Himalayan Guinea Pigs, although chubby, are very cute and clever, with a gentle and affectionate personality. They are a bit timid and should not be intentionally frightened when raised. They love to eat, sleep, and reproduce, which is similar to pigs in general.
Chinese Name
: 喜马拉雅天竺鼠
English Name
: Himalayans
Kingdom
: Animalia
Phylum
: Mammalia
Reproduction
: Viviparous
Alias Dutch Rat, Dutch Pig, Colored Pig, Pig, Guinean Pig, their ancestors come from the Andes Mountains in South America. In the 16th century, they were brought to the West by European merchants and were loved as pets. They are gentle, clever, and easy to take care of, and are still common household pets. Some organizations around the world are devoted to breeding guinea pigs and have bred a variety of breeds with different fur colors and forms.
There are a rich variety of guinea pig breeds in taxonomy, all of which were bred after being transported to Europe and North America. This is mainly reflected in the differences in fur and color. The most common pet breed is the English guinea pig. They have short and smooth fur, while the Abyssinian breed has erect and non-smooth fur. The Peruvian breed and the Sheltie breed are also common pet breeds, with straight and long fur, while the Texel breed has curly long fur.
Himalayan Guinea Pigs are recommended for pet lovers. They are herbivores and do not have any special requirements for food. They are intelligent, and if you treat them well, they will recognize you and play with you. They are a moderate size, not as small as mice nor as big as rabbits, making them suitable for holding in your hand (about 15-20 centimeters). They are cute and clumsy, unlike mice or squirrels that are difficult to catch once they start running. They are well-suited for children or elderly people to keep as pets.
Scabies
The source of scabies is the contamination of the guinea pig's living environment. It mainly infests around the guinea pig's eyes and ears. Scabies can cause mange, as if the mites eat away the guinea pig's hair, resulting in bald patches. Once signs of scabies are found, seek medical treatment. The general treatment method is to inject insecticide. Alternatively, you can dilute agricultural insecticide with water at a ratio of 1:100 and apply it to the affected area (it doesn't harm the guinea pig if a little is ingested). In addition, it is necessary to thoroughly disinfect the cage, otherwise the scabies will comeback.
Bacterial Infection
The main symptom is bald patches on the head, which is extremely similar to scabies and sometimes even doctors cannot distinguish between 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, and dandruff may appear on the skin.
Diarrhea
It is caused by gastroenteritis due to the consumption of unclean food. The symptoms are obvious, with unformed feces. If this symptom is found, seek medical treatment immediately. Diarrhea is quite dangerous for guinea pigs because sometimes we don't know which food caused the diarrhea. If it is a common diarrhea, medication can help. However, if it is diarrhea caused by chemical poisoning from food, even if you seek medical treatment immediately, it is difficult to save the guinea pig's life. So be careful.
Himalayan Guinea Pig Care Knowledge
Although Himalayan Guinea Pigs appear clumsy, they are actually very smart. If you treat them like treasure, they will obey you and live in harmony with you. Their price is also not high and can be accepted by ordinary people.
They are of moderate size, neither as small as mice nor as large as rabbits, making them suitable for playing in your hands. They move clumsily and cutely, unlike mice or squirrels that are difficult to catch once they run away. They are very suitable for children or the elderly to keep as pets. You don't need professional equipment to keep them. Just prepare a suitable-sized cage, provide fresh water and food every day, play with them often, clean their nest regularly, and they will grow up healthy and happy. They will even come out to greet you when you come home from work and run to you asking for food.
Himalayan Guinea Pig Feeding Tips
Himalayan Guinea Pigs are vegetarian and have no special requirements for food. They have a strong constitution and are not prone to illness. It's quite surprising that their chubby bodies are actually the result of a vegetarian diet.
Himalayan Guinea Pigs mainly feed on weeds, grass, and vegetable leaves. Adding some concentrate feed can greatly increase their weight. In winter, crushed corn stalks, wheat stalks, straw, and peanut seedlings mixed with bran can meet their growth needs.
Bathtub for bathing. It is recommended to use a higher bathtub, because many guinea pigs are not accustomed to bathing and will try to jump out. Use natural shampoo or specialized shampoo for small animals for bathing. If not available, use a mild one. Use a soft towel and hair dryer. Connect the hair dryer to a power source first. Prepare a clean box with height to prevent the guinea pig from jumping out. You can also prepare guinea pig's favorite food. It is optional.
First, prepare warm water and wet the guinea pig, but avoid wetting its head. Apply shampoo. If using human shampoo or shower gel, it is necessary to rinse the guinea pig with clean water several times, because it can be dangerous if not thoroughly cleaned. After bathing and drying the guinea pig, it usually cleans itself again. If these shampoos and shower gels are licked into its stomach, it can be harmful.
After cleaning, quickly wrap the guinea pig with a towel and place it in a clean box. Use a hair dryer that is already connected to blow dry a small part of the water. Pay attention to the temperature of the dryer. You can place your hand beside the guinea pig while blowing to know the temperature. This way, it will not 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. Students who have prepared food can give it to the guinea pigs at this time. The reason for laying the towel is to keep the guinea pig warm and prevent it from getting wet. It can also help absorb the water under its belly. We often can't dry the water under its belly, but flipping the guinea pig over to blow dry will make it very uncomfortable. So laying the towel is useful. Feeding the guinea pigs is to divert their attention to the food. Many guinea pigs are not used to blow dryers and are afraid of the noise. They may hide in their clothes or run away. With food, guinea pigs shift their attention, so they won't run away. After eating, the guinea pig's brain will naturally adapt to the hair dryer a bit, and it won't run as fiercely, or even not run at all.
If blow drying the guinea pig with long hair, make sure to dry it thoroughly, because the hair on the guinea pig's hand of the side opposite to the dominant hand is longer, and it is easier to hide water at the junction of the two sides. Be careful not to let it catch a cold.
Pet Encyclopedia
