The Golden Satin Abyssinian Guinea Pig has a golden color and its fur is as smooth as satin. It is also known as Dutch Pig, Dutch Guinea Pig, Tricolor Pig, Guinea Pig, and Guinea Pig. 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 these small animals as pets. They are gentle, cute, and relatively easy to take care of. They are still commonly kept as pets today. Some organizations around the world are devoted to breeding guinea pigs, and they have bred various breeds with different fur colors and forms.
The high-quality Golden Satin Abyssinian Guinea Pig has a smooth and oval-shaped body, with a larger head that is proportional to the rest of the body. It should not have a large head and a small rear, as this is not normal for a Golden Satin Abyssinian Guinea Pig. Their fur is golden and evenly distributed, with a shiny appearance, as if it has been coated with a layer of varnish. When held, the fur feels smooth and there should be no stray hairs. They give off a very calm and relaxed vibe when they are still, without appearing to be unruly. The health of a Golden Satin Abyssinian Guinea Pig is mainly reflected in its behavior. A simple way to assess their health is if they do not run or jump around when facing strangers, do not squeak loudly, or bite people. However, if you try to entice them with food for a while and there is no response, and instead they immediately retreat, then you should be cautious as this behavior is abnormal. If they have obvious jolts in their feet while running and jumping, it is also undesirable as it could be a sign of foot bone damage. The metabolism of Golden Satin Abyssinian Guinea Pigs is fast due to their small size. Fasting for a day can quickly lead to hypoglycemic shock or hypothermia. Moreover, if a Golden Satin Abyssinian Guinea Pig does not eat or drink for more than 20 hours due to illness, its liver cells will begin to break down. In addition, not eating will lower their immune system and they will not be able to fight against diseases effectively.
The Golden Satin Abyssinian Guinea Pig has a golden color and its fur is as smooth as satin. It is also known as Dutch Pig, Dutch Guinea Pig, Tricolor Pig, Guinea Pig, and Guinea Pig. Their ancestors came from the Andes Mountains in South America. In the
Mites
The source of mites is the contamination of the guinea pig's living environment. They mainly inhabit around the guinea pig's eyes and ears. Mites can cause mange, as if the mites eat away the guinea pig's fur, causing patchy baldness at the affected areas. Once mite symptoms are found, it is necessary to seek medical treatment. The general treatment method is to inject insecticidal injections. Alternatively, agricultural insecticides can be diluted with 1:100 and applied to the affected areas (a little bit won't harm the guinea pig). In addition, it is important to thoroughly disinfect the cage, otherwise mites may return.
Bacterial Infection
The main symptom is patchy baldness on the head, which is extremely similar to mite symptoms, sometimes even doctors cannot distinguish them. This condition is caused by high humidity and long-term consumption of concentrated feed. This disease is similar to athlete's foot in humans, causing the skin to produce dandruff.
Diarrhea
Gastroenteritis caused by the consumption of unclean food. The symptoms are obvious, with the stool being loose. If this symptom is found, immediate medical attention should be sought. Diarrhea is quite dangerous for guinea pigs because sometimes we don't know which food causes it. If it is ordinary diarrhea, medication can help. If it is diarrhea caused by chemical poisoning from food, it is difficult to save the life even if timely medical treatment is provided. So be very careful.
Flatulence
Caused by the consumption of inappropriate food, such as pears. Flatulence can lead to suffocation and heart failure. Therefore, when the condition is severe, seek medical attention early.
Constipation
Caused by excessive dryness of food and insufficient water intake. It can be cured by increasing water intake and providing vegetables, fruits, and other foods with high water content.
Excessive Hair Loss
Guinea pigs losing hair is normal, just like humans losing hair. 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 for supplementation. Vitamin powder is sour, so some guinea pigs may avoid eating it. In this case, it must be fed to them with a syringe.
The "Golden Satin Abyssinian Guinea Pig" likes dry, clean and well-ventilated places because these places are not only comfortable but also less likely to breed bacteria, making them healthier. However, one thing to note is that the Golden Satin Abyssinian Guinea Pig is particularly afraid of the cold, so they should not be placed near a vent to avoid being blown. Especially in winter, it's fine if there is floor heating in the northern homes, but not all homes in the south have air conditioning, and even if they do, it may not be on all the time. The best way is to make their nest a little warmer by using a cover to partially block the ventilation, while still allowing for breathing passages. Also, you can make a nest for them using discarded cotton cloth or towels, and cover their bodies with a towel when they sleep at night, which will help them have a peaceful winter. The Golden Satin Abyssinian Guinea Pig is primarily an omnivore and should not be fed with oily or meaty foods as it may cause digestive discomfort. They enjoy eating carrots, grass, wheat straw, corn, apples, bananas, and other foods, which can be used as staple foods for feeding. For balanced nutrition, it is best to mix and match their diet. However, some pet owners are busy and don't have the time to prepare such a rich variety of ingredients. In this case, you can buy guinea pig feed specifically for feeding, which is also nutritionally rich and convenient. As for drinking water, boiled water or mineral water is recommended, but distilled water and unboiled tap water should not be fed to them as they may cause leaf blight.
After washing, wrap the guinea pig with a towel quickly. Put it in a clean box and use a hairdryer with preheated air to dry a small part of the water. Pay attention to the temperature of the hairdryer. You can put your hand next to the guinea pig while blowing to know the temperature of the air. This way, you won't be too cold or too hot.
After drying a small part of the water, 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 during this time. The reason for laying the towel on yourself is that guinea pigs are warm. It can prevent the guinea pig from getting wet and also help absorb the moisture under its belly. We often can't dry the water under the belly, but doing so will make the guinea pig catch a cold. If we blow dry the guinea pig upside down, it will be very uncomfortable. So laying a towel is still very useful. Feeding the guinea pig is to divert its attention to the food. Many guinea pigs are not used to blow dryers and are afraid of the sound of blow dryers, so they will either hide in clothes or run away. With food, the guinea pig will shift its focus and won't run away. When the guinea pig finishes eating, its brain will naturally adapt to the blow dryer a little bit, and it won't run away as vigorously or even stop running.
If you are blowing dry an Abyssinian guinea pig, make sure to dry it thoroughly, because the hands of Abyssinian guinea pigs are longer than those of other guinea pigs, and the junction between the hair on the back and the hair on the belly is also likely to be hiding water. Be careful not to let it get cold.
Pet Encyclopedia
