Teddy Bear Guinea Pig's hair is quite special, feeling like velvet, and it is very dense. The touch of the hair is very comfortable. The color of the hair is varied. It is also known as the Dutch Pig, Dutch Guinea Pig, Cavy, Cavy Pig, and Guinea. Their ancestors came from the Andes Mountains in South America. In the 16th century, they were brought to the West by European merchants, and people liked this small animal as a pet. They are gentle, cute, relatively easy to care for, and still common pets today. Some organizations around the world are committed to breeding guinea pigs and have bred various breeds with different fur colors and appearances.
The guinea pig breeds are diverse and were bred after they were transported to Europe and North America. This is mainly reflected in the difference in fur and color. The most common pet breed is the English guinea pig, which has short and smooth fur. The Abyssinian guinea pig has fur that stands up and is not smooth. The Peruvian and Texel breeds are also common pet breeds, with straight and long fur, while the Silkie breed has long, curly fur.
Guinea Pigs (Caviaporcellus) originated in South America and are also known as Dutch Pigs, Dutch Guinea Pigs, Cavies, Cavy Pigs, and Guinea. They are very popular in the local area and are loved by people. They have a gentle temperament, are small and cute, and are relatively easy to take care of, so many people are willing to keep them as pets.
The name Guinea Pig may have originated from the fact that it used to be sold for "Guinea" (an old British coin) each, and it is fat like a pig, hence the name Guinea Pig. Some people believe that it originated from Guinea in Africa, and some believe that it originated from Guyana in South America, which had frequent exchanges with Europe at that time and was later written as Guinea. The Chinese name for it, "Tian Zhu Shu," is speculated to have been initially introduced to China from Tianzhu (modern-day India), hence the name "Tianzhu" Pig. Organizations around the world are actively engaged in the breeding of Guinea Pigs, and various breeds with different fur colors and appearances have been developed.
The Teddy Bear Guinea Pig is recommended for pet lovers. They have a gentle personality and do not bite. They are also active and do not like to stay in one corner all the time. However, Teddy Bear Guinea Pigs can be easily scared by loud noises due to their timid nature.
Scabies
The source of scabies is the contamination of the guinea pig's living environment. It mainly resides around the guinea pig's eyes and ears. Scabies can cause mange, as if the scabies have eaten the guinea pig's hair, causing bald patches. Once scabies symptoms are discovered, it is necessary to consult a doctor. The general treatment method is to inject insecticide. The affected area can also be treated with diluted agricultural white insecticide at a ratio of 1:100 (a little is harmless to the guinea pig). Additionally, it is important to thoroughly disinfect the cage, otherwise scabies may return.
Bacterial Infection
The main symptom is the appearance of bald patches on the head, which is extremely similar to scabies symptoms, sometimes even doctors cannot distinguish them. This condition is caused by high humidity and long-term consumption of concentrated feed. This condition is similar to athlete's foot in humans, causing flaky skin.
Diarrhea
Gastroenteritis caused by consuming unclean food. The symptoms are obvious, with loose stool. If this symptom is found, immediate medical attention should be sought. Diarrhea is quite dangerous for guinea pigs because sometimes we do not know which food is causing the diarrhea. If it is a common diarrhea, medication can resolve it. If it is diarrhea caused by chemical poisoning, even if medical attention is sought promptly, it is difficult to save a life. So, be cautious.
Bloating
Caused by consuming unsuitable food, such as pears. Bloating can lead to suffocation and heart failure. Therefore, when the situation is serious, early medical attention should be sought.
Constipation
Caused by excessively dry food and insufficient water intake. It can be cured by increasing water intake and providing fruits and vegetables with high water content.
Excessive Hair Loss
Guinea pigs shedding hair is normal, just like humans shedding hair. However, excessive hair loss is abnormal and is caused by a lack of vitamin C. The treatment method is to supplement with powdered vitamin C mixed into the food or water. Vitamin powder is sour, so some guinea pigs may avoid eating it. In this case, it needs to be fed to them using a syringe.
External Injury
Immediately apply animal-specific iodine to the bleeding area to prevent bacterial invasion.
Guinea pigs give people a very clumsy and cute feeling. In fact, they are also very smart. As long as you take good care of them, they will recognize you and be willing to play with you. They won't run away like rats when they see people. The price of guinea pigs on the market is not high, and they do not require professional breeding equipment. They are very suitable for the elderly and children to raise. As long as you prepare a suitable size cage, supply fresh water and food every day, accompany them to play frequently, and clean the nest regularly, they can grow up healthily and happily. When you are familiar with raising them, they will even come out to greet you when you come home from work and ask you for food by running onto you.
Guinea pigs are mainly herbivorous and like to eat vegetables, alfalfa grass, lettuce, apples, peas, corn, and other fruits and vegetables. Guinea pigs have a very good appetite and can eat up to ten kilograms of vegetables and fruits in a day. Nowadays, people also like to raise guinea pigs at home. For domestic guinea pigs, you can choose to buy rabbit feed for feeding instead of rat feed to avoid reducing the risk of guinea pigs suffering from cardiovascular, endocrine disorders, and severe obesity.
Owners of domestic guinea pigs should choose stainless steel food bowls that are slightly heavy to prevent guinea pigs from biting or flipping over the food bowls frequently.
After taking a bath, dry a small amount of water and lay a towel on yourself. Hold the Teddy Bear Guinea Pig in your arms and blow dry it. If you have prepared food, you can feed them at this time. The reason for laying the towel on yourself is that the Guinea Pig is still warm and it can prevent the Guinea Pig from getting wet. It can also help absorb the water under their belly. We often cannot dry the water under the belly, but this is afraid that the Guinea Pig will catch a cold. If you blow dry the Guinea Pig upside down, it will also be very uncomfortable. So laying the towel is still very useful. Giving food to the Guinea Pig is because it can divert their attention to the food. Many Guinea Pigs are not accustomed to hairdryers and are afraid of the sound of hairdryers, so they will hide in clothes or run away. With food, Guinea Pigs will shift their attention, so they won't run away. After the Guinea Pig finishes eating, its brain will naturally adapt to the hairdryer a little bit, and it will not run away so fiercely, or even not run away at all.
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