10 Things You Shouldn’t Put on Guinea Pigs (Avoid at all Costs)

There’s some things you shouldn’t put on guinea pigs. As a dedicated piggie parent, it is important that you know what is okay for them and what is not. I’m going to tell you 10 things that you shouldn’t put on guinea pigs.

Don’t put nail polish, baby oils, lotion, perfumes, or sunscreen on guinea pigs. These things have strong scents which are harmful to their respiratory system.

Clothes, diapers, and fans are also not safe for guinea pigs. Diapers can lead to UTIs. Aloe Vera isn’t safe either because it’s toxic to guinea pigs. Collars are a big no-no since they can injure a guinea pig.

There’s a lot of things that people think are okay to do with guinea pigs, but they can actually be very dangerous for them. Guinea pigs need a lot of extra care.

Keep reading and find out more about why the things listed above aren’t safe for guinea pigs.

1. Nail Polish

It’s not a good idea to put nail polish on guinea pigs because when they groom themselves, they might eat the polish. This could be dangerous to them if they swallow it.

Nail polish fumes can be dangerous to your little furry. Guinea pigs have an extremely sensitive respiratory system, so any strong scents can cause respiratory infections.

Breathing this in could cause respiratory problems. This could lead to other respiratory infections that can be fatal.

Another issue is that nail polish can dry out your furry friend’s nails. This might cause split nails or even damage to the skin on their toe.

A general rule of thumb is that anything meant for humans isn’t safe for piggies.

2. Diapers

Guinea pigs shouldn’t wear diapers. Yes, it would be great if piggies didn’t poop all over the place (and yes, they’re super poop machines).

But, there’s easy ways to keep your home clean even with the poop issues. I wrote an article called 5 Best Ways to Clean Up Guinea Pig Poop (Explained Here) that should help you out with that.

Now, while diapers might seem like a good solution, they can actually cause some serious health problems for your furry friend.

Diapers also carry many other risks for your guinea pig:

• Cavies pigs poop a lot. This means that their poop will be on their skin for a long time. This can cause discomfort, and can also lead to UTIs and other infections. It increases the chance of other infections from poop and pee being stuck on them all day.
• Cavies will eat just about anything in front of them or in this case on them. You better believe that your little fur baby will chew the diaper which can lead to choking.

Guinea pigs should never wear diapers. It’s not a good idea because there are too many risks.

3. Clothes

As cute as it is to see little furries in clothes, DON’T put clothes on your guinea pig. Clothes that cover their rear end can cause a lot of harm to your piggie.

Here’s why you shouldn’t put clothes on your guinea pig:

• Guinea pigs’ rears need to be uncovered and easily accessible to them. Your piggie will constantly duck to their rear and eat their poop. There’s an important protein that is in their poop needed for their health. Clothes will restrict this.
• Another issue is that clothes can cause serious harm to your fur potato. They can pose the risk of strangulation, especially if it’s around their neck. Especially for those who might put hats on their cavies and tie them around their necks.
• Clothes may also cause an allergic reaction. Remember, piggies aren’t made to wear clothes. The fiber can irritate their skin or cause an allergic reaction – especially if they’ve been coated or washed in a strong detergent or chemical.
• The clothes will also cover their body, blocking their skin. Cavies need to groom themselves and scratch themselves if they feel itchy. You can’t imagine how stressful it can be for them not to be able to reach their skin.
• You might be thinking, “Well, what about when it’s cold outside? My piggie needs to be warm. Well, clothes can cause guinea pigs to overheat. An overheated guinea pig won’t last long. You can see what I’m talking about in the article Can Guinea Pigs Die from Heat? (Find Out Now).

4. Fans

Although a fan can be useful in a guinea pig enclosure to lower the temperature, don’t blow it right on your guinea pig.

If it’s hot outside, you can use the fan to keep the air cool and create airflow. But don’t blow the fan directly onto your piggie.

They should have room to move away from it as well. You can use a damp towel as shade over the cage. Then a fan can be blown on the towel (or close to the towel) to lower the temperature.

There’s other simple ways to keep your piggies cool when the weather is hot, too. You can check them out in the article 13 Proven Ways to Keep Your Guinea Pig Cool When It’s Hot.

5. Baby Oil

Baby oil is not good for guinea pigs, even though it is mild compared to other oils. Guinea pigs generally shouldn’t use the same things that humans use on their skin.

Baby oil is a toxic chemicals for guinea pigs. Remember, guinea pigs groom themselves by licking their skin. This means they will eat the oil and it won’t be good for their digestive system.

Another reason not to use baby oil is that it can cause an allergic reaction.

Remember, even some human babies are allergic to baby oils. So you can imagine how it might be for a piggie who is a whole different species altogether.

Scented baby oils can also cause respiratory problems for your little buddy. Cavies have a very sensitive respiratory system. This means that they can get sick from smells, no matter how mild they are.

6. Perfume

Guinea pigs shouldn’t use any scents. This is different from us humans. Scents can be very harmful to guinea pigs. Perfume is a big no-no for guinea pigs.

Let’s discuss why.

You see, guinea pigs have a very sensitive respiratory system. Aromas or any strong scents cause respiratory infections.

Overtime, they can develop breathing problems if they breathe in strong scents and aromas.

You might be tempted to use perfume to get rid of the smell of urine or poop. But this will just make the problem worse.

So what do you need to do?

Clean your piggie’s enclosure regularly. This means removing the wet parts and poop and replacing them with dry beddings every day.

