Bathing

[Sivlei]

I have two guinea pigs and I think they are around 4 and a half years old. I haves ome questions about bathing them.
1. How often?
2. Do I need piggie shampoo?
3. How much water?
4. What's the best way to dry them?
And I forgot to mention they are a bit skittish and long haired.

 

[Piggies&buns]

They don’t need to be bathed unless there is a medical need to do so or if something like arthritis is preventing them from being able to keep themselves clean. Healthy piggies are fully able to keep themselves clean.
Routinely bathing them is not good for their skin. The occasional bum bath with plain water is fine if it is needed.

Bathing (including cleaning grease glands)

 

[VickiA]

Most of my piggies have never been bathed. They only need bathing if their coats are filthy (eg long haired and soaked in pee/poop). Otherwise I only ever bathe if necessary in medical grounds (eg upset stomach and dirty bum/undercarriage, or if they are too poorly or frail to be able to keep themselves clean. Please don’t make bathing part of your routine care unless it’s absolutely necessary.

 

[piggieminder]

If they are long haired it is better to keep the hair trimmed rather than bathing them. I have a peruvian that gets a regular trim to stop his hair dragging the ground. He is rather skittish wen being trimmed so I put him on a towel in the bath to do it. This way he won't get hurt from a blind panic jump.