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This article was co-written by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Elliott is a veterinarian with more than thirty years of experience in veterinary surgery and pet treatment. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary surgeon. She has worked at a veterinary clinic in her hometown for more than 20 years.
There are 8 references cited in this article that you can see at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 14,961 times.
A pet in the house is not only a pastime, but also a great companion. However, caged animals such as guinea pigs sometimes cause very unpleasant odors. The best way to minimize this odor is to maintain a clean living environment for your guinea pig. Most healthy guinea pigs will know how to self-clean, but long-haired guinea pigs seem to have a hard time doing this.
Steps
Maintain a clean environment
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Clean the cage at least once a week. Cleaning involves removing used substrates, not just cleaning up the spots you find dirty. After removing the dirty substrate, you need to wash the bottom of the cage and the corners of the cage thoroughly with soap and water, wash off the soap, and then replace the substrate with a new one. [1] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source
- Once you’ve washed it with soap and water, you can use a diluted 10% white vinegar solution (1 part vinegar and 9 parts water) as a bleach before drying the bottom of the cage. Using this solution once a week (after cleaning the cage) effectively eliminates odors. [2] X Research Source
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Clean the dirty area in the cage every day. In particular, if you keep many guinea pigs in the same cage, you need to clean the dirty areas in the cage daily in addition to “general cleaning” every week. [3] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to the source For daily cage cleaning, simply clean and remove soiled bedding at the end of the day.
- Most guinea pigs spend part of the cage as a toilet area. Cleaning this area daily will contribute significantly to eliminating odors and keeping the guinea pig’s habitat clean.
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Teach your guinea pig to use the litter box. Daily cleaning will become a lot easier once you know how to train guinea pigs to use the litter box. Find an area where your guinea pig defecates and place a small mammal litter box in it.
- To let your guinea pig get used to the new litter box, put a dirty foundation in it along with a few pellets of their droppings to let them know that the little box is their toilet.
- When the mouse learns to use the litter box, don’t forget to reward them. If the mice change their toilet area, try moving the box to that new area.
- Clean out the litter box every day. Sprinkle some baking soda on the bottom of the can to eliminate odors.
- Never put cat litter in a guinea pig’s litter box. Using the material as a guinea pig’s substrate is the best option instead.
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Using a cage cleaner spray, which is specially formulated to clean cages for small animals, can help reduce odors. Shop for sprays at pet supply stores for safe and effective products. [4] X Research Sources
- To use the cage cleaning spray, you need to remove the used substrate. You can then spray a generous amount of cleaning agent around the cage.
- Let the spray soak in for about 3-5 minutes.
- Use a dry towel to wipe away the spray and small stains that have stuck to the bottom of the cage.
- Allow the cage to dry completely (in the sun if possible), place a fresh layer of foundation in the cage and return the guinea pigs to their home.
- You can also use extra soap and water to clean the cage along with the cage cleaner.
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Use a base that controls odors. A base that helps control odors, such as CareFRESH Advanced Odor Contrp Small Animal Bedding, can keep the cage odor-free for longer.
- Cover the bottom of the cage with a layer of substrate about 3-8 cm thick. Make sure to clean the dirty foundation every day. [5] X Research Sources
- While odor-controlling substrate can help keep your guinea pig’s cages less likely to stink, you should still clean the cage and completely renew all used substrates at least once a week.
- Baking soda is advertised as odor control, but it can be irritating and should not be used.
Bathing the guinea pig
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Bathe your guinea pig just to keep them clean. Most guinea pigs can clean on their own, but some long-haired guinea pigs may need to be bathed more often. [6] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source
- Bathing guinea pigs can increase their risk of contracting illnesses, such as colds. Therefore, to avoid this risk, you need to wrap your guinea pig in a warm towel until its fur is completely dry. [7] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source
- To minimize bathing guinea pigs, brush them regularly. Use a soft baby brush to groom your pet. You can also trim your pet’s coat to prevent it from getting dirty when they go to the bathroom. [8] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source
- If you feel that your guinea pig needs frequent baths, talk to your veterinarian about the harmful effects of frequent bathing.
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Use the right soap. Make sure the soap you use is safe for guinea pigs. [9] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source Avoid using human soaps and dishwashing liquid, as they contain high levels of bleach and can irritate the skin.
- Some specialty soaps for guinea pigs are Scentsations Premium Small Animal and Posh ‘n Go Protein. [10] X Research Source
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Regularly check your guinea pig’s ears. A guinea pig’s earwax is gray and usually odorless. If your pet’s ears are foul-smelling or red, visit your vet to have them checked as they may have an ear infection.
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Feed your guinea pig long-stemmed grasses like timothy grass. This grass helps guinea pigs to grind their teeth and helps their digestive system to be balanced. [11] X Research Source Add mint leaves, celery, coriander leaves, etc. to keep the guinea pig’s cage odor-free and also a good food for them.
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Avoid giving your pet unsuitable foods. Certain foods, such as cabbage, broccoli, and brussels sprouts, cause guinea pigs to gas and upset their stomachs.
- Some alternative snacks are bell peppers, cucumbers, and celery. Leafy vegetables like green or red lettuce are also good choices. Avoid romaine lettuce and kale as they are high in calcium, which can be harmful to guinea pigs.
- Recommended foods for guinea pigs are kiwi, oranges and bell peppers. [12] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to the source These are foods rich in vitamin C that guinea pigs need to thrive. Lettuce, kale, and beets are also great choices.
Advice
- Only bathe guinea pigs when they really smell bad. [13] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to the source The guinea pig is a surprisingly clean mammal under most circumstances.
- Make sure you dry your guinea pig after bathing, in case they get cold. [14] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source
- When bathing guinea pigs, avoid getting water in their ears. Washing the guinea pig’s bottom and belly is enough!.
- Female guinea pigs are less smelly than male guinea pigs. If you are undecided about which guinea pig to choose, consider getting a female guinea pig.
- Regularly trim long-haired guinea pigs to keep them clean.
Warning
- Regularly cleaning guinea pigs will cause them to lose essential oils for their skin and coat. If you bathe them too often, the guinea pig’s body will go bald in some places. Bathing guinea pigs more than once a month is futile and not supported by veterinarians.
- Gradually help your pet get used to bathing. First, get the mice used to sitting in warm water, feed them their favorite food, and slowly sprinkle the water over them. Then you can start using soap and rinse. Usually, not all guinea pigs enjoy bathing, but they can learn to tolerate the process.
X
This article was co-written by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Elliott is a veterinarian with more than thirty years of experience in veterinary surgery and pet treatment. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary surgeon. She has worked at a veterinary clinic in her hometown for more than 20 years.
There are 8 references cited in this article that you can see at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 14,961 times.
A pet in the house is not only a pastime, but also a great companion. However, caged animals such as guinea pigs sometimes cause very unpleasant odors. The best way to minimize this odor is to maintain a clean living environment for your guinea pig. Most healthy guinea pigs will know how to self-clean, but long-haired guinea pigs seem to have a hard time doing this.
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