Grooming your guinea pig is important as it keeps them clean and healthy. Different types of guinea pigs have different grooming needs. Therefore, it is essential to learn how to groom your guinea pigs to ensure that they are always clean!

Hair

#1 Short-haired: they do not need much brushing. You can brush them once a week to remove some loose hairs. 

#2 Long-haired: they need daily brushing and occasional trim. 

Nails 

All guinea pigs should have their nails trimmed twice a month. Remember to remove just the sharp tips. 

How to Trim Your Guinea Pig’s Nails 

It is important to start trimming your piggy’s nails when they are young so they are familiarised with the procedure.  

#1 Human nail clippers or clippers made for cats or small pets are suitable. 

#2 Buy some styptic powder. It will come in handy if you accidentally cut the quick which causes bleeding. Styptic powder will prevent them from bleeding continuously.

#3 If you have never trimmed any pet’s nails before, you need to learn where their quick is to avoid cutting it. The quick is the pink part of the nail that contains the blood supply. It is easy to cut clear nails as it is easy to identify their quick. However, if your piggy has dark nails, you have to be careful. Try to cut tiny amounts off the ends to prevent cutting their quick.

#4 Have your piggy sit on your lap on something soft such as a towel. Your piggy should be sitting on your lap with its back towards you. 

#5 “Burrito” method can be helpful. Have your piggy wrapped snugly in a towel with its feet sticking out. 

#6 If your piggy fidgets a lot, providing them with something to chew on can be helpful. You can give them some apple slices to chew on while you trim their nails.

#7 Hold one foot and gently trim each nail. Remember to start with a tiny amount if you are new at this! 

#8 If you are really unsure, you can ask your veterinarian to demonstrate to you. Your veterinarian will be happy to show you how to do it! 

Bath

All guinea pigs occasionally need to have their backs bathed. Long-haired guinea pigs will need bathing more often. 

How to Bathe a Guinea Pig 

Your piggy does not need regular baths. However, it would be good to bathe them a few times a year or when they are particularly dirty. It would be great to start bathing them when they are young. Additionally, you can provide them with veggie or fruit as a treat so that they would not be as stressed. 

#1 You need guinea pig safe shampoo. 

#2 You can either bathe your piggy in your sink or use a large bucket or tub. If the sink or tub has a slippery surface, you can place a cloth at the bottom so that they don’t slip and get scared. This method is quieter and can be less stressful for your pig. 

#3 Put warm water in another bucket, slowly pour a small amount of water on your piggy. Remember to stay away from their face. 

#4 Remember to avoid their faces when you are bathing them. Use your hands to move the water around their body to make it wet. 

#5 Put a tiny amount of shampoo in your hands. Slowly work it into your piggy’s fur. 

#6 Rinse your piggy gently until the water is clear. Make sure all the shampoo is rinsed out before moving on.

#7 Take a towel and carefully dry as much excess water as you can. For longer haired piggies, you should have a comb with you to comb their hair to prevent tangling. 

#8 Placing your piggy on a secure surface, use a blow dryer to dry them. Use the lowest setting available. Use your fingers to help dry their fur quicker. To prevent tangling, use a comb to brush through their fur. 

#9 Make sure your guinea pig is 100% dry before placing them back into their cage.