Is it possible to bathe guinea pigs and how to do it correctly?

Guinea pig - a pet, the acquisition of which every second child pleads with parents. And often adults are not stubborn for a long time: not the most troublesome animal, small, cute, and do not need to walk. But when a guinea pig appears in the family, the first dispute regarding the pet is whether to bathe it. Here begins the controversy: mumps, which means that it is not the cleanest animal, it’s obvious that you need to bathe often! Sea - where did she long without water. Both arguments do not hold water.

The pig was called the pig because of the shape of its face, which somewhat resembled a pig stigma. And the general contour of the body fit into the image of a pig, only very small. And “sea” is what remains of the adjective “overseas,” as the animal was originally called. So neither dirty, nor the beast from the marine expanses of the pet can not be considered.

The rodent is considered a clean animal. Normally, he himself puts himself in order, and there is no need to wash the guinea pig. In the natural environment, of course, no one is satisfied with the animal water procedures.

If the animal is healthy, if the conditions that you organized for it are favorable, you should not bathe it. For a rodent, water procedures will be stressful: for children who most often insist on a bath for a pig, it is worth explaining this immediately after purchase.

But there are arguments that suggest that sometimes it is necessary to wash the guinea pig.

Consider the situations in which the animal should be washed.

• If on the hair with his naked eye visible tangles, lumps, pollution, formed for various reasons. This can happen to the mumps if it “runs away for a walk” or is walking in a street aviary during the warm season.
• If you see that the pet's fur has faded, if you can’t call it brilliant and alive, then maybe the pig can't wash itself. This also happens. In this situation, she needs help.
• If tomorrow is an important exhibition where you are going to show your pet in all its glory, the bath is necessary for the pig as a spa. In order for the fur to shine, the animal will have to suffer water treatments.
• If the mumps become unpleasant to smell, it should definitely be very carefully washed.
• Notice the condition in which mumps has sebaceous gland. Where the animal has a tail, there is an organ responsible for the production of sebum. To be more precise, a special secret is produced from the gland, which, like pheromones, acts on representatives of the opposite sex. The sebaceous gland is a fat zone, oily, looking like a small bald spot. And if you find crusts in this place, the guinea pig definitely needs to be redeemed.

As you can see, among the reasons for bathing there is no “curiosity”, “idle interest” and reasons like “it seems to me that she wants to swim.” Because once again, do not expose the animal to stress: and water for him is a frightening situation.

It is impossible to say that the pigs with delight perceive the idea of ​​swimming. Yes, animals have a swimming skill - under natural conditions, they are able to overcome water obstacles (streams, for example). If you bathe the animal, you will not cause much harm to it, but bathing will not cause pleasant sensations.

If, plunging the animal into the water, you see panic, aggression, a high alarm of the pet, do not train him, do not teach him to be patient - get the animal out of the water. If it seems to you that it is dirty, simply wipe the foot, the fur with moist napkins without fragrances. You can just moisten a piece of cloth in warm soapy water and wipe the animal - in most cases this is enough.

And although most guinea pigs try to avoid swimming, there are specimens among their brethren who take a bath with pleasure. If the owners treat them gently, if the water is comfortable for the animal, the eyes do not sting, it is relaxed and calm, the animal will take a good swim. It may even purr and whistle from pleasure.

A reasonable question is how many times a month you can bathe the mumps. If you have a pet of a long-haired breed, it seems that he only does what he smears, gathering dust, overgrowing with lumps of dirt, and so on.

Regular washing is not considered at all - for a mumps is an unnatural procedure, because there is no schedule. If the summer is very hot, stuffy, and you think that the pig itself wants to take a bath, then at most once a month for a short time you can give her a light shower. At another time, bathe mumps once every 3 months, no more.

After a bath, a person can get a cold, and a small animal, unaccustomed to its natural habitat conditions, is under direct threat. Therefore, it is categorically forbidden to bathe the rodent.

There are still at least 5 "no" regarding bathing guinea pig.

1. You can not bathe the cubs - Only adults tolerate relatively calm bath procedures. The little guinea pig is threatened from all sides, and it may not survive the water stress. Yes, and does not need a young wool in the wash.
2. You can not bathe a pet in the first days of the house. It seems to many owners that the first thing you need to do is to bathe the mumps so that it “clean and fluffy” takes root better. On the contrary, such stress only hinders the adaptation of the animal. Let him calmly get comfortable, everything is new for him, everything is scary, everything is alien.
3. Do not bathe your pet in winter. As already mentioned, a cold can be fatal to a rodent. To temperature extremes and drafts mumps are extremely sensitive.
4. Do not put pregnant women in water: swimming for them is a huge stress with serious risks.
5. Do not bathe a sick rodent.

