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How to Bathe a Guinea Pig

Not all pets can or should be bathed, but you can bathe a guinea pig and, as an experienced guinea pig owner, I recommend that you make sure they are washed when necessary. 

Bathing a guinea pig can be a little challenging because they often don’t like being put into water and fussed over. But if you learn the best way to handle them while they are being washed, the process is much easier and less stressful for both you and your guinea pig.

Table of contents

Things you’ll need for bath time

There are a few items you’ll need for your guinea pig’s bath time:

You may also find the following items helpful at bath time if you have a long haired guinea pig:

Bathtubs

When I say bathtubs, I actually mean large washing up bowls because these will be big enough for your guinea pig. There’s no need to buy one the size of a baby’s bath, although you can do so if you prefer. 

I find the rectangular bowls are better than round bowls as the shape lends itself to the contours of your guinea pig.

long haired guinea pig having a bath in a bowl
Guinea pig having a bath in a washing up bowl

I use two bathtubs so that I have one with clean water for the final rinse. It’s important to make sure all the shampoo is rinsed out of your guinea pig’s coat, and I find this is the best way to do it.

Shampoo

You’ll need some small pet shampoo to wash your guinea pig’s hair. I used to recommend Head & Shoulders shampoo but have since found out that this may be a little harsh, so I no longer recommend using this brand. 

Towels

You’ll need at least two towels. Make sure you don’t use your own towels as they’ll get covered in hair and the hairs don’t always come out completely in the wash. You may need a third towel to put underneath the bathtubs to catch any splashes and protect your floor.

Plastic jug

You’ll need a small plastic jug or beaker to scoop up the water and pour it over your guinea pig to make sure they are thoroughly rinsed. 

Hairdryer

A hairdryer is optional. Not all guinea pigs like hairdryers, but, if they don’t mind it, blow drying is a good way to dry them off much faster.

Conditioner

If you have a long haired guinea pig, conditioner can be very useful in helping to detangle their hair. You can buy Farriers guinea pig mite shampoo and conditioner as a set. This is the one I now use and would recommend.

Comb

Long haired guinea pigs will benefit from being combed either before or after bath time. Make sure you buy a comb that is suitable. I find the Small Pet Select comb works really well on our long haired guinea pigs or you can buy a small grooming kit.

Scissors

Giving your long haired guinea pigs a haircut before bathing will make them much easier to wash thoroughly. The scissors should have a rounded tip for safety.

guinea pig in a bath tub
Guinea pig in the at bath time

How to prepare for bath time

It’s important to make sure you have everything you need to wash your guinea pig before starting the bathing process. It is also essential they are bathed in a warm environment and not in a cold room.

Some of the steps may seem very obvious, but are easy to forget. Once you have your guinea pig in the bath, it’s very difficult to go and find something you’ve forgotten!

Guinea pigs are naturally very nervous pets, and, as they rarely enjoy being put in a bath, it is likely they may become very wriggly. If they are not used to being washed, they are even more likely to try and escape.  If you are bathing your guinea pig for the first time, they may be especially nervous, so allow plenty of time, and get someone to help you if possible.

It’s always safer for your guinea pigs if you bathe them with the bathtub on the floor, and in a safe area, just in case they escape. If you have them on a table, they might run off and get hurt. 

You will probably get some of the water on you, as well as guinea pig hair, so make sure you are wearing old clothes. An apron, particularly a waterproof one, is very practical too.

Guinea Pig Care Sheets - Printable PDF Download - Checklists, Logs and Information Sheets

1. Prepare the area

First lay a large towel on the floor in a safe bathing area – this is to protect your floor. Then put the shampoo, conditioner (if using), plastic jug and 2 hand towels in your bathing area. Lay one of the hand towels out so it’s ready for your guinea pig when you have finished bathing them.

If using a hairdryer, get this in place and plugged in (not by the water!) for when you are ready to dry them. Also get your scissors and comb ready if you have a long haired guinea pig.

2. Prepare your guinea pig’s hair (long haired guinea pigs only)

Comb through your guinea pig’s hair and trim any hair that is too long. It’s helpful to keep it short around their bum area as it will keep it cleaner. 

TIP: If your guinea pig’s hair is too tangled, don’t comb it, but do snip any tangled areas. Don’t worry about cutting it quite short – this is better than it being tangled but do take care as you cut. Once your guinea pig is washed, you should be able to comb it through.

Put your guinea pig back in their enclosure while you prepare the water.

3. Prepare the bathtubs

Fill the bathtubs with about 2 inches of warm water. Test the heat with your elbow, as you would for a baby or small child. It shouldn’t be hot and it shouldn’t be cold. The water should feel comfortably warm.

