Bathtime!

[piggielover92]

I have 5 short hair guinea pigs. How often should I give them a bath? I have heard once a week on one website, then on another website I heard once every three monthes! Also when you give your pigs bathes, what kind of shampoo should you use? I use a tearless, extra gentle puppy shampoo.

 

[Bonnie]

This link contains excellent information on grooming your pigs.
https://www.guinealynx.info/healthycavy.html#grooming

 

[mncavylover]

I use a baby shampoo so that if you get it in their eyes accidentally, it won't hurt. It's also got moisturizers so it won't dry out their skin. I bathed mine just because they had mites. You'll really only have to bathe them if they get really, really dirty or if they have some sort of sickness like lice or mites. Good luck on the baths! =)

 

[Bonnie]

You should NOT use shampoo that is made for humans, even if it is made for babies. It is not ph balanced for animals. You can use something like Four Paws Bunny Bath. Please see the link I provided.

You need to treat your pig with ivermectin. Bathing him/her will NOT get rid of the mites. Please see this link: https://www.guinealynx.info/hairloss.html#mangemite

 

[mncavylover]

I see, but that was on a vet's recommendation. I couldn't find a decent pet store to buy small animal shampoo from. I've tried PetSmart and PetCo (yes, yes, I know how bad those are) but they just carried products for ferrets. I don't know how safe those are for guinea pigs. I needed the shampoo for the mite treatment that day, and my vet suggested baby shampoo so, after endless frustration, I gave in and bought some. What's wrong with it? Please, if I've made a mistake, can you tell me how this shampoo will hurt them? Thanks for replying. =)
Note: I got them treated for the mites and they are all gone. Thanks for the concern though.

 

[Bonnie]

Firstly you need to actually treat the mites. No matter what shampoo you used, they are not gone. Read that link to see why and to get information on treating them. It's very easy.
The shampoo isn't necessarily toxic to them or anything, but it could do a number of things. Dry out their skin causing unnecessary itching, give them a rash, etc. If you are unable to find a shampoo suitable for small animals such as rabbit shampoo, you can use kitten shampoo. With NO pyrethrins. Make sure it does not contain anything for killing fleas, and make sure it is kitten shampoo.

In the same way it wouldn't be good for you to use dog shampoo, it wouldn't be good for a pig to use people shampoo. Those links are very good and you really need to treat your pig for mites. Hope this helps.

 

[mncavylover]

As I said before, my piggies have been treated. They have each had their set of three Ivermec shots. The mites are all gone, but thanks for your concern anyway. =) Thanks also for telling me about the shampoo. I'll find something else for their next bath, even if it means ordering online.

by the way, nice cage! =)

 

[Bonnie]

Yes, sorry I didn't see that you had edited your post.

 

[mncavylover]

That's ok... =) Thanks again!

 

[kennethlhm]

Once a week is too frequent. Prefer every 3 months. Sometimes it depends on whether the piggies get dirty or not.

 

[BaysideBandGeek]

With concern to the dog shampoo:

My pigs had lice and I called a guinea pig vet to ask what do do about it. He said use a dog flea and tick shampoo with pyrethrins in it, that will kill the lice. I bathe them once a week after cleaning their cage and plan to continue to prevent lice reinfestation as of we do not know where they got them from (the family we bought them from says her pigs don't have any lice.) My pigs are now lice free and no longer itch. I asked the vet what they would do for treatment and he told me it was pretty much the same thing. A shampooing, the only difference is they had drops to put in their eyes to prevent the shampoo getting in them. He told me to use the dog shampoo once a week and it would do the same thing. I used the cheapest dog shampoo I could find at PetSmart (Top Paw flea and tick. Orange bottle/shampoo)

I got the pigs in late June/Early July, and they are allready lice free. I DID NOT shampoo their face, only up to the backs of their ears to prevent shampoo in their eyes, and it still killed the lice.

And yes, people can use dog shampoo with pyrethrins in it. That's another alternative to human and pig lice treatment.

If you are unsure or do not trust my advise, call a guinea pig vet.

 

[Bonnie]

Pyrethrins are dangerous for cavies. You should consider using a better method of getting rid of the lice. And bathing that often is way too much. Please see the following link: https://www.guinealynx.info/hairloss.html#lice

 

[BaysideBandGeek]

no offense, but I'd listen to a Vet over an advice forum....

With the Advantage, that has not been tested, and the vet had never even heard of it (I've seen it before and asked about it). There is to much to mess up with the dosage that I wouldn't risk it. At least I know the shampoo works, and the pigs are perfectly fine.

 

[Bonnie]

Perhaps you should get a second opinion from a more cavy knowledgable veterinarian.

 

[ChadWPB]

I fully agree with Bonnie. Pyrethrin shampoo is great - if you want a dead guinea pig. What kind of vet do you have if he hasn't heard of Advantage?

Four Paws Bunny Bath is a much better alternative for bathing your piggie. My Amee wouldn't use anything else!

Topical Ivermectin, an over the counter product may also kill lice and also is quite effective against mange mites.

Pigs have extremely sensitive respiratory systems. Pyrethrins may not affect them now, but probably will cause damage in the long run.

 

[kennethlhm]

How do you wash their head? Or it is not neccessary to "clean" her head? I only bath their body untill neck only.

 

[BaysideBandGeek]

How do you wash their head? Or it is not neccessary to "clean" her head? I only bath their body untill neck only.

Same. I bath up tp the backs of their ears to prevent shampoo from getting in their eyes.

The vet has heard of Advantage, just not for the use of guinea pigs.

Sorry, But I'm going to continue to do what the vet told me to do. I trust him over an advise forum.

 

[CavySpirit]

Advantage, is probably the best treatment for LICE for guinea pigs. One drop behind each ear is great. Repeat once in about 3-4 weeks.

Regarding vets, I can't tell you how many people I deal with at my rescue, both directly and over the phone who have been given advice and treatment from vets ranging from lethal to useless to less than optimum. Vets are not God. Very far from it. It's possible to get through vet school with about an hour's worth of education on cavies.

If you want to know the absolute CORRECT general information about care and medical issues, you really should be checking www.guinealynx.info. The BEST vets also actually rely on that website and take into account printouts of discussions that members provide on the associated medical forum. ALL of the information on that site has been 'vetted' by guinea pig VET experts around North America (US and Canada) as well as vet techs. Multiple approaches as sited as appropriate, credible sources are also sited.

 

[CavySpirit]

Regarding bathing guinea pigs and their heads: When I need to clean their heads and especially around their eyes, I use a toothbrush wetted with a little soapy (with whatever shampoo I'm using) water and use the toothbrush to clean and then rinse the area. It works great and they really seem love the soothing nature of the toothbrush. The toothbrush gives you complete control over the application.

 

[BaysideBandGeek]

It doesn't matter anymore anyway, the pigs have allready been treated and are now lice free after a couple shampooings.

The Vet specialized in Cavys. He told us that if we were to bring them in for lice treatment, he was to do a lice shampooing also. Why spend $30 for something I can do at home for 5$ and is just as safe and effective. There is only .05% Pyrethrin. I soap them up for a few seconds, and rinse about 3 times to be safe.

I would stop shampooing them weekly, but we don't know how the pigs got the lice to begin with. The person we bought the pigs fom says her pigs don't have lice, and the only thing we can think of is the grass. Because these pigs are going to be class pets, we cannot let these pigs have lice, even if it doesn't affect humans.

With the advantage: My pigs are 2 months old and you have to sort of "measure" it out per pound. My pigs are not even one pound yet, thats pretty hard to measure by without hurting them or overdosing.

Thanks for your concern however.