Last Updated on November 12, 2023 by Fumipets
8 Best Guinea Pig Shampoos of 2023
Guinea pig shampoos are specially formulated products designed to maintain the cleanliness and health of guinea pigs’ fur and skin. These shampoos play a crucial role in the overall hygiene of these small pets, providing a safe and effective way to keep them clean. When selecting a guinea pig shampoo, it is essential to consider factors such as ingredients, frequency of use, and the specific needs of the guinea pig.
Guinea Pig Shampoos
If you’ve never had a guinea pig before, it’s likely that you don’t know what sort of shampoo to use on your pet, but you’re beginning to notice that it needs a wash. There are many brands available, but sorting through them all might be difficult. Choosing a shampoo might be challenging since many products are for tiny animals and don’t expressly target guinea pigs.
You may read our reviews of eight of the top-selling guinea pig shampoos to learn more about them. To help you decide which brands best meet your needs, we’ll outline what we like and dislike about each one. Additionally, we’ve included a brief buyer’s guide where we go over what constitutes a decent guinea pig shampoo and which substances could be dangerous.
Continue reading as we go into ingredients, aroma, price, and more to assist you in making a wise decision.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | |
BEST OVERALL |
 |
Kaytee Squeaky Clean Critter Shampoo | Tearless pH balanced Soft hair |
BEST VALUE |
 |
Marshall Foaming Waterless Shampoo | Cleans and conditions the coat No residue No water |
PREMIUM CHOICE |
 |
Vetericyn FoamCare Medium Density Hair Shampoo | Formulated for moderately dense hair Supports skin and coat health Smells nice |
 |
Innovet Pet Products Oatmeal & Honey Shampoo | Detangler, cleanser, moisturizer 100% plant-derived ingredients Safe for sensitive skin | |
 |
Johnson’s 19-0260 | Cleanses Non-irritant deodorizes |
The 8 Best Guinea Pig Shampoo – Reviews 2023
1. Kaytee Squeaky Clean Critter Shampoo – Best Overall
The finest available guinea pig shampoo in general is Kaytee Squeaky Clean Critter Shampoo, in our opinion. To ensure your pet is as comfortable as possible while being bathed, this brand employs a tearless solution. Its pH balance ensures that it won’t irritate the skin or trigger an allergic response. It comes in an 8-ounce bottle and results in silky, lustrous hair.
While reviewing the Kaytee Squeaky Clean Critter Shampoo, the one thing we didn’t enjoy was that it had a strong odor and some of our critters didn’t seem to appreciate it.
Pros
- Tearless
- pH balanced
- Soft hair
- 8-ounce bottle
Cons
- Strong smell
2. Marshall Foaming Waterless Shampoo – Best Value
Our choice for the finest guinea pig shampoo for the money is the Marshall Foaming Waterless Shampoo. With this brand, water is not necessary to clean and condition the coat. With little residue left behind, the coat feels softer and is ideal for spot cleaning your pet in between showers.
The Marshall Foaming Waterless Shampoo’s main drawback is that there isn’t much in a bottle, and we often needed a lot to clean our guinea pig.
Pros
- Cleans and conditions the coat
- No residue
- No water
Cons
- Small amount
3. Vetericyn FoamCare Medium Density Hair Shampoo – Premium Choice
The top-tier brand we recommend is the Vetericyn FoamCare Medium Density Hair Shampoo. This company employs a recipe for guinea pig-like hair that is somewhat thick. It enters the hair, conditions it, and gives it a delicate, pleasant scent thereafter. Your pet shouldn’t be bothered by the aroma since it is delicate and not overbearing like many other products. Additionally, it offers nutrients that protect your pet’s skin.
The only drawback we found with the Vetericyn FoamCare Medium Density Hair Shampoo was that it took a lot of washing to completely eliminate the substance.
Pros
- Formulated for moderately dense hair
- Supports skin and coat health
- Soft hair
- Smells nice
Cons
- Needs rinsing
4. Innovet Pet Products Oatmeal & Honey Shampoo
Using the premium brand Innovet Pet Products Oatmeal & Honey Shampoo, you may detangle, clean, and moisturize your pet’s coat. This brand has shown to be beneficial to a variety of species, so if you have more pets in addition to your guinea pig, you may definitely use it for them as well. Oatmeal and honey, two substances that are entirely sourced from plants, are included. It calms the skin and may lessen allergies in certain animal species. Because it comes in a 16-ounce bottle, you won’t have to purchase it constantly.
