How to Groom Guinea Pig

If you are thinking of getting a guinea pig as a house pet, then you should be well informed about grooming a guinea pig.



You just need to groom them and take care of them daily, and your pet will thrive. They are easy to take care of. Here are some tips about grooming and guinea pig health care.

• Hair: If you have a long-haired guinea pig, then you need to brush its coat every day for a short while.
  
  
  
  A small and handy brush with soft bristles is recommended, while a brush with hard bristles is recommended for guinea pigs with very long hair. For guinea pigs with short hair, brushing a couple of times a week should be enough to keep their coat in good condition. You also need to remove parasites, particles, dirt and excess hair from your pet’s coat to keep it disease free.
• Nails: It is important to trim the guinea pig’s nails every now and then.
  
  
  
  Your pet may not be comfortable while you do this, and will squirm and wriggle. So, it is advisable to ask a friend or family member to hold the guinea pig while you trim its nails. You can also wrap a towel around them with just the limbs exposed. If your guinea pig has black nails, then, the nails should be trimmed more regularly. It is also advisable to place rough stones around the cage so that the guinea pig can grind its nails naturally and keep them short.
• Teeth: A guinea pig belongs to the rodent family and its teeth grow continuously. You have to make sure not to let its teeth grow too long as it won’t be able to eat properly with long incisors. So, you can include hard foods that it has to gnaw at and chew, so that the teeth will get filed naturally. Dry, stale bread is recommended for guinea pigs and make for good chewing. Do check your guinea pig’s teeth regularly and take it to the Vet in case one of its teeth is missing or broken.
• Bathing: Bathing is an important part of guinea pig’s grooming. Of course, these little creatures hate taking a dip in the water. You need to bathe your guinea pig if it’s got into a mess and dirties itself. However, since these animals hate taking a bath, you can use soaked hand towels or wash cloths to wipe your guinea pig. Do not use perfumed shampoos. After wiping with a wet cloth, dry them and brush their coat.