remove grease and available from DIY stores), a towel, a bowl of warm water, and a comb with fine teeth.

Wet the grease gland with water and then rub in some Swarfega, before leaving for a couple of minutes to soften the grease. Rinse the Swarfega from the guinea pig and then gently use the comb to pick away the greasy scab. The skin underneath may be sore and sensitive if the grease has been allowed to build up, so once the grease has been removed, dry the guinea pig and apply some Kamillosan cream to sooth the skin.