Silver-haired guinea pigs have a lifespan of up to ten years. If you are determined to keep them as pets, you must ensure that there are no other animals such as dogs and cats in the home that may harm them.
Silver-haired guinea pigs have silver-white and hard fur, which is spiky. They are also known as Dutch pigs, Dutch guinea pigs, colorful pigs, piglets, and guinea pigs. Their ancestors came from the Andes Mountains in South America and were brought to the West by European merchants in the 16th century. At that time, people loved these small animals and kept them as pets.
Silver-haired guinea pigs are gentle and lovable, relatively easy to care for, and are still commonly kept as household pets. Some organizations around the world are dedicated to breeding guinea pigs, and they have bred various breeds with different fur colors and unique appearances.
The silver-haired guinea pig is silver-gray all over, with hair in the form of spikes or thorns. It is also known as the Dutch pig, Dutch guinea pig, Dutch rabbit, cavy, or Guinea pig. Their ancestors came from the Andes Mountains in South America and were brought to the West by European merchants in the 16th century. People loved this small animal and started keeping it as a pet. They are gentle, adorable, and relatively easy to care for, making them a popular choice for domestic pets. Some organizations around the world are dedicated to breeding guinea pigs, and they have developed various breeds with different colors and appearances.
It is recommended to keep silver-haired guinea pigs for pet lovers. The silver-haired guinea pig's living habits are also relatively easy to handle. First of all, they like a dry, clean, and well-ventilated environment. Creating such an environment is not difficult, because humans themselves need such an environment.
Sarcoptes scabiei
The source of scabies is the contamination of the guinea pig's living environment. It mainly inhabits around the guinea pig's eyes and ears. Scabies can cause scabies, as if scabies eat the guinea pig's hair, causing bald spots. Once scabies signs are found, please seek medical treatment. The general treatment method is to inject insecticide. You can also use agricultural white insecticide to dilute 1:100 and apply it to the affected area (adding a little to the guinea pig is harmless). In addition, it is necessary to thoroughly disinfect the cage, otherwise scabies will come back.
Bacterial infection
The main symptom is baldness on the head, which is extremely similar to scabies symptoms, and sometimes even doctors cannot distinguish. This condition is caused by high humidity in the air and long-term consumption of concentrated feed. This condition is similar to athlete's foot in humans and can cause dandruff on the skin.
Diarrhea
It is caused by gastroenteritis caused by unclean food. The symptoms are obvious, and the stool is not formed. If this symptom is found, please seek medical treatment immediately. Diarrhea is quite dangerous for guinea pigs because sometimes we don't know which food causes diarrhea. If it is ordinary diarrhea, taking medicine can cure it, but if it is diarrhea caused by chemical poisoning, it is difficult to save lives even if it is sent for treatment in the first time. So be careful.
Flatulence
It is caused by eating inappropriate food, such as pears. Flatulence can cause suffocation and heart failure. So when the situation is serious, seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
Constipation
Caused by excessive dry food and inadequate water intake. It can be cured by increasing water intake and providing foods with high water content such as vegetables and fruits.
Excessive hair loss
Guinea pigs shedding hair is like humans losing hair, which is normal. However, excessive hair loss is abnormal and is caused by a lack of vitamin C. The treatment method is to mix powdered vitamin C into food or water to supplement it. Vitamin powder is sour, so some guinea pigs avoid eating it, at this time, you need to feed them using a syringe.
Silver-haired guinea pigs are herbivores. If you have the opportunity to take them out, put them on the lawn, and they will be very happy. But it is not recommended to give them medicine, after all, there are more pesticides and bacteria on the outdoor lawn.
Wild guinea pigs mainly feed on grass and some plants. However, although these plants contain rich natural fibers, they lack many other nutrients compared to guinea pig specialized feed. Vitamin C is crucial for guinea pigs. Guinea pigs are animals that cannot synthesize vitamin C themselves, so they need to constantly consume vitamin C in their feed.
Vegetables and fruits are also favorites of silver-haired guinea pigs. In terms of vegetables, silver-haired guinea pigs prefer lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, and so on. These three vegetables are not harmful to silver-haired guinea pigs as long as they are fresh. Carrots contain a large amount of carotene, which is necessary for the formation of vitamin A. It can maintain the health of the skin and mucous membranes, protect the eyes, and promote metabolism. However, because carrots are hard and not easily digested, they should not be fed too much.
A silver-haired guinea pig needs to drink about 80-150 milliliters of water per day. In fact, you don't need to know the exact amount of water it needs, just keep the water in the water dispenser sufficient. It will drink by itself when thirsty. But pay attention to keeping the water dispenser clean and regularly changing the water. In areas where tap water quality meets international standards, you can give them tap water directly. Otherwise, give them cool boiled water or mineral water. Distilled water is not a good choice because it does not contain minerals and trace elements.
If you can see your silver-haired guinea pig 24 hours a day, it is better to feed it small meals frequently. If you are a working person, then implement a two-meal-a-day system. Whether the silver-haired guinea pig finishes the food in the bowl or not, you must pour out the leftover food when preparing for the next meal because the leftover food will become stale after being exposed to air for a long time.
After cleaning, quickly wrap the guinea pig in a towel. Put it in a clean box and use a preheated hairdryer to dry a small part of its body. Pay attention to the temperature of the dryer. You can place your hand next to the guinea pig while blowing to determine the temperature of the air. This way you won't blow it too cold or too hot.
After drying a small part of its body, lay a towel on yourself and hold the guinea pig in your arms to blow dry. If you have prepared food in advance, you can feed them at this time. The reason for laying the towel is that guinea pigs are warm animals and it can prevent them from getting wet. It can also help absorb the moisture under their belly. We often can't dry the water under their belly, but blowing in that area may make the guinea pig uncomfortable. So laying a towel on it is very useful. Feeding guinea pigs is to divert their attention to the food. Many guinea pigs are not used to hairdryers and are afraid of the noise. They may hide in clothes or run away. Having food will distract them and prevent them from running away. After they finish eating, their brains will gradually adapt to the hairdryer, and they will not run away as fiercely, or even stop running away.
If you are blowing a long-haired guinea pig, make sure to blow it completely dry, because their hair on the opposite side of the hands is often longer, and there may also be water hidden at the junction of the opposite side and the dominant side. Be careful not to let it catch a cold.
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