Do you bathe guinea pigs ?

[i<3piggys]

Hello I was wondering If you guys bathe your guinea pigs and if they like it ? I read that guinea pigs self groom, but I feel like any animal with hair and that poops should be bathed. Also what kind of soap can you use? or do you have to buy special soap? I appreciate all advice given

 

[Seven7]

I give my long haired boy Finn his bum bath and he seems to like it as he never resisted. I don't put him in a deep water, just enough to give him his bum bath. I rinse him off again with just small amount of water then I set him in a towel that is waiting for him to dry. I give him his treat after his bath so he has a positive view of bum baths.

I use gentle shampoo.

 

[Gia]

Please read this guide from the top of the forum:
How To Bathe Guinea Pigs - Including Ears & Grease Glands

 

[Betsy]

I have only given mine a bath when they have had mites. Betsy has a bum bath occasionally cos she has long fur and it sometimes gets all matted if I don't trim it regularly. I use Gorgeous Guineas shampoo.

 

[i<3piggys]

Please read this guide from the top of the forum:
How To Bathe Guinea Pigs - Including Ears & Grease Glands

thank you

 

[i<3piggys]

I give my long haired boy Finn his bum bath and he seems to like it as he never resisted. I don't put him in a deep water, just enough to give him his bum bath. I rinse him off again with just small amount of water then I set him in a towel that is waiting for him to dry. I give him his treat after his bath so he has a positive view of bum baths.

I use gentle shampoo.

thank you for your reply

 

[i<3piggys]

They are not dirty or extremely smelly but I have had them for about two weeks and haven't bathed them. and that just seems weird to me lol

 

[Claire W]

Guinea pigs generally do not need bathing unless it’s for a medical reason. I bathe mine once or twice a year with Johnson’s insecticide shampoo as it smells lovely and freshens them up. My sow currently has a dirty grease gland so she needs a bum bath

 

[Guineapigfeet]

I’ve had two pigs who have needed to be bathed beacause they got mites and required a medicated shampoo. One of the ones I have now requires occasional bum baths because she’s messy. She’s had 3 in 3 years and my other 4 have never been bathed, two lived to 6 and 8 years old and they just never needed it.

 

[VickiA]

Bathing is not part of regular care unless actively required eg due to dirty bums (usually sick or long haired piggies weeing on their fur).

 

[eileen]

i give all my piggies a bath every 3 months,i have a lot of longhaired cavies.i use vetsect shampoo as it prevents fungal and mite infections.i start with them when young/or when i first aquire them.i have found they get used to it,and stay calm.i do not keep them in alot of water,put a towel at the bottom of the bath.

 

[SkyPipDotBernie]

I have only ever bathed a guinea pig that became incotinent or had the squits

 

[Merab's Slave]

I’ve never bathed my piggies and the eldest is over 6 years.
This may change as I have a long haired girl who can get matted fur around her bum if I don’t keep it trimmed

 

[Beemz]

I wouldn’t want to strip any natural oils from their skin and coat. I personally would only ever bathe an animal if there was a medical need.

 

[Eriathwen]

I rarely bathe any of mine. I have bathed my pink eyed white once in the year I've had her, shortly after bonding her into a herd as she got covered in urine that the others sprayed her with. My special needs Texel seems to need bathing once every 6 months or so as she sometimes gets damp or dirty due to mobility issues although with the way she bobs her head uncontrollably it gets left as long as possible due to the risk of her bobbing her head underwater and inhaling. The other 10 have never been bathed at all, generally I just give them a quick wipe with a damp cloth if they've got mucky although they're usually able to sort themselves out themselves. It's not a planned or routine activity generally, just an as needed/medically necessary basis.

 

[SkyPipDotBernie]

I wouldn’t want to strip any natural oils from their skin and coat. I personally would only ever bathe an animal if there was a medical need.

Yea thats a good point, i got told that this is bad for dogs by a lady that had springer spaniels that she used for shooting pheasents

 

[Beemz]

Yea thats a good point, i got told that this is bad for dogs by a lady that had springer spaniels that she used for shooting pheasents

I have a Labrador- she’s too big to bath but if she ever gets Fox poo on her I have to take her to the river with some baby shampoo! Haven’t had to do this for a couple of years thankfully. She’s raw fed and has a gleaming coat!

 

[SkyPipDotBernie]

I have a Labrador- she’s too big to bath but if she ever gets Fox poo on her I have to take her to the river with some baby shampoo! Haven’t had to do this for a couple of years thankfully. She’s raw fed and has a gleaming coat!

I love labs, i had a springer spaniel ( the gun dog breed) not show

 

[SkyPipDotBernie]

Its a photo of a photo on my wall

 

[Beemz]

Midge!