Should I clean my guinea pig's ears?

Like us, guinea pigs can suffer from a buildup of ear wax and dried skin. To prevent discomfort or mite infection, ears should be cleaned 2-3 times a year, depending on the needs of your little critters. If you feel intimidated, follow these simple steps to help keep their ears nice and clean.

How often should you clean guinea pig ears?

Guinea Pig Ears

They can also get ear mites. It's a good idea to include an ear inspection in your weekly grooming routine. Guinea Lynx recommends cleaning the outer ear folds every two weeks using a drop of mineral oil spread on each ear, then waiting 5 minutes before wiping off with a clean, soft cloth.

What is the black stuff in guinea pig ears?

If your guinea pig's swollen ears also feature black spots or a dirt-like appearance, she could have ear mites or other parasites. This is usually treated with a mineral oil-type topical supplement, but vet consultation is the best way to ensure you know exactly what the problem is before attempting to eradicate it.

How do you clean a pig's ears?

Use your washcloth or cotton ball to gently wipe away brownish gunk that has accumulated around your pig's ears. Clean only the outside edge of the ear. Do not attempt to clean the sensitive inner ear area; you can damage it during cleaning if you use too much force.

What are guinea pig ears supposed to look like?

All your guinea pigs' ears should be free from crust and white marks. If there are any white marks then this could indicate a fungal infection, and your guinea pig will need to see a vet.

Cleaning My Guinea Pigs Dirty Ears

How do I know if my guinea pig has ear mites?

The main symptoms of mites in guinea pigs are scratching and hair loss. You may also see your guinea pig biting at their skin or other signs of skin irritation. In severe infestations, your piggy may scratch so much they cause open sores and scrapes on their body.

Do guinea pigs get ear mites?

Guinea pigs do not develop ear mites; however, they are often presented with intense pruritus caused by Trixacarus caviae. This sarcoptic mite, which has zoonotic potential, can cause severe skin problems. Guinea pigs with sarcoptic mange often scratch themselves raw, which can lead to secondary skin infections.

Can guinea pigs get mites from hay?

Can Guinea Pigs Get Mites From Hay? Yes, guinea pigs can most definitely get mites from hay, as well as bedding, food and even toys. This is because the parasites can live for up to three weeks without a host. Unsuspecting cavies can quickly become infected if exposed to parasites in their hay or grass.

Can you wipe guinea pigs with baby wipes?

Why Are Baby Wipes Not Safe For Guinea Pigs? Most baby wipes are not safe to be used on small pets like guinea pigs because they're not specifically made for them. Guinea pigs and other small pets have special needs when it comes to keeping themselves clean and baby wipes can mess that up.

Can you clean guinea pigs ears with Q tips?

Some guinea pig care guides suggest that you use a product like Oti-Clens or use a drop of mineral oil in your guinea pig's ear or on the cotton swab. But HappyCavy likes to keep the ear cleaning process simple by using just one supply: cotton swabs (Q-Tips).

Can I brush my guinea pig with a toothbrush?

Use a soft-bristled brush to groom the overall guinea pig. Then take a small, soft tooth brush and comb each rosette from the center outward. Teddy cavies have unique hair coats. The equipment needed to groom a Teddy includes a metal flea comb, a metal wide-tooth comb, and a slicker brush.

Why do guinea pigs tilt their heads?

In guinea pigs, a severe head tilt can be from an ear infection spreading to the middle ear and inner ear. This type of infection causes the head tilt (torticollis), which is often called “wry neck” in rabbits. It also causes the loss of equilibrium and nausea.

How sensitive are guinea pigs ears?

Like most other rodents that you can keep as pets, guinea pigs really rely a lot on their sense of hearing. They have very sensitive ears so that means that loud noises sound a lot louder to them than they do to us.

What are the signs of mites?

Can humans catch lice from guinea pigs?

Lice are species-specific so no, you cannot get lice from your pet guinea pig. 2 This means that humans get human lice, mice get mouse lice, guinea pigs get guinea pig lice, and so on. You don't need to worry about you or your child getting lice from your pet guinea pig or any other pet for that matter.

How often should guinea pigs itch?

Typically, a guinea pig will have a good scratch when he wakes up from a nap, or he might scratch himself after grooming. An occasional itch during the day is usually nothing to be concerned about either, and changing bedding or hay may provoke some scratching due to dust or other irritants.

Why does my guinea pig have crusty ears?

Guinea pigs often have dry ears that accumulate dead skin over time. Some guinea pig breeds, such as Rex or Peruvians, are more prone to this and will need their ears cleaned more often. Not only are dirty ears are uncomfortable and itchy but ear mites can develop in the area too.

Why does my guinea pig keep shaking his head?

Each pigy has her their own individual popcorn style, the same way that every human dances differently. Please have your little one checked if the head shaking is repeated and also happens outside the popcorning. It could be a sign of a build-up of wax, ear mites or ear infection.

Why are my guinea pigs ears flapping?

Their jaw and ear muscles are close together, so flapping isn't necessarily a problem if you can see that it's happening when they're eating or making noises or mouth movements. That being said, head tilting and random flapping sounds like it could be an ear problem to me.

Is there a guinea pig shampoo?

Kaytee Squeaky Clean Critter Shampoo is our pick for the best overall guinea pig shampoo available. This brand uses a tearless formula to provide maximum comfort for your pet while bathing. It's also pH balanced, so it shouldn't irritate the skin or cause an allergic reaction.

What are guinea pig years?

Guinea Pig – The first year for a guinea pig is about ten human years progressing at that same rate so that by the time five human years has passed, your guinea pig will be fifty! Hamster – Hamsters age very rapidly. One human year is equal to twenty hamster years with few hamsters ever reaching their fifth birthday.

Can I put coconut oil on my guinea pig?

Fungal infections - VCO Coconut Oil has anti-fungal properties AND it is very soothing when applied AND it is not toxic to your guinea pig.

How often do guinea pigs need their nails trimmed?

Guinea pigs require regular nail trimming. The frequency can vary among animals but should occur once a month at a minimum. Clipping nails more often will help to create a routine and prevent the quick, or blood supply at the center of the nail, from growing closer to the tip.