That way you won’t suck up a lot of it and damage your vacuum. I saw a video of Saskia from LA guinea pig rescue talking about how to clean male boars and I'm not gonna lie it grossed me out a little.. Boar Glue. While all guinea pigs – both male and female – have grease glands, some are much more active than others. Your pets might have to stay inside the box for a while until their cage is dried. Have you ever laid newspaper down for your guinea pigs to walk on and left it to see how long it stays in its same condition. Recommended: Best handheld vacuums for a guinea pig cage. Do I clean it and how often? From pet gerbils to hamsters, mice, rats and guinea pigs. How to clean your guinea pig cage. If you plan on introducing a new cavy to the cage, always adopt a younger guinea pig to that of your current guinea pig. If you prefer to use a dustpan and a small broom, you should still wear gloves. - Guinea pig boars have two protrusions on their penis, like horns. Also, if you have 2 guinea pigs … To clean out a guinea pig's hutch, take your guinea pig out and let it roam free in an enclosed space or transfer it to a temporary container. Naturally, after an extended period, the rodent enclosure will eventually become dirty and stink. The more guinea pigs you have, the more often you’ll have to clean up their poop. Daily activities to care for guinea pigs are cleaning the cage and washing equipment. Guinea pigs need their nails cut regularly and it’s one of the things that has to be done so that they can remain as healthy as possible. If you feel it’s not safe for them to roam around the room freely, you can place them in a playpen with some toys so they can play while you clean. The next step is to clear away any hay. Sows can be kept in groups of three or more, as they are easier to introduce than boars, and can co-exist peacefully in a normal-sized cage. Choosing your guinea pig is not a process to rush! amzn_assoc_linkid = "6e070ee2d21ae0bbee371ad3f86f4080"; Once you’re done cleaning the poop, just remove the dirt bowl filled with their poop from the handheld vacuum, throw it away and replace the dirt bowl. For most of my boys, they have to get this done every month with mineral oil. All the more reason to include a grease gland inspection as part of your guinea pig's … Both of them take an extra amount of time and a lot more effort. I have two male guinea pigs, Pudge and Igor and they are only about a month and a half now. There are multiple reasons why you should be using a vacuum to clean guinea pig poop. Grooming your guinea pig is part of the regular (and often daily) maintenance that your small pet will need. A Cauliflower Willy might only be better described as a Frilly Willy. Many owners bathe their guinea pigs monthly in the summer, and every two months in the winter. How often should the guinea pig cage be cleared? Keep in mind, apart from cleaning their poop at least once a day, you should clean their cage at least every other day. Female guinea pigs (sows) typically mature sexually at 2 months of age (55 to 70 days). A grooming session can include brushing their hair (they have hair, not fur! Once you’re done moving the hay away or if you use any other type of flooring as the base of the cage, then you can move to the final step.eval(ez_write_tag([[580,400],'pocketsizedpets_com-box-4','ezslot_10',109,'0','0'])); Finally, use the vacuum to remove the poop from the cage. If the genitalia is dirty, clean it accordingly. Guinea pig boars (males) excrete more... stuff than female guinea pigs. A guinea pig’s habitat should be completely cleaned at least once a week. evansville, in. How often should I clean my guinea pigs fleece? Oh, and if you have any guinea pig :Treat or toy ideas, PLEASE feel free to let me know about them :) Update: All of these are GREAT answers and I am having a hard time choosing Best Answer!! The more guinea pigs you have, the more often you’ll have to clean up their poop. I did not know boars needed cleaning. Male guinea pig’s penis sits 2-3 inches above the anus. If your guinea pig is extremely dirty and your vet says a bath is needed, put the guinea pig in a container with 2 inches of warm water. There are situations where you have to take your guinea pigs with you on a trip and sometimes that can be a stressful time for them. Depending on how many guinea pigs you have, you should clean up your guinea pigs poop anywhere from once a day to several times a day. Guinea pigs must continuously graze on food to keep their digestive system working. Now how many of us check our Guinea pigs on a daily/weekly basis for health issues, cuts, scrapes and such? Whether they have stomach problems or not. 5 Proven Tips To Make Hamster Lose Weight. I was just wondering if any of you have/had a guinea pig, if you could help me. How Often Should I Clean My Guinea Pig’s Cage? Choosing your guinea pig is not a process to rush! Two of my guinea pigs are males, but one of them is much older and has bigger genitals.... which seem to be a little dirty. You’ll want to clean your guinea pig’s cage on a regular basis, as well as anytime it becomes soiled. The grease glands of guinea pigs need to be cleaned anywhere between once a week to once a month. Different keepers and authorities recommend slightly different cleaning schedules, but it’s usually appropriate to perform a thorough, top-to-bottom habitat cleaning once per week . And it will be a lot less often. You need to check these areas frequently, I would say every week just to be sure that everything is alright. Yes, it is absolutely necessary to clean your male guinea pig’s genitals once in a while. 