Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning
• What you need

If you have a hamster as a pet, you only need to bathe it once a month, because guinea pigs are like cats - they clean themselves. Your hamster is naturally clean and hygienic, but sometimes you will need to bathe your hamster if it has an infection or an abscess. Bathe your hamster only when absolutely necessary to avoid undue stress. Luckily, if you can keep your hamster calm, it will be easy to bathe it with a little ham, and soon your hamster will have a clean and dry coat. .

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Bathing your guinea pig

1. 

   Help your hamster calm down before bathing. Your hamster will probably get nervous or frightened if you put it in a tub of water. To relax your hamster, hold it close to you, speak in a gentle voice, and gently caress it. You can also feed your hamster something tasty like a lettuce leaf or a slice of cucumber to distract your hamster.
   • If you have a few guinea pigs that need a bath, take a bath one at a time so that they will not disturb or hurt each other. In addition, it will be easier to concentrate when bathing one baby instead of having to worry about many children at the same time.
   • If your hamster seems panicked, you can put it in a small box and take the box to the shower.

2. 

   
   
   Use a damp cloth to wipe any dirt on the hamster's fur. Before you bathe your hamster in the tub, try wiping the dirt off its coat. Soak a clean washcloth in warm water and wring out the water to wipe away any stained bristles. If your hamster's coat is clean, you won't need to bathe it in a tub of water.
   • Avoid powdered products that are marketed for keeping your hamster clean. Your hamster doesn't need powder to wash itself, and these products can actually cause breathing problems in your hamster if inhaled.

3. 

   
   
   Fill the pot with water so that the water level is about 5 cm high. Place a small cloth on the bottom of the pot to prevent your hamster from slipping, then fill the pot with warm water until the water level is about 5 cm high.
   • Avoid hot water, as it can irritate and dry out your hamster's sensitive skin. Hamsters also don't like cold water, as they will experience hypothermia when exposed to cold water.
   • Make sure your hamster can stand comfortably in the water.

4. 

   
   
   Place the hamster in the water. Slowly place the hamster in the water with the hind body down first. After you've placed the hamster in the water, give it time to get used to the water and acclimatize to its temperature. Do not leave your hamster unattended in a tub of water.
   • Stay close to reassuring your hamster. If your hamster seems to be frightened while in the water, enjoy the food so it is friendly with the bath time.

5. 

   Bath your hamster with warm water. Use a small cup to splash warm water over the hamster's body until the fur is wet, trying to avoid getting it into your face or ears.
   • Place your hand over the hamster's face to prevent water from flowing into its face. This way, the water will not get into the eyes and mouth.
   • Try rolling a towel and placing it under the bath tub at an angle of 15-30 degrees to let the water drain away from the hamster's face.
   • If your hamster's face is too dirty, you can wipe it off with a damp cloth, but be sure to avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

6. 

   Rub a few drops of bath oil into your hamster's fur. Choose a hamster safe bath oil, spray a little on the palm of your hand, and gently massage the bath oil over the hamster's fur. Be sure to gently rub your hamster's hands as the hamster's skin is very sensitive, and you also need to keep it calm.
   • Avoid rubbing bath oils near your face and ears.
   • Do not use human shower gel or dog bath oils to bathe your hamster, as their skin may become irritated.
   • If you just need to clean up the dirt, you can mix a few drops of dish soap with warm water and use a cotton ball soaked in soapy water.

7. 

   Wash your hamster with warm water. Squeeze enough warm water by hand to remove the soap bubbles from the bristles. It is important to rinse it thoroughly so that there is no soap that can irritate the skin. advertisement

Part 2 of 3: Dry the hamster

1. 

   Place the hamster on a clean towel. Gently wrap the hamster in a towel to absorb the water and keep it warm. Don't worry if your guinea pig starts shaking. This is a natural reaction, and it should go away after it dries up.
   • When the towel starts to get too wet, replace it with a new one to absorb more moisture.

2. 

   Use a towel to dry your hamster's fur. Use a soft, absorbent cloth for your hamster. Continue to gently press the towel against the bristles until it is completely dry. Only wipe around the eyes, ears, or nose if you find it stubborn or dirty.
   • Be sure to gently wipe your hands, especially near the hamster's face. Avoid rubbing vigorously on the bristles.

   Warning: Avoid drying hamster hair with a hair dryer, as they are very sensitive to heat and noise.

3. 

   Groom your hamster. This is especially important if you have a hamster with long hair. Use a soft-bristle brush or special comb to brush your hamster's bristles to untangle and prevent tangles. Take it easy to brush your hamster, as your hamster probably loves the feeling of being caressed and cared for.
   • Watch for bumps or lumps on the hamster's skin while brushing. If you have concerns, talk to your veterinarian.
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Part 3 of 3: Keep your hamster clean

1. 

   Change the bedding once a day. Remove old bedding and replace it every day. Line newspaper and spread hay on top. To make your hamster more comfortable in the cage, you can spread recycled pellets or spread old towels over the hay.
   • Avoid using pine shavings, as they may contain oils that are irritating to hamster skin.
   • You can also use baby cloth diapers or fleece lining the hamster's cage, but change it daily and wash it with soap.
2. Clean and disinfect the barn once a week. To thoroughly clean the barn, remove the bedding and mix the bleach solution with water. Spray the solution into the cage and wipe it off, then rinse several times with water to remove bleach and allow the cage to dry thoroughly before spreading new bedding.
   • You do not need to disinfect the cage unless your hamster has a medical condition, such as fungal skin diseases.
   • Bleach can irritate your hamster's feet, eyes and respiratory system. Please try it

     

   Homemade antiseptic solution

   To make a basic antiseptic solution, mix 30 ml of bleach with 1 liter of water.

3. 

   Clean up dirt as needed. Inspect the cage from time to time and remove any feces or dirt if any. Pay attention to regular cleaning so that the hamster's cage is always clean and fragrant.
   • You will also need to wash your hamster's plate and water bottle every day.
   • If you use wool to line the barn, you can clean up the dirt with a dedicated cleaning brush.

4. 

   Keep the hamster's cage and playground clean. If you are placing your cage on the ground, consider moving it to the lawn or sidewalk, especially during the cold season. If you are playing with your hamster in a yard fence, choose an area of ​​the lawn that is not in contact with the soil. advertisement

Advice

• If your hamster has stains on its buttock, be careful to trim it off. If necessary, you should regularly "wash your hamster's buttocks," ie just wet and rinse the back of the hamster.
• Buy a pet brush to groom your hamster. Brush gently so you don't accidentally jerk the hamster's fur or comb it into the bristles.

Warning

• Hamsters do not like water and may be scared to shower. You should only bathe your hamster when absolutely necessary, and never leave it unattended in a tub of water.
• Avoid bathing your hamster regularly, lest you irritate its sensitive skin.

What you need

• Bath
• Towels and face towels
• Bath oil for small pets
• Comb and bristles brush
• Small cup
• Reward food
• Hairdryer