Grooming Your Guinea Pig

Despite what some people say, guinea pigs are extremely low maintenance pets, and easy to take care of. However, they do require some day-to-day care.

The Nails

Your guinea pig’s nails are going to need trimming, or they will get long and painful.

Giving your guinea pigs rocks, rough stones, bricks, and other, similar surfaces can really help wear down their nails, so you don't have to clip them. Bricks are the cheapest and best solution, but make sure that they don't have holes in them!

With clear nails, all you need to do is cut just above the pinkish area.

With black nails, many owners choose to cut their guinea pigs nails very little, and more often. It's not impossible to cut a longer black nail without cutting the quick, though it does take time and practice.

If you end up cutting the quick, you will need to stop the bleeding. Many pet stores sell 'Quick Stop', which will stop the bleeding altogether. If you don't have this, put iodine on the nail instead.

Your guinea pig is likely to squirm a lot during this process. If you've got help to cut the nail, this is going to be easier to do. Wrap your guinea pig in a towel, and make sure the feet are sticking out. Have one person hold the guinea pig while the other cuts the nails.

If you're going solo, place your guinea pig on a tennis racket so that their nails are sticking out, and cover them so that they feel more 'secure'.

The Teeth

Like most rodents, your guinea pig has two incisors that are constantly growing. If they grow too long, you need to take your guinea pig to the vet to get them cut, or your pig won't be able to eat.

Eating hard foods keep these teeth in check, which is why you should always keep things in the cage for your pet to chew on - like toilet paper rolls, for instance.

Many people give their guinea pigs hay cubes or old, stale bread to help them keep their teeth shorter as well, but this doesn't mean you don't have to inspect them regularly.

Check their teeth and make sure that nothing is chipped or broken, because this is bad for your guinea pig. If something has broken, or fallen out, you need to contact your vet.

Brushing

You should regularly brush your guinea pig to keep their coat clean, shining, and healthy. For long haired guinea pigs, daily brushing is vital - for short haired guinea pigs, a few times a week works well.

Use a soft baby's brush, with gentle bristles, as this will make your guinea pig truly enjoy it. For longer fur that might get tangled, try a metal greyhound comb - this will remove all of the excess hair and lessen shedding.

Bathing

Let's get one thing clear - guinea pigs don't like to be bathed. They become highly stressed when you do decide to dunk them in water, and this can lower their immune system.

Many guinea pigs go their entire lives without bathing, and that's just fine for them. Unless you've been instructed by the vet, or your guinea pig got into something dirty and smelly, you do not have to bathe your guinea pig.

If you do have to bathe him, choose a shampoo that's light on his skin - either something made for kittens (Not cats) or a baby shampoo. Only use a medicated shampoo if it's recommended by a vet.