How to Groom a Pet Rodent

Your pet rodent should keep itself clean with regular self-grooming, so little is required of you in keeping your pet clean. There are some things you can do, however, to ensure that your pet rodent stays well-groomed and healthy. Follow these tips.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Use a toothbrush or a small brush with fine bristles if your pet gets dirty or requires grooming for any reason.
2. Wipe your pet down with freshening wipes found at a pet supply store. These will clean your pet, should it need it, and remove any unpleasant odors.
3. Brush a pet rabbit when it goes through its shedding cycle every 3 months. Otherwise, it may end up ingesting a harmful quantity of fur as it tries to self-groom. You may also want to clip your rabbit's toenails.
4. Provide your pet chinchilla with a bath house in which to take a dust bath on a regular basis. Don't leave the house in the cage when it's not in use, though, so that it does not become contaminated. You may also want to offer this as an option for gerbils.
5. Bathe your pet rodent only if it has gotten something sticky on it that cannot be removed with light brushing. In such instances, you can purchase special shampoo designed just for rodents and small pets.
6. Clean your pet's cage on a regular basis by changing bedding weekly and removing wet clumps daily. Wash the cage and any toys once a month and use a diluted bleach solution to disinfect the living environment thoroughly. Keeping your pet's home clean will help ensure that your pet stays clean.

Tips & Warnings

• Under normal circumstances, your pet rodent should never need to be bathed. Its grooming habits will ensure that it stays clean on a regular basis.