Should I bathe my guinea pigs?

[Michael07]

Hey everyone just had 2 quick little questions. The first. I have recently adopted 2 guinea pigs from a shelter and I notice that they kinda smell. One of them is an abyssinian with super long hair in the back and he smells the most. I was wondering if I should bathe them just once as I know you're not supposed to regularly bathe them. Also I've seen that they have dry shampoo for small animals and I was wondering if that is safe to use for a one time deal.

My second question. I was wondering if theres any safe thing I can use to kind of cover their smell. They dont wreak and honestly the cage doesnt smell too too bad. But since they're in my bedroom I was wondering if I could use a candle or if there is any other thing I can safely use.

Thanks!

 

[Seven7]

I do bathe my long hair boy Finn to get rid of pee on his bum. His fleece bedding is always changed and cleaned so he is not sitting in pee. I also give him hair cut to prevent his hair from becoming matted, which will be painful for him. I use gentle baby shampoo.

I think candle would be safe but I wouldn't use spray around the piggies. I also have 2 piggies but I personally don't smell anything bad, but I do maintain their cages pretty regularly.

 

[Betsy]

I wouldn't use a candle around them as they are very sensitive to smells. If they smell really bad then give both a bath but only in a bit of water and use a small animal shampoo (NOT dry shampoo) and make sure you dry them properly. Trim the bum hair of your long haired piggy so that but doesn't get matted and then keep it short. He will only need the occasional bum bath then. I hated cutting off Betsy's beautiful skirt first time I did it but she doesn't realise it's gone and is so much happier as she's more comfortable.