The price of the Oatmeal & Honey Shampoo from Innovet Pet Products is its primary drawback. Thorough rinsing was another challenging task for us.
Pros
- Detangler, cleanser, moisturizer
- 100% plant-derived ingredients
- Safe for sensitive skin
- Oatmeal and honey
Cons
- High cost
- Difficult to rinse
5. Johnson’s Small Animal Cleansing Shampoo
For tiny animals, such as guinea pigs, there is a shampoo called Johnson’s 19-0260 Cleansing Shampoo. This mixture simultaneously cleans and deodorizes, leaving your pet feeling soft and smelling clean. Pets with sensitive skin may use it safely because of its non-irritating nature.
The prominent warning on the label of Johnson’s 19-0260 Cleansing Shampoo regarding putting the product in your pet’s eyes causes us to worry. Given that our guinea pigs tend to move around a lot as we bathe them, this caution made us a little hesitant to use it.
Pros
- Cleanses and deodorizes
- Non-irritant
Cons
- Harmful to eyes
6. Odie and Cody Natural Pet Shampoo
The Odie and Cody Natural Pet Shampoo is a fragrance- and ingredient-free organic shampoo for pets. We discovered that this solution leaves your guinea pig’s coat velvety and hydrates and deodorizes your pet as it cleans. It has anti-itch chemicals that not only stop itching but also aid in soothing any existing irritated regions. The container is made from recycled materials and is biodegradable, and all of the components are biodegradable.
The Odie and Cody Natural Pet Shampoo’s most significant drawback is its offensive scent. Not every aroma that is inherently pleasant is natural. Despite the fact that the fumes from this product are not dangerous, you should use it with ventilation. Additionally, the top on two separate bottles we had from this brand cracked, and a bottle of this shampoo is extremely pricey.
Pros
- Organic
- No fragrances
- Moisturizes and deodorizes
- Anti-itch
- Bio-degradable
Cons
- Flimsy lid
- Bad smell
- Expensive
7. Arm & Hammer Tearless Shampoo
You may get the Arm & Hammer FF7935 Tearless Shampoo from a reputable and well-known company. This shampoo cleanses and nourishes the fur of your pet, and we discovered that it leaves the hair feeling smooth and smelling pleasant without being overbearing. The delicate skin of your guinea pig won’t be bothered by it since it has a pH balance for tiny animals.
The Arm & Hammer FF7935 Tearless Shampoo has one drawback: we found it to be one of the harder products to remove from the skin. Normally, it would take us two or three attempts before we were certain that it had thoroughly washed. It spills everywhere since the cover is also quite leaky.
Pros
- Cleans and nourishes
- pH balanced for small animals
Cons
- Hard to rinse
- Leaky lid
8. Fluppets Certified Organic Pet Shampoo
Organic oils are among the 100% all-natural components in Fluppets Certified Organic Pet Shampoo. There are no petroleum-based substances, animal byproducts, or components of synthetic origins. One 26-ounce container of the highly concentrated mixture should last you for the whole lifespan of your pet.
The drawback of Fluppets Certified Organic Pet Shampoo is how difficult it is to remove from the fur; as it dries, you can see where you missed any. Additionally, it gives the fur a silky, somewhat gritty texture that lets it grasp at combs as you draw it through hair. One of the priciest shampoos on this list is also this one.
Pros
- Uses organic oils
- 100% natural ingredients
- Highly concentrated
- 16-ounce bottle
- Free of petroleum and animal by-products
Cons
- Expensive
- Hard to rinse
- Makes fur difficult to comb
Buyer’s Guide
Human shampoo often contains too many abrasive chemicals to be used on your guinea pig or any other tiny animals. If you have no other options, some individuals advise using Johnson’s Baby Shampoo, but we suggest buying guinea pig-specific products wherever feasible.