Squeeze a small amount of shampoo into the water and mix it around so you have a few bubbles.

Now you have everything set up, you are ready to bathe your guinea pig.

How to bathe a guinea pig

Before you take your guinea pig out of their enclosure, double check you have everything you need first.

It’s always good to give your guinea pig a cuddle on your lap, just to calm them down before you start. 

Step 1 – Shampooing your guinea pig

Lower your guinea pig into the water. I like to have one hand underneath them and one hand over the top, so that if they try to escape, I am ready to hold on. 

long haired guinea pig having a bath
Guinea pig being shampooed

Firstly you’ll need to wet their hair. Do this by scooping water with your hand if they are very wriggly. This will make it easier to catch them if necessary. If they are more chilled, you can use the jug. Avoid getting water in their eyes as they won’t like it, and the shampoo can hurt their eyes.

Squeeze some shampoo directly on to their back, and then massage it into their hair, all over their body, but avoiding the face. Pay particular attention to their bums, tummies, feet and legs. These are the parts that tend to get the dirtiest.

If you are using mite shampoo, it is best to take them out of the water and put them on a towel to massage the shampoo through their hair, as the shampoo needs to stay in for a few minutes.

TIP: If a guinea pig is very nervous, I like to take my time to stop every now and again to let them relax a little in the water, before continuing. They usually calm down a little with this method, and it’s a good way of getting them used to being in the water.

Step 2 – First rinse

Rinse your guinea pig in the same water, using your hand and jug to scoop the water from the bowl.

Step 3 – Conditioner

If you’re using conditioner, do exactly the same as you did with the shampoo, and rinse in the same water. If you are using Farriers Conditioner, you should your guinea pig out of the water and put them on a towel to massage this in. Like the Farriers shampoo, this also needs to be left in their hair for a few minutes before rinsing.

Step 4 – Final rinse

Once you’ve given them a really good rinse, lift them out of the first bathtub and lower them gently into the second bathtub with the clean water.

Rinse, using your hand as a scoop, as well as the jug. Make sure you rub gently around their whole bodies to make sure all the soapy water has come out.

Step 5 – How to dry a guinea pig

Once your guinea pig is completely rinsed, lift them out and carefully put them on the towel you have laid out for them. Be quick to wrap them as they may try and escape! 

Gently towel dry your piggy but not too vigorously. Bear in mind that some guinea pigs really don’t like this, and may start trembling. Be as gentle as you can. When the first towel gets a bit wet, change to the dry towel to finish off.

towel drying a guinea pig after a bath
Towel drying a guinea pig after a bath

If you are going to use a hairdryer, make sure you keep it on a low setting (not too hot and not too powerful), a safe distance from their bodies and keep the dryer moving. Having it too close and in the same place for too long may burn them.  Lift their hair as you go so the layers underneath dry off too. 

IMPORTANT: Be careful to never put a guinea pig with damp hair in an enclosure which is cold, for example, if you keep them outdoors, or in a cold room. Have them on your lap, wrapped in a dry towel until they have dried off first.

Once they are dry, you can comb through their hair (if long haired) and they can go back in their enclosure.

Do guinea pigs need baths?

Some people will say that guinea pigs don’t need baths but it’s important to use your own intuition on whether they need one or not. If your guinea pig’s coat doesn’t feel clean, or doesn’t look clean, it’s time to give them a bath. 

It is essential for your guinea pig’s health that they are kept as clean as possible. If their hair becomes soaked with urine or gets poop stuck in it, they can become sore and the smell will attract flies which can result in a potentially fatal condition called flystrike if not caught very early on.

How often should I bathe my guinea pig?

Your guinea pig will need a bath if they are dirty or if they begin to smell. There is no hard and fast rule as to how often they should be bathed.

Short haired guinea pigs won’t need washing as often as long haired guinea pigs, and you might need to bathe your long haired piggies a little more often if they need it. You shouldn’t bathe them more than necessary though as it will strip the natural oils from their coats.

To give you some idea of whether they need a bath or not, most of the time your guinea pig’s hair will feel soft when you stroke them. Their coat shouldn’t have a bad smell to it because guinea pigs are not smelly pets. You will notice a difference in their coat when it is dirty, and your hands will feel a bit grimy after stroking them. If it feels this way, or if they smell, they are due for a bath.

Do guinea pigs like baths?

Some guinea pigs hate baths, whereas others don’t seem to mind much at all. I’ve bathed guinea pigs who are very happy to just sit still and be washed without making any fuss, whereas others simply won’t keep still and attempt an escape whenever possible.

