FAQ: Grooming for small pets

Hairless rats get cold and injured more easily, so they need a warmer spot, soft hammocks and bedding without sharp particles. Their skin is worth checking more often for scratches, dryness or redness.

Curly-coated and rex guinea pigs usually do not need frequent combing, as a comb can break up the curls or irritate the skin. An occasional stroke with a soft brush or your fingers and removing tangled-in hay is enough.

A soft brush or comb, small-animal nail clippers, styptic powder, a towel and, depending on the species, a sand bath with sand usually come in handy. Everything else, such as shampoo, is only needed when necessary.

Remove hair from the brush after each use, and occasionally wash it in warm soapy water and let it dry. Wipe the nail clippers, disinfect them if needed and store them dry so the blades do not rust.

For healthy animals in the same group it usually can, but if one has parasites or a skin condition, the tools must be cleaned or kept separate. This prevents passing on the infection.

Some sprays are made for long-haired small pets, but small pets groom themselves and can swallow the residue. If you use one, choose an unscented product made for small animals and use it sparingly, following the label.

No, fragrances are unnecessary for small pets and can irritate their sensitive airways and skin. Small pets also communicate through scent, so a foreign smell can cause conflict within the group.

A pregnant female should be handled and lifted less and more carefully, so longer procedures such as nail clipping are best done beforehand or postponed. Clean the cage calmly and do not disturb the nest, especially just before and after the birth.

During the heating season dry air can dry out the skin, and chinchilla and degu fur becomes more static. At such times sand baths can be offered slightly less often, and if the skin flakes or is red, talk to a vet.

Usually the animal clears its eye itself by blinking. If the eye waters, turns red, stays half-closed or the discharge does not clear within a day, stop the sand bath for now and see a vet.

Tip out the old sand, wash the container in warm water and let it dry completely before adding new sand. In a damp container the sand clumps and can go mouldy.

Chinchillas living together often take turns bathing in the same container, but the sand then gets dirty faster. If the animals squabble over the bath or one of them is ill, separate baths are better.

Yes, some owners bathe their chinchilla in a separate spot, such as on a tray or in a box, so sand does not spill in the cage. The spot must be safe, the animal must not be able to escape and the bath should be supervised.

No, rats and guinea pigs do not clean their coats in sand, so they do not need a sand bath. Some rats enjoy digging, so they can be offered a dig box, but not as a grooming tool.

No, clumping cat litter in particular is dangerous, because it hardens when damp and can cause problems if swallowed or caught in the coat. Use only non-clumping bathing sand made for small pets.

No, terrarium sand with added calcium or dyes is not made for small pets’ coat care and can be too dusty. Fill small pets’ sand baths only with sand made for chinchillas or small pets.

Many people find it easiest to sit the guinea pig on their lap facing away and support its chest with one hand while clipping with the other. The guinea pig can also be gently wrapped in a towel with only one leg free.

Hold the rabbit calmly on a non-slip surface or wrapped gently in a towel, and always support the hind legs. Do not turn the rabbit onto its back if it is not used to it, as this causes it severe stress.

Yes, rabbits have a dewclaw higher up on the front legs whose nail does not wear down and can grow long or ingrown. It is easy to forget when clipping, so check it every time.

A guinea pig has four toes on each front foot and three on each hind foot, so fourteen nails in total. It is worth counting while clipping so none is missed.