You should clean out their entire cage at least once a week. It’s more advisable to do it every three days. If you want some more information on how to properly clean your furries’ cage, then check out Clean Your Guinea Pig’s Cage: An Easy Step-by-Step Guide.

Get bedding that is highly absorbent and can mask the smell of urine well. Some examples are:

• Fleece
• Kiln-dried pine
• Aspen
• Carefresh
• Noodle bath mats

7. Sunscreen

You should not put sunscreen on guinea pigs because it is not good for them. Do not use products made for human skin on your guinea pigs, even if they are thin and they need sun protection.

The best way to protect them is to keep them out of the sun and in a shaded place. Sunscreen can cause irritation. Some of its ingredients might be harmful to cavies.

8. Lotion

Remember the golden advice: DON’T use skin products intended for humans on guinea pigs. Lotion can cause irritation or allergies for your guinea pigs.

Most of these products were made with human skin in mind. Some of their ingredients can be toxic to piggies.

In most cases, guinea pigs naturally produce enough oil to keep their skin moisturized. If your hairless little fur babies skin gets dry, try adjusting their diet first.

Usually dry skin can be treated with extra Vitamin C being added to their diet. You can also try adding a humidifier to their room to put more moisture into the air.

Another issue is that piggies will probably eat the lotion. It’s toxic for them so it can cause them serious digestive issues.

The smell of the lotion (if it’s a perfumed lotion) can also be very harmful to their respiratory system.

9. Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is toxic for guinea pigs. The leaves can make them choke. The juice can cause irritation to their skin.

If they eat it, it can have drastic effects on their digestive system. Aloe Vera is also known to contain compounds that cause cancer in guinea pigs. Especially the parts that aren’t made of water.

It can also cause them to have diarrhea.

10. Collars

Collars are a big no-no when it comes to guinea pigs. Let me tell you why.

Unlike dogs, guinea pigs are prey animals. Remember, they’re always on the lookout for a predator. Leashing them makes it difficult for them to move freely.

Collars and leashes also put great strain on their neck and back. This can lead to injuries and other health problems. Remember, they have delicate bones and soft muscle tissue.

Here is a summary of reasons you shouldn’t put a collar on a guinea pig:

• Can cause broken bones and other internal injuries
• They’re very stressful and scary for piggies
• Your little fuzz spud might escape
• They can cause skin abrasion and hair loss
• They could choke to death

Avoid any object that can restrict your guinea pigs, including harnesses. Remember, it’s never worth the risk of injuring your little fur baby or causing them stress.

Take a look at Is It Safe for Guinea Pigs to Wear Collars and Leashes? (You Need to Know) to get more information about the dangers of guinea pigs wearing leashes and collars.

Here’s a video with more information on things you shouldn’t buy for your piggie:

What’s Not Safe For Guinea Pigs?

Foods full of sugar and fat aren’t safe for guinea pigs. Any food that’s processed isn’t safe for guinea pigs. Grains, cereals, seeds, nuts, corn, dried beans, avocado, onions, and mushrooms aren’t safe either.

Toys that are made of plastic and can be chewed off are also not safe for guinea pigs. The best toy they should play with is wood. Guinea pigs also lack height perception, which is another factor to consider.

Make sure that your guinea pig’s cage is not too high off the ground. They might jump out and get hurt if it is. Also, make sure there are no loose threads or cloth around the cage that they could choke or get strangled on.

Dogs and other large pets can hurt guinea pigs. Guinea pigs can also get hurt by rabbits. Please do not let your guinea pig be near any dogs or rabbits (no matter how cute the photo op would be).

Scented beddings also aren’t safe for guinea pigs. That includes any sort of scents such as perfume, scented candle, cider, and unprocessed pine. They cause respiratory issues in guinea pigs.

What Usually Kills Guinea Pigs?

Choking, pneumonia, heart disease, and bumblefoot are among the things that usually kill guinea pigs.

Overheating, gut stasis, cysts, tumors, and bacterial and fungal infections can also kill guinea pigs.

Shock, loud noise, fly strikes, skin infections, and toxic food are other things that can cause death in guinea pigs.

What Do Guinea Pigs Dislike?

Guinea pigs don’t like small enclosures, loud noise, and being picked up without warning. They also dislike wet and smelly cages, guinea pigs they don’t get along with, and predators.

Guinea pigs also dislike strong scents like: scented candles, essential oils, strong detergents, and perfumes. Guinea pigs also dislike being alone. But, here’s a few exceptions.

If you read The Truth About Single Guinea Pigs: Is It Okay to Have Just One? to see what I mean.

Let’s Wrap Up

Let’s go over a summary of the 10 things we talked about:

• Nail polish: your piggie might eat the polish assuming it’s dirt and the fumes are very harmful.
• Diaper: The constant poop and pee against their skin can cause infections.
• Clothes: It will restrict their movement and can irritate their skin.
• Fans: Can be harmful if put directly on your guinea pigs.
• Baby oils: They’re not made for guinea pigs and can contain toxic substances.
• Perfume: The scent will cause respiratory diseases in your little furry.
• Sunscreen: The ingredients can be toxic to your guinea pig.
• Lotion: It can irritate their skin and can cause digestive problems if they eat it.
• Aloe Vera: Very toxic for guinea pigs. Can irritate the skin, cause cancer and diarrhea.
• Collars: Will lead to bone and internal organ injuries. Also very stressful for your fuzz spud.

So there you have it, these are things you should avoid for your piggie. You can never be too careful as a piggie parent so don’t be afraid to google anything you aren’t sure of.