3. First, you need to remove any material attached to a guinea pig’s genitalia. You never want your guinea pig cage to smell. Contrary to a popular video that is out there, “boar cleaning” is rarely needed. That is a common behavior of male guinea pigs. Also, if you have 2 guinea pigs sharing a large area, this will mean the cage won't become soiled so quickly. I was just wondering if any of you have/had a guinea pig, if you could help me. Here are some things to think of: Breed Type – There are many different types of guinea pigs that come in a variety of colors as well as short haired and long haired. This is a necessary part of keeping boars but should not be undertaken if you are at all unsure of what to do, instead get someone to show you or do it for you- but done it must be. Moreover, you can use a little bit of a small animal shampoo dissolved in some warm water and clean it with a cloth. Most guinea pigs might not ever even need a bath. Certainly using Q-tips is not recommended as you can do more hard than good. Many of us on the forums are owned by male Guinea pigs, Boars if you will. Curry combs are also excellent tools for removing hair from fleece bedding. Many guinea pig pellets include added vitamin C, and you can also offer guinea pig-safe fresh veggies and small amounts of fruits rich in vitamin C. Without this vitamin, guinea pigs develop scurvy and could die. I have heard that you have to clean a Guinea pigs cage out every day but we usually clean it out once a week. A lot of guinea pig owners will tell you that it is time to clean the cage when it begins to smell. Oh, and if you have any guinea pig :Treat or toy ideas, … Gently rub the oil or Swarfega in the area and leave it on for about 3 minutes. I have a guinea pig and I was just wondering, how often do you clean a guinea pig cage? Guinea pigs are herbivores – meaning they only eat plants. If you want a quick and easy way to clean your guinea pigs poop and their cage, you should use a handheld vacuum. Because it can take longer to clean their poop by hand, you should spot clean it at least once a day. Well I got a guinea pig, and he's a baby, and I was wondering how often I should clean his cage because I don't want him to get sick if it's too dirty. Finally, it’s the easiest way to clean your guinea pigs poop often. Typically breeding after 5 or 6 months of age is extremely ris… If your male guinea pig is overweight, then it might be tricky to identify the penis right away. To sanitize the cage, make a cleaning solution with 1 part white vinegar and 1 part water. Thanks. Once you get a little bit of practice you can do it quickly enduring that you guinea pig stays healthy and happy. ), bathing and nail clipping but not all these tasks need to be undertaken every day. Swirl one swab at a time around the inside of the area. Is it ok to pop my fleece in the washer? 5 Guinea Pig Training Methods That Actually Work! Not being able to do it due to a series of stressful situations, tooth problems, and even being unable to successfully digest food due to lack of fiber and water or due to the presence of hard-to-digest food in their meal will cause their digestive system to get out of whack. Hold your guinea pig in a reclined position and gently pull back on either side of the anal sack. Generally, A bath once a month or two months would be more than enough. Secondly, older guinea pigs tend to suffer from dental problems more often then the young ones. Once you’ve decided on what you want to do with your guinea pigs, it’s time to get to work. But as we have added more, cleaning the cage has had to become more frequent and so we have had to clean it out more often. - Some boars have only got one or no prongs at all. Definitely talk to your vet if you have any concerns! (My pigs are 3 and 4 years of age and has only needed to be cleaned once). Bathing your guinea pig is a matter of trust. All the more reason to include a grease gland inspection as part of your guinea pig… Guinea pigs don’t require frequent bathing until and unless they are filthy, or your vet has recommended it for any medical reasons. Here at Pocket Sized Pets, we love small animals! Sometimes male piggies have special needs. Because it’s so quick and easy, you can clean guinea pig poop with a handheld vacuum several times a day without taking up much of your time. Thanks. I would say that once a month a throughout cleaning should take place. With a vacuum, all you have to do is hover over the poop and it’s gone. How To Make A Hamster Cuddly? It might sound like a very unpleasant procedure, but a good boar cleaning routine helps to maintain a healthy male guinea pig’s lifestyle. Is boar cleaning necessary? Keep in mind that guinea pigs usually clean themselves naturally, so bathing them may make them stressed or sick. Caring for male guinea pigs. Can You Leave A Hamster Alone For A Weekend? That's why I'm passionate about writing everything I've learned about them over the years. Guinea pigs are most often purchased at a pet store or a breeder, but you can also consider rescuing one from a shelter. Guinea pigs are sexually mature as young as one month of age. Nevertheless, you need to conduct weekly checks down there to keep it clean. It should also be easy to take apart and clean, that way you’ll have no problem using it multiple times per day. No bad foods or overfeeding of good foods. Although male guinea pigs are more prone to greasy buildup in this area, females can also have an active grease gland. Guinea pigs make great pets. Yes, you do and there are multiple reasons to do that. 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