Guinea pigs are all different and, even if they are usually very nervous or calm, this doesn’t mean they will behave this way when being bathed.

How to deal with a wriggly guinea pig at bath time

If you can remain calm and in control while bathing a nervous, wriggly guinea pig, this will help them relax. Always make sure you are ready in case they try to jump out of the water, or wriggle free from your hands.

If you have an especially wriggly guinea pig, you may find it easier to have someone else to help you. One of you can hold the guinea pig in the bath and bathe them, while the other can apply the shampoo and pour rinse water over your pet.

Making sure the bathing environment is quiet. Talking softly to your guinea pig, and taking your time, will help them feel more relaxed, and will make bath time easier for both you and your guinea pig.

How to keep your guinea pig clean for longer

It’s important to pay attention to cleanliness and aim to keep your guinea pig as clean as possible at all times.

A clean environment is very important, so you should clean your guinea pig’s enclosure and change the bedding regularly. Spot cleaning to remove as many poops or damp areas as possible should be done daily.

The smaller your guinea pig’s enclosure is, the quicker he will become dirty. These small pets are not meant to be kept in small cages so make sure they have as much space as possible, and this will help keep your guinea pig clean too.

Keeping your long haired guinea pig’s hair trimmed will help immensely. I recommend keeping their hair short around their bum area and also making sure their hair isn’t dragging in the bedding.

guinea pig after bath and grooming session
Guinea pig after a bath and blow dry

How to wash a guinea pig without bathing

If your guinea pig doesn’t really need a full bath, but a bit of a clean up, you can use some dampened cotton wool or a small cloth to clean their feet and around their bum area.

Sometimes it might be beneficial to give your guinea pig a “bum bath”. Just fill the tub with a couple of inches of water and clean their rear end. Apply a very small amount of shampoo directly to the dirty area, and rinse off thoroughly. The bum bath is a quick way to get them clean when they don’t really need a full bath.

How to clean your guinea pig’s grease gland

With boars (and sometimes female guinea pigs), the grease gland can become greasy, dirty and smelly and will need cleaning.

The grease gland is situated at the rear, around where a tail would be, if a guinea pig was to have a tail.

The best way to clean the grease gland is to apply a little organic coconut oil or virgin olive oil to the area with a small cloth and gently rub it in. The reason you need the oil is because it dissolves the grease.

Leave the oil on for a couple of minutes, and rub again to see if the grease has dissolved. If not, you may need to apply a little more oil and massage in again.

Once the grease has broken down, apply some shampoo to the same area. Rub the shampoo in really well, applying some warm water if needed, and then you can either bathe them or just give them a bum bath if they are otherwise clean.

What shampoo is best for guinea pigs?

Any small pet shampoo that says it is suitable for guinea pigs should be fine. There are three different shampoos that I have used on our guinea pigs, and would recommend for your guinea pigs. 

The first is Farriers Guinea Pig Mite Shampoo, which is especially good as it contains organic ingredients and paralyses mites and lice on contact.

The other shampoos that are also good for cleaning your guinea pig, but probably won’t get rid of mites, are Beaphar Small Pet Shampoo, and Johnsons Small Animal Shampoo.

Don’t use a dog shampoo or one that is made for another type of pet as it may contain ingredients that can harm a guinea pig.

Can you bathe a guinea pig with baby shampoo?

Even though some baby shampoos claim to be mild, they may not be suitable for your guinea pigs. It is safest to buy a special guinea pig shampoo as the ingredients will have been tested to be safe for these small pets.

How to clean your guinea pig’s face

It’s important that no shampoo gets into your guinea pig’s eyes. Use dampened cotton wool to clean your guinea pig’s face, around their eyes, nose, ears and mouth. You don’t need to put shampoo on the cotton wool, just use plain water, and gently wipe around the face.

Can you shower guinea pigs?

You can’t put a guinea pig in the shower but you can use a shower attachment to wash them. The best way to do this would be to have them in a large wash hand basin or sink, rather than a bath.

The water temperature will need to be stable and not changeable as it could shock them if it goes too cold, and it would hurt them if it went too hot.

Be careful not to get water or shampoo in their eyes while using  the shower attachment.

Can I wash my guinea pig with just water?

If your guinea pig is simply a little damp around their rear end, and you want to give them a bum bath, you could try this without shampoo and it would probably be fine.  

To give your guinea pig a proper wash, plain water just won’t get all the dirt out, so I recommend you use a good quality guinea pig shampoo.