Bath

[johnguinies]

Hello everyone, I wanted to ask for your advice about bathing. Mine are around 1 year old, and since I rescued them I haven’t given them a proper bath. They seem fine overall, but I’m not sure if I should be bathing them at some point or only if they get really dirty.. What do you usually do? Do you bathe your guinea pigs or is it better to avoid it unless absolutely necessary? Thanks

 

[Piggies&buns]

Bathing is not needed routinely. It is stressful for them but actually bathing isn’t good for their skin.

It should only be done if there is a medical need to do so such as at end of ringworm treatment or if elderly piggies become unable to clean their back end themselves.

 

[Betsy]

Piggies shouldn't really need a bath. I give Misty a bum bath every few months as Saxon likes to "Have his wicked way" with her and leaves her fur at her back end really sticky.

 

[Wiebke]

Hello everyone, I wanted to ask for your advice about bathing. Mine are around 1 year old, and since I rescued them I haven’t given them a proper bath. They seem fine overall, but I’m not sure if I should be bathing them at some point or only if they get really dirty.. What do you usually do? Do you bathe your guinea pigs or is it better to avoid it unless absolutely necessary? Thanks

Hi

If you have boars, then you may find our boar care guide helpful that looks at the parts that need regular checks and the occasional clean: Boar Care: Bits, Bums & Baths

Otherwise, unless there is an issue with an overactive grease gland or with skin parasites or ringworm (tinea), piggies don't need baths. The skin microbiome is part of the immune system.

If you have a white, long-haired piggy, then please be aware that yellow urine stains on the hairs will not come out with a bath (we recommend to keep that area cut short in long-haired guinea pigs anyway).

 

[Freela]

There's really no need to bath them unless there's something specific going on (i.e. I had one elderly pig who needed regularly bum baths because she had bladder issues and would leak and it would irritate her skin.) I had one with a fungal issue who needed antifungal baths until that cleared up. I've had some pigs go their entire life without a bath, it's not something I would do just because!