Keep Your Guinea Pigs Smelling Good

Keeping an indoor pet can be great for companionship and entertainment. However, some caged pets, such as guinea pigs, may produce offensive odors occasionally. Keeping your guinea pigs’ environment clean and well-maintained is the best way to cut down on foul odors. Most healthy guinea pigs will keep themselves clean, but some breeds of long-haired guinea pigs may present extra challenges due to their long hair.

Steps

Maintaining a Clean Environment

1. Clean your guinea pigs’ cage at least once every week. A complete cleaning involves discarding all of the used bedding, not merely "spot cleaning" the dirty spots. After removing the old bedding, wash the bottom and sides of the cage with soap and water, rinse thoroughly, then place fresh, new bedding in the cage.
   • After washing with soap and water, you can use a 10% white vinegar and water solution (1 part vinegar to 9 parts water) as a rinse before drying the cage bottom. Using the vinegar solution once a week (each time you fully clean the cage) may help eliminate odors.
2. Spot-clean the guinea pigs’ cage daily. Particularly if you have multiple guinea pigs in one cage, you should clean out parts of the cage daily in addition to the once-a-week deep cleaning. To spot-clean, remove and discard any areas of soiled bedding at the end of the day.
   • Most guinea pigs will use one part of their cage as a toilet area; cleaning the toilet area daily will help with odor and cleanliness.
3. Litter-train your guinea pigs. Spot cleaning will become easier if you can train your guinea pigs to use a litter box. Identify the area that your guinea pigs tend to use as a toilet area. Then place a litter box made for small mammals in that corner of the cage.
   • To enable your guinea pigs to adjust to the new litter box, add soiled bedding that includes their fecal pellets to the litter box so that they understand that it is a toilet area.
   • If the guinea pigs use the litter box as a toilet, reward them with treats. If they change the area in which they use the toilet, try moving the litter box to the new area.
   • Clean out the litter box daily. Sprinkle some baking soda in the bottom of the clean litter box to help eliminate odors.
   • Never place clumping cat litter in a guinea pig's litter box. Guinea pig-safe bedding material is the most appropriate option.
4. Use a cage cleaning spray. Cleaning sprays specifically formulated for small animal cages can help minimize cage odors. Check your local pet store for products that are safe and effective for guinea pigs.
   • To use a cage-cleaning spray, remove all used bedding from the cage. Spray the tray of the cage liberally with the cage cleaner.
   • Allow the cage cleaner to soak in to the cage for 3-5 minutes.
   • Use a rough towel to wipe away cage cleaner and loosened debris from the bottom of the cage.
   • Allow the cage to dry completely (in the sun if possible), place fresh bedding in the bottom of the cage, and return your guinea pigs to their home.
   • You may want to continue using soap and water to clean the cage in addition to the cage cleaner.
5. Use an odor control bedding. Bedding formulated to block odors, such as CareFRESH Advanced Odor Control Small Animal Bedding, can keep the cage smelling fresh longer.
   • Place 1-3 inches of bedding in the bottom of your guinea pigs' cage. Be sure to scoop out wet or soiled bedding daily.
   • Though odor blocking bedding can make the guinea pigs’ cage smell better, you should still clean the cage well and completely replace the bedding at least once every week.

Cleaning Your Guinea Pigs

1. Bathe your guinea pigs only as needed to keep them clean. Most guinea pigs should be able to keep themselves clean, but some long-haired guinea pigs may need to be bathed more often.
   • Bathing guinea pigs may increase their risks to becoming ill, as they become chilled easily. Minimize this risk by keeping guinea pigs in warm towels until their fur is completely dry.
   • Attentive grooming and brushing can minimize your need to fully bathe your long-haired guinea pig. You can brush your guinea pig with a soft-bristled baby brush. You may also want to trim the hair around long-haired guinea pigs’ bottoms to minimize how dirty the hair gets while the pigs use the toilet.
   • If you feel that your guinea pig needs frequent baths, talk to your vet about weighing the risks of frequent bathing against the benefits of a cleaner guinea pig.
2. Use an appropriate shampoo. Be sure to use only shampoo that is specifically labeled as safe for guinea pigs. Avoid using human shampoo or dish detergent, as these may be too harsh and can cause skin irritation.
   • Some specific shampoos that are safe to use are Scentsations Premium Small Animal Shampoo and Posh ‘n Go Protein Shampoo.
3. Check your guinea pigs’ ears. Guinea pigs produce a gray colored earwax that should be mostly odor free. If your guinea pigs’ ears smell bad or are red, schedule an exam with your veterinarian; they may have ear infections.
4. Provide your guinea pigs with a long-stemmed fiber like timothy hay. Guinea pigs need the hay to keep their teeth ground down and keep their digestive tracts in balance. Adding mint, dandelion greens, parsley, or cilantro to the hay may help the cage smell fresh and will continue to provide the guinea pigs with a healthy diet.
5. Avoid feeding your guinea pigs improper foods. Some foods give guinea pigs gas and upset their stomachs. Some specific foods to avoid include iceberg lettuce, broccoli and Brussels sprouts.
   • Some good snack substitutes to offer are kiwi, orange slices, and bell peppers. All of these are high in Vitamin C, which guinea pigs need to thrive. Leafy greens such as kale, parsley, romaine lettuce, and turnip greens are also great options.

Tips

• Bathe your guinea pigs only when their smell is certainly unpleasant. Guinea pigs are surprisingly very clean mammals under most circumstances.
• Be sure to dry guinea pigs thoroughly after baths to prevent their becoming chilled.
• Wipe down your cage with pleasantly scented cage cleaner that is labeled as guinea pig safe.
• Thoroughly clean the cage every week. Take the cage apart and remove everything that is inside. Whenever possible, dry the cage in the sun.
• Female guinea pigs may produce less odor than males. If you have not yet gotten your guinea pigs, consider adopting females.
• Keep long-haired guinea pigs neatly trimmed to help them keep clean.
• When bathing pigs, avoid getting water in their ears! Washing only their bum and belly will do!.

Warnings

• Constantly cleaning your guinea pig removes well needed oils in their fur and skin to produce a healthy coat. Guinea pigs may start to show bald patches if you wash them too frequently. Bathing guinea pigs more than once a month is not generally needed unless recommended by your veterinarian for a medical issue.
• Gradually introduce your guinea pigs to the bathing process by working slowly. Get them used to sitting in an inch of warm water, feed them favorite treats, and gently ladle water over them. Then add shampoo and rinsing. Not all guinea pigs will enjoy baths, but they can learn to tolerate the bathing process.

Related Articles

• Clean up After Your Guinea Pig
• Clean a Guinea Pig Cage
• Care for Guinea Pigs

Sources and Citations

See also

• Keep a Guinea Pig on a Budget
• Set Up a Guinea Pig Cage
• Introduce Your Guinea Pig to Floor Time
• Get Your Guinea Pig to Lose Weight
• Entertain Your Guinea Pig
• Care for Guinea Pigs
• Play with a Guinea Pig
• Buy a Guinea Pig
• Bathe a Guinea Pig
• Help Your Guinea Pig Live a Long Life

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