BATHING YOUR CAVY
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GENERAL CARE OF CAVIES
There are a variety of ways to give your guinea pig a bath. 
The following is the way I bathe my cavies,
and is not necessarily the way that others do.
IT IS NOT NECESSARILY TO BATHE YOUR CAVIES
VERY OFTEN AS THEY ARE GENERALLY VERY CLEAN ANIMALS, BUT IF YOU DO DECIDE TO GIVE
THEM A BATH THE FOLLOWING IS THE WAY
I BATHE MY GUINEA PIGS
EQUIPMENT
Before bathing your cavy you will need to get all the equipment ready.  You will need
1. an area to wash the cavy - the laundry sink, maybe a plastic basin out on the grass;
2. a container to have clean leuk warm water in for the final rinse Ii use a 1 litre bottle);
3. shampoo - a regular pet shampoo (such as that suitable for cats) can be used, also human baby shampoo is fine to use on guinea pigs;
4. a small container / cup - for scooping the water; and
5. 2 towels - one for standing the cavy on, the other for drying.


PREPARATION
Before you start bathing, and you have all the equipment needed, prepare the following.
1. Have all the equipment ready - and in close reach of where you are going to bathe the cavy.
2. Fill the basin / sink with leuk warm water to a height of about 7-8 cm (so that the cavy can stand and its head is completely out of the water).
3. Fill the container / bottle with leuk warm water and set aside
4. Set the towels out flat
5. Remove the lids from the shampoo / eucalyptus oil (I have learnt form experience that it is very hard to do this while trying to settle the cavy
6. CUT THE GUINEA PIG'S TOENAILS - make sure these are trimmed back so to save you alot of unnecessary scratches.


THE BATHING PROCESS (to make it easy, lets make the guinea pig a girl named Piggy)
1. Get the Piggy out of her cage and carry her to the work area.
2. Hold her firmly, with one hand under her chest and the other under her rump (bottom).
3. Lower her slowly into the water and make sure that she is standing firmly on the bottom of the basin - by removing your hand from her rump. (some cavies do not like baths so if they are struggling make sure to have a stronger grip with your hand under their chest by placing your thumb over their shoulder).
4. Using the cup, pour water over the coat (from the next down to the rump) making sure to properly wet the coat properly (this may take quite a few scoops as water often beads off the coat).
5. Remove Piggy from the tub and place her onto the first towel - do not dry the coat.
6. Place a small amount of shampoo onto the coat - going down the spine.
7. Rub the shampoo into the coat thoroughly - fromthe neck down, including the stomach and legs.
8. Lift her and place her back into the tub (she may be slippery so hold on tight)
9. Using the cup, scoop and pour the tub water over the coat and use your hand to massage and work the shampoo out of the coat
REPEAT steps 5 - 9 if you think the coat needs a really good clean.
10. Remove the plug from the basin and allow the water to drain out -hold onto piggy.
11. Keeping piggy in the basin, pour the water from the container over Piggy's coat and work any remaining soap suds out of the coat.
12. Wipe the coat to get excess water off.
13. Take Piggy out of the basin and place her onto the 2nd towel, dry her coat thoroughly working your hands back and forth.


CLEANING THE GREASE GLANDS ON THE BOARS
Cavies have a gland at the base of there spine (where a tail would be if they had one).  With boars, this can become built up with a greasy substance that secretes from the gland.  I generally clean the gland (if needed) before I bathe the cavy.  The way that I clean this gland is following:

Dip an old, soft bristled toothbrush (that is no longer being used) into some eucalyptus oil (this could also be done with a cotton ball).  Rub the area. gently - but firmly - with the eucalyptus brush and you will see the grime coming away from the fur.  When the grease is removed, wash the cavy as usual.
Unless your guinea pig needs an urgent bath, choose a nice sunny day to
give them a bath - preferably sometimes in late morning when it is the warmest
click here to view more Bathing Information, including step-by-step photos
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