| Approved activities | Category |
|---|---|
| Coat care and grooming | 2 |
Grooming
Guinea pigs require some level of coat care depending on the type of coat. Long coated guinea pigs must be groomed regularly.
Nail clipping
Guinea pigs have quite fast growing toenails and if they are kept on soft bedding material, their toenails will need to be clipped regularly as they will not get worn down. This should be done with a pair of very sharp animal nail clippers. Extreme care must be taken to only remove the end section of the nail, avoiding the blood vessel. Shining a bright light through the nail to locate the blood vessel is recommended before clipping. If the light cannot be kept on the nail while clipping, mark the vessel with a marker so that you know where to clip. If bleeding does occur, wipe the blood away and apply a quick-stop powder or, alternatively, flour. If there is only a small amount of bleeding, cotton wool can be held over the nail and pressure applied till bleeding stops.