Never violate these rules - one case of neglect is enough to cause irreparable harm to the animal.

The animal is afraid of any surprise. He perceives it as a threat, starts to panic, scream, break out of hand. In this scenario, you can not continue to swim. Therefore, the pet must be prepared for the procedure. 3-5 days before the scheduled bathing, you should take the rodent in your arms, go into the bathroom. If he was already scared at this stage, calm the animal, stroke it, you can treat your favorite delicacy.

You can comb the piggy hair in the bathroom: most of the pets love it, so the new environment will be associated with pleasant feelings by the rodent.

When you realize that the pig has settled down in the bathroom, you can put it in the sink or in the basin (where later you are going to bathe the animal). Let it get used to a dry surface so that it does not react negatively to the same place, only with water.

The next stage of safe addiction is the inclusion of water. Let the water flow in a thin stream (no strong pressure), do not send water to the gilt fur, even as a joke. The animal needs to feel some water with its paws, then it will cease to be afraid of the sound of water.

Do not rush to swim, if you see that the adaptation was not very good. Only when the pig has ceased to be afraid of the bath, when the water flowing from the tap does not frighten the animal, can the animal be bathed. The procedure begins more "on land." Approximately 20 minutes before bathing, the sebaceous glands of the animal must be lubricated with cosmetic oil (any suitable). This will soften the crust, which will allow them to quickly and easily fall off in the water.

Be sure to wear gloves before the washing procedure. It is not excluded that the pig is still scared, starts kicking and biting - you need to protect yourself.

Guinea pig bathing involves several activities.

1. It is more convenient to bathe the animal in the sink. It is not very correct to do this in the bath or in the basin: the mumps will see the sides and may try to jump out of the tank. And in a soapy solution, the animal is very slippery, so you should not rely on your own dexterity. In the water you need to be very careful - if the mumps breaks out and falls, it can seriously cripple, there is a danger of mortal danger.
2. In the sink, close the drain, type enough water so that it touches the belly of the pig. At the bottom of the sink it is reasonable to put a small cotton napkin so that the animal can grasp it with its paws - so the animal will be calmer.
3. Immerse the pig in the water, stroke it, talk calmly and gently.
4. Hands gently moisten the pet's fur. If you have a long-haired piggy pig, you can take a small dipper or a cup, pour a thin stream of water from the dipper into an animal. But do not lift the container very high: the pig will get scared.
5. When the fur is already sufficiently moist, apply a drop of shampoo on your hand (no longer needed). Take baby shampoo, neutral, if there is nothing else. But it is better, of course, to purchase a special tool in the pet store. Shampoos for rabbits and cats are quite suitable, but do not take funds for dogs - they are very aggressive towards pigs. Try not to wash your pet with a simple soap, there are a lot of acids in it, which will make the fur brittle and stiff.
6. Shampoo fool in the usual way in your hands, apply it to the animal's fur. Foam should not fall on the head, reach no further than the neck. Carefully, with maximum delicacy, wash the sebaceous gland. Remove the crusts - they are already soft, well removed.
7. Begin to wash the fur, do it slowly, without sudden movements. Simultaneously water the animal with water from a scoop. No moisture should get into the ears and eyes of the mumps. It is fraught with otitis, conjunctivitis, which will be added to the elementary fright.
8. Owners of the long-haired gilts often complicate the process of washing with the additional use of balm. There is no great need for this, unless, of course, you prepare an animal for an exhibition. However, after the balm combing the hair is not so difficult. Hold it for a minute on the wool, wash it off. But do not get carried away - every time you do not need to wash your pet.

There is nothing complicated in the rules, if you do not ignore a single prescription, then occasionally, if necessary, you can bathe your pet at home. If the first bathing experience remained positive, it does not mean that the procedure can be promoted.

After the bath procedures, clean the mumps gland as well as the anal pocket. Wipe the area of ​​the sebaceous gland with a cotton swab, then treat with an antiseptic (regular chlorophyllipt will do). To clean the anal pocket, you need a little pressure on the lower abdomen of the mumps, the pocket will bulge, with a cotton swab soaked in oil, you quickly clean it. Avoid excessive friction. Very often, manual cleaning can not be done, but once a month and a half, try to do it.

If you see that the animal is scared, just use a dry towel, not forgetting to change the fabric.

After swimming, you do not need to take the animal out on the street for at least a day. In a cold room, in a draft it is impossible to leave a rodent. Do not let a wet animal in a cage with sawdust - they stick to the fur. After the bath, the pet deserves a delicious lunch, please the animal, it is useful for him to calm down.

How to wash the guinea pig, see the following video.