Hairless guinea pigs: They are completely hairless, with only a few hairs on the muzzle. They are small in size, only a few inches long, and can easily fit in the palm of your hand. Compared to larger and more common guinea pigs, they stand out more. Their ancestors come from the Andes Mountains in South America and were brought to the West by European traders in the 16th century. People at that time liked these small animals very much and kept them as pets. They are gentle, cute, relatively easy to care for, and still common pets. Some organizations around the world are dedicated to breeding guinea pigs and have bred many varieties with different coat colors and forms. These varieties are all bred after being transported to Europe and North America. The main difference lies in the hair and color. The biggest characteristic of this breed is being hairless and cute.
Hairless guinea pigs are named because they are fat and have heads like pigs. They are also called hairless Dutch pigs. The wild species is native to South America. They live on rocky slopes, grasslands, forest edges, and swamps. They live in burrows, forming small groups of 5-10 individuals. They forage at night, mainly eating the green parts of plants. Their natural diet consists of grass, plant roots, and fruit seeds, making them strictly herbivorous. Wild guinea pigs are slender and agile due to the lack of exercise and laziness from being raised as pets by humans for a long time, they become plump and adorable, which is very appealing to people. Guinea pigs like to huddle together, as living in groups increases the chances of detecting enemies in the wild. Guinea pigs communicate with each other through subtle vocalizations.
The International Chinese version of the Encyclopedia Britannica explains guinea pigs as follows: "A domesticated rodent of the guinea pig family, native to South America. It was domesticated before the Inca era and was introduced to Europe shortly after the discovery of the Americas. It quickly became a beloved pet and a valuable experimental animal."
Small pet enthusiasts are recommended to keep them. Hairless guinea pigs are not wild species, but a breed bred by researchers at the Armand-Frappier Institute in Montreal, Canada in 1978. They are completely hairless except for the head and limbs, and have very little hair elsewhere, so they can't survive in the wild and can only be kept as pets.
Hairless guinea pigs are most commonly affected by scurvy. Due to their inability to synthesize vitamin C internally, they can develop this disease if their diet lacks vitamin C. Symptoms include joint swelling, pain, and lameness, and if left untreated, there is a risk of death. The best treatment is to orally administer vitamin C until the symptoms disappear. Adding vitamin C to their drinking water has a good preventive effect.
Housing: If you haven't prepared a nest for it yet when you buy it, you can find a box (wooden, plastic or even cardboard) and line it with some clean rags. It is best not to use newspaper ink as it is not good for small animals. This box is only temporary because once it adapts to the environment and becomes braver, it will start using the box to grind its teeth and may even sneak out. So you must prepare a suitable and sturdy box to make a nest for it. You can purchase a box specially designed for the housing of small animals or hairless guinea pigs. The former type of housing is divided into two layers, with a tray at the bottom and wire mesh in the middle. The advantage is that it is easy to clean, but the disadvantage is that the hairless guinea pig's feet are easily caught in the wire, causing injuries. The latter type of housing for hairless guinea pigs has only one layer and is slightly larger in size, with the opening at the top. When using it for housing, it must be lined with wood shavings or sawdust, etc., to facilitate the activities of the hairless guinea pig. The disadvantage is that the excrement is not easy to clean and the bedding material must be changed frequently. It is important to note that the housing should be as large as possible, otherwise it may become overweight due to lack of exercise and even cause mental distress and other problems. This is especially true when housing multiple guinea pigs. When storing, avoid cats and dogs, avoid direct sunlight and wind, and pay attention to ventilation.
Feeding Dish: Avoid choosing plastic or other materials that can be chewed. You should choose a ceramic or stainless steel dish with a certain weight to prevent it from being turned over.
Water Drinking: To keep the housing dry, it is recommended to use a lick feeder. Bedding: The purpose of the bedding is to absorb the moisture and odor of excrement, making the hairless guinea pig feel comfortable. You can use wood shavings, sawdust, dry grass, rags, etc. Cat litter is also a good choice, and shredded paper from a shredder can also be used.
Breeding: If you want to breed, you can raise a pair or one male and two females. The gestation period of hairless guinea pigs is about 60-70 days. The pups are born with teeth and fur, and their eyes are already open, so they can start eating immediately. However, it is recommended not to raise the pups separately within the first two weeks after birth. It is better for the mother guinea pig to take care of them. The pups reach maturity at about 3 months old.
The scientific method of cleaning is to find a container, usually a basin, and fill it with warm water, about 2-3 centimeters deep, depending on the size of the hairless guinea pig.
Then use small animal shampoo. This must be a better quality, formal one, not one with too much medicinal effect. The main ingredient is natural. Apply a small amount of the shampoo to the hairless guinea pig's body, gently rub it in. Some netizens like to dissolve the shampoo in water, create foam in the water, and directly use this water to wash. This requires too much shampoo, which may not be good for the hairless guinea pig.
When washing is almost done, you can continue to clean the hairless guinea pig with the water in the basin. So, there will be shampoo in the water, and you can also wash the underbelly of the hairless guinea pig.
Then put the hairless guinea pig in another basin. You can find a large cola bottle and fill it with warm water in advance, and then rinse the hairless guinea pig with it. Don't forget to wash the underbelly of the hairless guinea pig as well. The amount of water needed depends on your own judgement, so maybe you need two cola bottles.
After washing, dry the hairless guinea pig with a prepared dry towel as much as possible. Then you can use a hairdryer to blow dry it. Keep the temperature under control. Alternatively, choose a sunny afternoon with a gentle breeze and let the sun finish the remaining work. At this time, choose a suitable place for the damp hairless guinea pig to stay.
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