Guinea pigs generally keep themselves clean and require minimal grooming. This is one of the reasons they make such a great pet for so many people.
However, as their owner, you should still brush their fur, clip their nails, trim their hair and clean their ears as needed.
Let’s take a look at the steps you should take when grooming your little pig.
Brushing
The amount that you need to brush your guinea pig will depend on what breed they are. If you have a shorter haired guinea pig, you will be able to get away with brushing them only once a week. However, if they are longer-haired, you’ll find you need to brush them a couple of times a week to prevent matting.
Brushing your guinea pig not only keeps their coat in check, but also gives you a chance to monitor their skin and fur for anything out of the ordinary, such as parasites.
We recommend you use a narrow toothed comb to brush their fur with and brush in the direction that the fur is growing in. If your long-haired guinea pig’s fur is dragging on the ground, you can use hair scissors and trim the hair.
Nail Clipping
Guinea pig nails tend to grow quite quickly, so you will need to trim them every one to two months. If their nails grow too long, they can begin to curl up into their foot pads, which can cause severe pain.
Make sure you don’t cut into the quick of your guinea pig’s nails. The quick is a vein in each nail which runs into the base of each nail. The quick can be seen pretty easily if your guinea pig has lighter colored nails. However, if they have darker colored nails it can be harder to see.
If you cut into the quick you may see a lot of blood. This may look worse than it is, but still try to avoid doing it! You can use some cornstarch or styptic powder to help stop the bleeding.
When you first begin to clip your guinea pig’s nails, you may find it takes some time and they squirm or move about. However, the more often you do it and the more used to it they get, the easier and quicker it will become. The best way to do this is to hold your guinea pig firmly when cutting their nails, without hurting them.
Bathing
Guinea pigs do not need to be bathed often, as they do keep themselves clean. The main reason you will probably find you need to bathe your pig is because their fur may become soiled with urine or feces.
These animals do not like to be immersed in water, so only use an inch or two of warm water to wash them. If you can, just focus on the area which needs to be cleaned, without getting the rest of their fur unnecessarily wet.
You can use non-medicated shampoo or a special pet shampoo to bathe your guinea with. After bathing, dry them off with a towel. You could also use a hairdryer on a gentle setting to dry them if they don’t mind the noise.
Learn more about how to bathe your guinea pig here.
Dental Care
While guinea pig’s teeth don’t need to be brushed by you, it is a good idea you keep an eye on them.
Guinea pig teeth are continuously growing, and require foods such as hay to chew on to help wear them down. If they grow too long, they can cause severe issues for your pig which can be painful and even life threatening.
If you notice a change in your pet’s eating habits, they begin to drool or you suspect they are having issues with their mouth or teeth, take your guinea to the vet for a check up.
Ear Cleaning
You should check your guinea pig’s ears around once a week for any signs of infections, ear mites or wax build up. If you notice anything unusual about your pig’s ears, such as discolouring, irritation or an odor, make sure to consult your vet.
Clean your guinea pig’s ears around once a month. Use some cotton wool and oil or water and wipe it gently around the ear and behind the ear. Make sure you never insert anything into your guinea pig’s ear, as this can cause serious damage.
Hair Trimming
As we mentioned above, if you have a long-haired piggy, you’ll need to brush them regularly to prevent their fur from matting. However, another way to keep their coat looking smart and smelling fresh is to trim it.
Trimming a long-haired guinea’s coat means it won’t be dragging on the ground, potentially through dirt and poop. This also makes the fur more manageable and means there is less for you to brush and clean.
To trim your guinea pig’s coat you can use hair scissors, focusing on the butt area and the hair around the legs. If your piggy’s coat is very matted and a lot needs to be taken off, you can use clippers instead.
If you are concerned or worried about trimming you pet’s hair, you can always take them to a groomers or ask your vet for advice.
