How to Bath Your Guinea Pig Safely

Guinea pigs make wonderful and funny pets. They don't cost a lot to keep and make a great child's pet. Sometimes you may have to bathe your guinea pig, such as when your vet advises you to or if your guinea pig is a long haired breed. Read on to learn how to give your guinea pig a bath.

1. 1
   Run about 5cm warm water (NOT HOT) into a sink or bath. Do not add bubble bath or anything else. Just warm water.
2. 2
   Place a small towel at the bottom of sink/tub for your pet to grip.
3. 3
   Put your hand in the water to make sure it's just the right temperature for your guinea pig. Also be sure that your guinea pig will be able to stand up in the bath or sink without its head going under water.
4. 4
   Pick up your guinea pig and place it in the bath or sink making sure it does not go under the water.
5. 5
   Add a squirt of small animal or guinea pig shampoo on to the back of your guinea pig and gently massage it into its coat, making sure the shampoo does not go in your guinea pigs nose, eyes or ears. If this happens rinse it out with cool water.
   • Also clean its feet, bum, and belly.
6. 6
   Now with warm water rinse all the shampoo off your guinea pig.
7. 7
   Take your guinea pig out of the sink or bath and place it on a towel to dry it.
8. 8
   After this it may be a good idea to keep your guinea pig indoors for the rest of the day and night (if it live outdoors) as they may catch a cold or get a chill.
9. 9
   Place your guinea pig into its cage dry and warm.

tips!

• Giving a few treats to your guinea pig after the bath will comfort it from what for some guinea pigs is a stressful experience.
• It is good to give your guinea pig a bath around every four months to maintain fur and smell.

warning!!

• If shampoo goes into your guinea pigs eyes wash it out immediately as it might cause blindness or irritation to the eyes, ears and nose.
• Some guinea pigs do not enjoy being washed and squirm. Take extra caution that it does not get hurt.

How to Build up a Close Bond With Your Guinea Pig

In a few simple steps you can learn how to get your guinea pig to trust you. in a short space of time you and your piggy will be good friends.

Steps

1. 
   1
   Pick up your piggy. Place one hand under his/her tummy and the other hand under his/her back feet. Hold your piggy close to your body with his or her face looking up at you.
2. 
   2
   Be confident with your knee. For small children an old cushion or a towel may help with confidence, and stop the claws digging into their lap.
3. 
   3
   Relax, your pet can feel your tension and this will make him/her scared or stressed. This can be bad for your piggy
4. 
   4
   Piggies love quite soothing music (classical is best) in order to calm them down. Quiet and soothing music, not the latest heavy metal tracks.
5. 
   5
   Brushing your pet may build up a bond and your local pet store will stock a small animal brush for sure.
6. 
   6
   Get some small treats or cut up veg to give your piggy.
7. 
   7
   Let them lick the sweat off your fingers. This may sound a bit weird but piggies love the salty taste of the sweat (but don't give them salt).

tips

• If you have more than one pig, try as best as you can to treat them equally. A jealous pig can lead to stress or a fight.
• Be confident.
• If you have three guinea pigs then show them that you care for them.
• Relax.
• If they misbehave, show them who is boss.
• Do not punish or shout at your guinea pigs; they will not understand and may get stressed.

Things You'll Need

• Treats
• Calming music
• Small pet brush
• Towel or old cushion

How to Feed a Guinea Pig a Well Balanced Meal

Guinea pigs are very popular pets owned today. With their cute personalities, list of vocalizations, and coats of numerous colors, who wouldn't love them? People have been asking me "how do I properly feed a guinea pig, and what would you recommend?" Some people new to guinea pigs may not know exactly what they should be feeding their guinea pigs, so don't be shy to ask this question. If you are wondering how to feed your guinea pigs, you have found the correct article.

Steps

1. 1
   First you will need to select a correct brand of food for your guinea pig. If you have a baby guinea pig I suggest something much higher in vitamin and mineral content. This goes for owners of a pregnant guinea pig as well. There are many different brands of food on the market today. There's grass food, commercial branded food, colored food, and pelleted food. Pelleted foods are much healthier for your guinea pigs because they are not dyed with artificial colors and flavors like some commercial brands. It may make you dizzy when selecting your brand of food for the first time, but I suggest to look into pelleted foods.
2. 2
   After purchasing your dried food, you will need to purchase a bag of hay to feed your guinea pig. Guinea pigs need hay in order to keep their teeth from overgrowing, and the hay keeps their digestive system clean. Timothy hay is perfect for adult guinea pigs, while baby and pregnant guinea pigs will need alfalfa hay, which has a higher vitamin and mineral content in it.
3. 3
   Fruits and vegetables are needs in a guinea pig's daily diet. Fruits and veggies high in vitamin c keep them from getting scurvy, a disease that weakens the bones and causes bleeding. There are several lists with proper serving sizes on what fresh foods to feed guinea pigs.
4. 4
   Now it's time to learn how to feed your guinea pig. Every morning when you wake up, dump out leftover pelleted food in the trash can and throw away any leftover produce. Wash the bowl out with soap and set to dry. Change water and refill bottle. Take 1 cup and dump it into your guinea pig's bowl and place it into his cage. Give your guinea pig one handful of hay daily, and provide fresh greens and fruits daily as well. Make sure your guinea pig always has water.
5. 5
   Make sure to exercise your guinea pig daily. As long as getting enough exercise, your guinea pig will not get fat.

Tips

• If your looking for fresh fruits high in vitamin c content, give your guinea pig strawberries. Strawberries have higher vitamin c content than oranges do.
• Store your guinea pig's food in a cereal container. Clean the container out every time it's empty to cut back on bacteria.
• Make sure to exercise your guinea pig daily so he will not become overweight. Most people just put their guinea pig outside in the grazing ark, but at the same time they are eating, not exercising, so they will not burn any fat. Instead, put the grazing ark in the house and provide nothing but water and fun toys to play with.
• Use a ceramic glass food dish to feed your guinea pigs. The ceramic glass bowl is much harder to tip over than a plastic bowl, so there will be less wasted food on the cage floor.

Warnings

• Feeding your guinea pig TOO MUCH veggies high in vitamin c content might make him sick. Try not to feed him TOO MUCH of those veggies.
• Purchasing Fiesta Max is a danger top your guinea pig's health. Fiesta Max contains nuts, shells, and seeds, things your guinea pig cannot eat.

Things You'll Need

• Timothy hay
• Pelleted food
• Water bottle
• Ceramic food dish
• Vegetables and fruits with high vitamin C content