Flea Shampoo
We advise seeking quick veterinary advice and using the recommended kind of flea shampoo if your guinea pig has fleas or another kind of parasite. You will need a medicated shampoo, and although there are several products available at pet stores, none of them are on our list of recommendations and aren’t anything you would typically purchase.
Ingredients
It’s usually preferable to opt for products that employ just 100% natural components when buying a brand of shampoo for your guinea pig. Try to avoid buying goods with a lot of unusual components, particularly if they are petroleum-based. Synthetic and petroleum-based substances may irritate and even trigger an allergic reaction in your pet’s delicate skin.
Tear-Free
When selecting a shampoo for your guinea pig, it’s crucial to make sure that it is tear-free. Most companies that use a formula that prevents tears make this apparent on the label. Always go with a brand that advertises being tear-free.
Ease of Use
You can discover a few shampoos that are difficult to remove from your pet’s fur if you experiment with a lot of different ones. This issue may be annoying, particularly if your pet dislikes taking baths. You’ll need to use trial and error when you test out different products since we made every effort to let you know about any companies that caused us problems throughout our evaluations.
Giving Your Guinea Pig a Bath
If you have any queries, let’s go through the fundamentals of bathing your guinea pig.
• Fill a large bowl or Tupperware container with lukewarm water and place it in a tub or large sink.
• Slowly place your guinea pig into the water and allow them to acclimate to the water over several minutes.
• Try to maintain a lukewarm temperature by scooping out cooler water and adding warmer water.
• Once your pet is relaxed, pour some water over their back to get them used to it, but avoid the head.
• Lather a few drops of shampoo in your hands and gently apply it to your guinea pig.
• Gently work the lather into your pet’s coat, avoiding the face always.
• Rinse with clean, warm water. Take your time to make sure all the shampoo rinses.
• Remove the guinea pig from the water and place it on a clean towel.
• Wrap the towel around the guinea pig to dry and warm it.
• Once dry, you can gently brush or comb your pet and even add a small drop of coconut oil to help protect and soften their skin.
To keep your pet clean and healthy, we advise that you follow these instructions every month during the warmer seasons and every other month during the winter ones. By bathing your pet, you may get rid of any undesirable odors and untangle any tangles or knots that could be beginning to form.
Conclusion
We advise picking a shampoo for your pet that is all-natural, tear-free, and free of any ingredients derived from petroleum. Our choice for the greatest overall shampoo is Kaytee Squeaky Clean Critter Shampoo, which is a superb illustration of a secure product that will produce clean, soft fur.
Our choice for the greatest value is the Marshall Foaming Waterless Shampoo, which is excellent for use between bathing if you notice your pet starting to smell or if you are on the go. You will have years of carefree shampooing power with any product.
We really hope that reading these shampoo reviews and benefiting from our buyer’s guide has been enjoyable for you. Please spread the word about these top guinea pig shampoo reviews on Facebook and Twitter if you find them to be useful.
Questions & Answers:
Why is it important to use a specialized shampoo for guinea pigs?
Guinea pig shampoos are formulated to suit the sensitive skin and fur of these small pets. Using a specialized product ensures that the shampoo is gentle, free from harmful chemicals, and maintains the natural balance of oils on their skin.
What ingredients should one look for in a guinea pig shampoo?
Ideal guinea pig shampoos contain mild, natural ingredients such as aloe vera or chamomile. Avoid shampoos with harsh chemicals, fragrances, or additives that may irritate the guinea pig’s skin.
How often should guinea pigs be bathed with shampoo?
Guinea pigs generally do not require frequent bathing. Depending on the specific needs of the guinea pig, bathing once every one to three months is usually sufficient. Over-bathing can strip their skin of natural oils, leading to dryness.
Can human shampoos be used on guinea pigs in a pinch?
It is not recommended to use human shampoos on guinea pigs. Human shampoos often contain ingredients that can be too harsh for their sensitive skin, leading to irritation and other health issues. It’s best to use a shampoo specifically designed for guinea pigs.
What precautions should be taken when bathing guinea pigs?
When bathing guinea pigs, it’s important to use lukewarm water and ensure a gentle approach. Avoid getting water in their ears and eyes, and always dry them thoroughly to prevent chilling. Additionally, provide a calm and quiet environment during the bathing process to minimize stress for the guinea pig.
