Do Guinea Pigs Like Sand Baths? -

Last updated on January 22nd, 2023 at 07:34 pm

Guinea pigs are wonderful pets that need attention and care.

Although caring for them is not too complicated, we still need to give them enough attention to make them feel happy.

Sometimes we wonder how to maintain their hygiene and whether they need a sand bath to be clean.

Do guinea pigs need a sand bath? The answer is no. Guinea pigs do not need a sand bath. After all, when they are in nature, they certainly do not use sand baths or sand to be clean. Sand baths can only cause problems with the dust or the sand itself. Guinea pigs lick their fur to remove dirt, similar to cats.

In today’s article, we will learn why guinea pigs do not need sand baths, and we will also learn how to bathe our furry friends.

Table of Contents show

Do guinea pigs like sand baths?

No, guinea pigs do not like sand baths and do not need them to maintain their hygiene and health.

Guinea pigs do not need sand baths because they tolerate water very well.

Other animals with a problem getting their skin and fur wet need sand baths, but not guinea pigs.

Guinea pigs mostly live in the mountains of South America, where they do not have access to many sandy areas and therefore do not have a natural need to bathe in sand baths.

Are sand baths dangerous for the health of guinea pigs?

Yes, sand baths are bad for their health; if you try to put them in sand baths, you risk having some health problems for your pet.

It can quickly happen that the guinea pig starts eating the sand and can choke.

Another reason is if they inhale the sand and get it stuck in their lungs, that is another potential danger to their health and their lives.

That is why we sincerely recommend not to put your guinea pig in sand baths.

read more: Do Hamsters Need a Heat Lamp?

Do guinea pigs need a bath?

Guinea pigs clean themselves, so they don’t need to be bathed by us.

When they are in the wild, they clean themselves and are used to preserving their hygiene, and they do it very successfully.

Only when they get too dirty and cannot clean themselves should we, the owners, help them and bathe them.

Should we bathe the guinea pigs if they smell a lot?

Yes, in such situations, you can bathe your pets when you notice that your guinea pig smells terrible for a long time.

Although sometimes, when a guinea pig smells terrible, it does not necessarily mean that it is from insufficient hygiene; it can also be a sign that the guinea pig is sick.

In such situations, you should take your pet to a veterinarian for an examination.

The main reasons why you should bathe your guinea pig are:

too greasy fur
when there is a fungal or parasitic infection
when you have to take it to an exhibition

How to bathe a guinea pig?

Although guinea pigs clean themselves, it may be necessary to bathe your pet in certain situations.

For example, if the guinea pig has fleas, you should bathe him to remove them.

When bathing your pet, he may not like it, but he will still allow you to do this process; however it is for his good.

Here are some steps to properly and safely bathe your pet.

First, set the water to be lukewarm so that it is not cold, and at the same time, you do not burn your pet.
Place a towel under the guinea pig inside the bath to prevent the guinea pig from slipping.

The next thing is to use a suitable shampoo for guinea pigs which should be softer, similar to baby shampoo, and you can use just such a baby shampoo if you can’t buy special shampoo for guinea pigs at the moment.
Place your pet inside the bath and wet him with the water from the shower, but be careful not to put him under too much pressure.
Apply the shampoo to the fur and gently massage the fur of your furry friend, making sure to cover all parts of his body.

Rinse the guinea pig with lukewarm or slightly warm water, but not too hot, until you have removed all the soapy water from its body.
Take a dry towel and immediately wipe the guinea pig so that he does not catch a cold, so wipe him well so that no water remains on his fur.

Now that you have successfully finished bathing your pet, it will be clean and smell nice.

As we said, bathing the guinea pig should not be practiced often, only when there is a real need for such a thing, or only a few times a year.

FAQs

Do guinea pigs enjoy baths? No, guinea pigs do not enjoy bathing at all, they are taught not to bathe because that is how they are taught in nature.

What kind of baths do guinea pigs take? There are special shampoos that are used for bathing guinea pigs, although it is not harmful to use baby shampoo, in principle the shampoo should be weaker and gentler. Guinea pigs should not be bathed with the same shampoos as us humans, they are too strong for them.

Where should I bathe my guinea pig? Bathing guinea pigs is best done in a bathtub, although in certain situations you can use other similar plastic troughs or something similar, the most important thing is that there is enough space to be able to bathe your pet.

How do you dry a guinea pig after a bath? The best way to dry the guinea pig after bathing is to use a towel to completely and thoroughly wipe the guinea pig. A hairdryer can also be used, but care should be taken not to burn your pet’s fur, however, a towel is the best option.

Do guinea pigs shiver after a bath? Yes, a guinea pig can shiver after a bath, because it is cold. That’s why you should either put a little warm water in the bathtub or immediately when you bathe him, cover him with a towel so that he stops shaking, of course, pay attention to the temperature in the room.

Conclusion

Guinea pigs do not need to bathe in the sand, it can even be harmful to their health, especially if they eat sand which can lead to drowning or respiratory problems.

Guinea pigs clean themselves, and they do it very successfully, except in certain cases when they have fleas or are too dirty.

When they are too dirty, you can bathe your pets with a gentle shampoo or baby shampoo, but this procedure should only be done a few times a year if necessary.

In any case, guinea pigs are not pets that like to bathe, so avoid doing it.