Silvery guinea pigs have a shiny silver fur. They are also known as Dutch pigs, Dutch guinea pigs, satins, cavies, and guinea pigs. Their ancestors come from the Andes Mountains in South America and were brought to the West by European merchants in the 16th century. At that time, people liked this small animal very much and raised it as a pet. They are gentle, cute, relatively easy to care for, and are still common pets today. Some organizations around the world have been devoted to breeding guinea pigs, and people have bred various breeds with different fur colors and diverse appearances.
Silvery guinea pig, with silver fur and bright eyes, is a medium-sized rodent. It is about 22 to 34 centimeters long and weighs about 400 to 700 grams. It has an oval shape, a large head, big round eyes, a split upper lip, small ears, and short limbs. The front feet have four toes, and the hind feet have three toes, without a tail. Because the silvery guinea pig has a cute appearance and is easy to keep, it has a good market demand. Therefore, many organizations hope to breed more and better varieties of silvery guinea pigs. The silvery guinea pig is medium-sized, about 22 to 34 centimeters long, and weighs about 400 to 700 grams. It has an oval-shaped body that is thick and short. They generally have large heads, big round eyes, split upper lips, small ears, and short limbs. The front feet have four toes and the hind feet have three toes, without a tail. The entire body is covered in silver-white fur, with a bright and glossy appearance. It is particularly adorable. Silvery Abyssinian guinea pigs have silver and white fur, which is stiff and spiky. They are also known as Dutch pigs, Dutch guinea pigs, satins, cavies, and Guinea pigs. Their ancestors come from the Andes Mountains in South America and were brought to the West by European merchants in the 16th century. People loved these small animals and kept them as pets. Silvery Abyssinian guinea pigs are gentle, cute, and relatively easy to care for. They are still common household pets today. Organizations around the world are actively breeding guinea pigs and have produced various breeds with different fur colors and appearances.
It is recommended to keep a silver-haired guinea pig as a pet. A silver-haired guinea pig needs to drink about 80-150 milliliters of water per day. Actually, you don't need to know the exact amount of water it needs, just ensure that the water dispenser is always filled, and it will drink when thirsty. However, it is important to keep the water dispenser clean and change the water regularly. If tap water meets international standards, it can be given directly to them to drink, otherwise, they should be given cooled boiled water or mineral water. Distilled water is not a good choice because it lacks minerals and trace elements.
Mange Mite
The source of the mange mite is the contamination of the guinea pig's living environment. It mainly parasitizes around the eyes and ears of guinea pigs. Mange mites can cause mange, just like mites eating away at the guinea pig's hair, causing bald spots in the affected areas. Once signs of mange mites are found, it is necessary to seek medical treatment. The general treatment method is to inject insecticidal medication. It can also be treated by applying diluted pesticide solution (1:100) to the affected areas (a little bit won't cause harm to the guinea pig). It is also important to thoroughly disinfect the guinea pig cage, otherwise the mange mites may return.
Bacterial Infection
The main symptom is bald spots on the head, which is extremely similar to mange mite symptoms, sometimes even doctors can't tell them apart. 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 dandruff on the skin.
Diarrhea
It is caused by gastroenteritis from consuming unclean food. The symptoms are obvious, with the feces being unformed. 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 caused it. If it's a common case of diarrhea, medication can help, but if it's caused by chemical poisoning, even if we seek medical attention immediately, it's difficult to save their lives. So be very careful.
Flatulence
It is caused by consuming inappropriate food, such as pears. Flatulence can lead to suffocation and heart failure. Therefore, when the situation is serious, it is necessary to seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Constipation
It is caused by food being too dry and inadequate water consumption. It can be cured by increasing water intake and providing vegetables, fruits, and other high-water-content foods.
Excessive hair loss
Guinea pigs shedding hair is as normal as 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 their food or water for supplementation. Vitamin powder is acidic, so some guinea pigs may refuse to eat it, in which case it must be administered with a syringe.
Injury
Apply specialized iodine on the bleeding area in time to prevent bacterial invasion.
When keeping silvery guinea pigs in the winter, you must turn on the air conditioner in the house and provide them with coverings and blankets. The coverings can be made with the plastic lids that are provided at pet stores, but only cover half of the cage so that they can still breathe. The blankets should not be thick cotton filling like what we usually use, just thicker towels or some small discarded cotton pads will do. Especially before bedtime, you must cover them up. Also, you must never place them near a draft. Even if there is just a small gap in the window during the winter, they will feel cold. Silvery guinea pigs also reproduce quite frequently, around five or six times a year. So, when can you tell if they are in the breeding period? It's actually quite simple, if they are pregnant, then they are in the breeding period. They have a unique situation where, despite being generally chubby, you can't see any obvious changes in their bodies when they are pregnant.
The silvery guinea pig is partially double-coated and their fur does not need to be trimmed. They also do not need to be bathed as frequently as cats and dogs. The only thing to note is that if there is already heating in the house, there shouldn't be much of a problem.
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