A small amount of used but unsoiled bedding and nesting material transferred when you clean out your gerbilarium as cleaning can be stressful and removing all odours may trigger fighting. Gerbils have an acute sense of smell.

They do this because they recognize each other by the taste of their saliva or the scent of their body. It is a good sign if your gerbils do this, as it means they are eager and happy to see each other. Gerbils who live together in a cage may greet each other regularly to confirm each other’s taste or smell.

Like humans, gerbils can sometimes have allergic reactions to materials found in and around the home. If your gerbil has a runny, red nose, crusty or watery eyes, wheezing breaths, or is sneezing a lot, it may be an allergic reaction. As a first action, change the type of bedding you are using in the enclosure.

The smell that you might notice in a gerbil cage can come from either the cage (and its interior) or from the gerbil itself. The smells that come from the cage (and interior) can be caused by: scent marking: gerbils have scent glands on their stomachs and they use these to mark their territory.

Hamsters smell like pee because they have relieved themselves in the bedding and/or other areas of the cage before rolling in it. In most cases, the smell is going to begin emanating from the hamster before spreading to other parts of the cage.

Wash Cage. Now you’re ready to wash your guinea pig’s cage. Dry the cage completely with towels or a hair dryer. Sprinkle the bottom of the cage with a bit of baking soda—this will help absorb odors and keep the offensive scents to a minimum.

Unfortunately not. Baking soda may cause health problems for guinea pigs. Baking soda is a lung irritant. If the particles are inhaled, it can irritate their already sensitive respiratory systems.

Adult Guinea Pig I wouldn’t, baking soda is used in home made rodent poisons and will kill them if they manage to ingest any.

Avoid catching a disease from your guinea pig by instructing the entire family in safe handling guidelines. Teach children not to kiss guinea pigs or put them up to their faces, not to rub their nose or eyes when handling a guinea pig and to thoroughly wash their hands as soon as the guinea pig goes back in his cage.

Kissing a guinea pig can pass the cold to you. Guinea pigs are open to HSV: If you kiss or rub your nose on your guinea pig, they can catch HSV, which can even cause encephalitis. This can cause lethal swelling of the brain of guinea pigs.