Grooming for small pets

Smaller brushes

Some species and breeds need to be brushed regularly. That is the case with rabbits (especially Angora) and long-haired guinea pigs (Peruvian, Sheltie). The brand Trixie has the perfect brush and comb, adapted to the small pets’ size.

The Trixie Coat Care Glove is a good alternative for sensitive rodents, as it allows the owner to stroke them while removing excess hairs at the same time. The Hunter Ladybug brush is also a good alternative, thanks to its flexible rubber bristles.

Mini nail clippers

Nail clippers also have to be adapted to small pets. Trixie has the right product, the Claw Scissors, which makes clipping very easy. There are several sizes available. For bigger animals like rabbits or ferrets, their Deluxe Claw Clippers with safety lock and adjustable blades are perfect.

Shampoo for guinea pigs and ferrets

Small mammals should not be shampooed too often. There are only two species that can cope with being bathed with water: guinea pigs and ferrets. Some brands offer good shampoos for small pets: Kaytee (Squeaky Clean), Beaphar, Fluppets (Pet Shampoo) and Cunipic (Jojoba Shampoo).

Ferrets have a skin rich in sebum and can produce a strong smell, so they need products adapted to their species. The best are FerretSheen 2in1 Deodorizing Shampoo, Marshall Ferret Tea Tree Shampoo and dr Seidel protein shampoo for ferrets.

Dust bath for chinchillas, degus, hamsters and gerbils

For small pets that should not come into contact with water, some people recommend using dry shampoo, like the Hamiform non-rinse shampoo. But the best solution is to give them a dust bath. The dust looks like fine sand, and effectively removes grease from their fur. It is great to see a chinchilla, degu, hamster or gerbil happily rolling their body in the dust!

Many brands have dust (also called ‘sand’) in their product range: Zoolux, Beaphar, JR Farm, Hugro, Kaytee and Oxbow. The dust has to be placed in a special ‘bathtub’. It may be a rounded one with an opening at the top, like the Wellness Bath, or one with an opening at the front, like the Kaytee Chinchilla Bath House.