How can I wash them? And cut nails?

ladymuck83

ladymuck83

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hey all can someone please advise on washing my guinea pigs, especially the long haired Roi he's always finding places to pee and then running through it. I trimmed his back hair the other day hope I was allowed to do that but it seemed to be getting matted.

I tried so hard to cut their nails followed the instructions on youtube but they were really freaking out I've never heard these noises before and Roi even gave me a nibble for the first time so I stopped I don't even think I got one done.
 
ladymuck83 said:
Hey all can someone please advise on washing my guinea pigs, especially the long haired Roi he's always finding places to pee and then running through it. I trimmed his back hair the other day hope I was allowed to do that but it seemed to be getting matted.

I tried so hard to cut their nails followed the instructions on youtube but they were really freaking out I've never heard these noises before and Roi even gave me a nibble for the first time so I stopped I don't even think I got one done.
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Hi and welcome

Please keep the bum end and the area around the genitalia and legs cut short, also the sides. This prevents the worst soaking and matting.
If possible, avoid too many full body baths and just give a quick bum bath with baby warm water after you have cut off all stained and tangled hairs. In the hotter summer months, you want to give your long-haired piggy a short haircut so he doesn't have to lug the equivalent of a skisuit around a tropical beach.
You may find this recent thread here that deals with a similar problem to yours helpful: Can I trim my Peruvian piggies fur?
This is our boar care guide, which also deals with bum baths: Boar Care: Bits, Bums & Baths
And this is our full bathing guide in case you really need to give a full body bath: Bathing (including cleaning grease glands)


The best way to get around your nail cutting problem is to enquire at your vet clinic whether a nurse could cut the nails for you and show you how to best do it. It usually doesn't cost a lot. We have a number of members who prefer to have the nails done by somebody else.
However, I also find it helpful to use our guinea pig whispering tips to establish my authority but to also reassure them plenty through the process that I love them and to commiserate with them as well as to praise them lavishly. This process works for any grooming or medicating job!
Guide to Cutting Guinea Pig Nails
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips
 
Hello,

My boy Finn has long hair and he complains during bum baths and nail cutting time.
I can cut all of Lara's nails in less than a minute with help of a soft towel and a big plastic container. I put my piggy in a big plastic container and I use a soft towel to gently hold them and work on cutting their nails. Finn complains a lot so it takes about 5 minutes to cut all his nails, which is 5 times more than it takes to cut Lara's nails.

I use both a tunnel and a big plastic container in cutting Finn's hair. When he goes in his tunnel, he lets me cut his bum hair. Also, while he is in the big plastic container, I try my best to trim as much hair as possible.
This is the tunnel that helps me when cutting Finn's bum hair. He stays in his tunnel while munching on parsley, and I work on cutting his bum hair.
IMG_0637.JPG
 
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I give bum baths to my long haired boy Finn. My Finn and Lara are indoor piggies so they will smell if I don't keep up with maintenance like bum bathing and cleaning cages.

For a bum bath, I prepare two buckets and put very little warm water on both buckets, then I pour gentle shampoo and little dish washing soap in one bucket. I wash my boy Finn's bum in the soapy water, then move him to the next bucket with clean water. I wash him once more in clean water then I move him to a big plastic container with towel waiting for him to dry.

I give bum baths about every 2-3 months. I don't give bum bath to Lars who has very short hair.

Good luck, :tu:
 
Can I use baby shampoo to clean Roi's bum today? he really does whiff ha
 
ladymuck83 said:
Can I use baby shampoo to clean Roi's bum today? he really does whiff ha
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Please use a small pet shampoo not a human shampoo. You can buy Johnson’s small pet shampoo very easily from pet shops. Even better are the shampoos from gorgeous guineas which smell gorgeous and a specially formulated for different issues including long hair, boar care etc.
 
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