Grooming your guinea pig

Grooming your guinea pig is important to avoid matting of the fur and maintain a healthy shiny coat. It also helps to build a relationship with your pet and provides an opportunity for you to examine your guinea pig to check for any signs of illness. Start a regular grooming routine when your guinea pig is young, and introduce the equipment gradually allowing them to smell everything before using it.

When you first start your routine, brush your pet for short periods of time then gradually lengthen the time. A rubber mat placed on a table makes an ideal non-slip area for grooming your pet or hold the guinea pig on your lap. Remember that if your guinea pig is frightened, he is likely to try to escape so having a grooming site high up could result in accidental injury. Sitting on the floor with your guinea pig in your lap can help reassure your guinea pig as well as providing a low grooming platform.

Hold your guinea pig firmly but gently over the back of the neck (you do not need to scruff them), talking to him all the time for reassurance. If your pet becomes agitated and seems unhappy, stop and wait a few minutes, or continue the grooming another day. Check the whole animal for any discharges particularly from the eyes, nose, around the mouth, and around the guinea pig's backend. You should also check for:

• Sores from soiling and discharges.
• Scabs from fights or wounds.
• Lumps such as skin cancer or fatty deposits.
• Parasites, eg fleas or lice.
• Condition of the coat, keeping a look out for any damaged hair or scurfy skin.
• It is also important to check the teeth regularly as they are continuously growing and tend to become overgrown if your guinea pig's diet and lifestyle are not as good as it should be.

Brush your guinea pig from head to tail, followed by the sides and the underneath. Mainly brush the hair in its natural direction, but occasionally brush it in the reverse direction to check underneath for any signs of parasites, sores, etc. Pay particular attention to the area around the anus which can become dirty and soiled.

Most guinea pig breeds are easy to groom and just require particular attention during times of molt (spring or late fall). If you have a Peruvian or other long-haired breed, keeping the coat in good condition is, however, a time-consuming task. For a long-haired guinea pig, it's best to start with a wide-toothed comb to ease out any knots and then go over with a finer-toothed comb. Never pull roughly on the fur as guinea pigs have sensitive skin that can easily tear.

Have everything ready before you start your grooming routine. This helps to keep the grooming time shorter and means that you don't have to move around with your pet finding the equipment.

• Medium to soft brush to use around head and face of your guinea pig.
• Fine to medium toothed comb to use over the body area and legs.
• Small animal shampoo designed specifically for small mammals/rabbits, can be used to clean any soiling of the coat particularly around the backend.
• Towel to dry your guinea pig thoroughly if a bath is needed.
• Nail clippers – your veterinary surgeon can teach you how to clip nails.

Guinea pigs can become infested with mites and fleas. Mites are usually introduced via bedding and are visible in the fur around the neck and face, and particularly the ear tips. There may be excessive scratching, fur loss or damage. If you are concerned about your pet having parasites, ask your veterinarian for advice.

The other area your guinea pig might have a problem keeping clean is its rear end (under the tail). This area may become soiled and matted and, with long-haired guinea pigs, might need to be trimmed with electric small animal clippers – a second person will be needed to help. Never use scissors – a guinea pig's skin is very fragile and easily damaged. A soiled coat is very dangerous for a guinea pig. In the summer, flies will be attracted to a dirty, smelly guinea pig. Flies can lay their eggs on the guinea pig which, in turn, hatch into maggots and burrow under your guinea pigs skin causing infection, pain and even death. The guinea pig becomes fly blown (having maggots on them). Maggots can hatch within a few hours. The condition is known as fly strike but can be avoided by regular grooming. For this reason, it is imperative that you check your guinea pig all over regularly. If your guinea pig becomes soiled with feces, wash the soiled area and clean the matter away. Long-haired guinea pigs are particularly prone to problems in this area and you may need to ask your veterinarian or professional groomer for advice.

Although they naturally keep themselves clean, most guinea pigs enjoy being groomed. Regular grooming is a good way to tame your guinea pig, making him more friendly and easier to handle.