Grooming is an important part of your guinea pig’s overall health. Your pet cavy will do its best to groom and clean itself, but all cavies, even those that groom themselves frequently, still need help keeping their hair in its best condition.
Guinea Pig Grooming Should be an Enjoyable ExperienceGuinea pig grooming should be a pleasant and enjoyable experience – for your cavy and for you. Your pet may require a little bit of “training” as it get accustomed to the grooming process, but eventually it will grow to love the special attention it receives during the grooming session. All it takes is a few minutes of gentle instruction in the beginning. Begin by holding your cavy gently in your lap as you speak to it softly and stroke it’s back with your hand. After he has relaxed in your lap and feels comfortable, begin to gently brush is hair with a soft baby brush, or a soft boar bristle brush, with the same stroking motion that you used while petting him. at first these sessions should only last for a few minutes. Extend the duration with each session. While you are brushing your pet cavy you can also check it for any skin ailments, loss of hair, parasites, lumps, bumps, bites, etc. Check Your Cavy’s Toenails RegularlyAgain, your cavy will do his best to keep his toenails at the proper length but he needs your help to do this. He or she must have a rough stone or paver in the cage that they can use to scratch at to sand down their nails. It is still a good idea to check your guinea pig’s nails on a regular basis to make sure that they are not too long. If they are then they will need to be clipped by you so that they don’t snag, rip, or tear. If your pet tears his toenail it can be very painful and become infected. Trimming your cavy’s toenails isn’t difficult. As with brushing, you may need to “train” your
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