The Cream Crested Guinea Pig has a creamy coat and a crest-like swirl on its head. It is 22-34 centimeters long and weighs 400-700 grams. It has a short and chubby body with a large head, big and round bright eyes, round ears, split upper lips, and small. It has short limbs, four toes on the front feet, three toes on the back feet, and no external tail.
Cream Crested Guinea Pigs have a creamy-colored coat with a crest-like swirl on their head. They are also known as Dutch pigs, Dutch guinea pigs, Guinea pigs, and Cavies. Their ancestors are from the Andes Mountains in South America and were brought to the West by European traders in the 16th century. People loved these small animals as pets. They are gentle, cute, and easy to care for, which is why they are still common as pets today. Organizations around the world have been dedicated to breeding guinea pigs and have created various breeds with different colors and appearances.
There is a wide variety of guinea pig breeds, all of which were developed after they were transported to Europe and North America. The main differences are seen in their fur and color. The most common pet breed is the English guinea pig, which has short and smooth fur. The Abyssinian breed has upright and not-so-smooth fur. The Peruvian and Silkie breeds are also popular pets, with straight and long fur, while the Texel breed has long and curly fur.
Loved by small pet enthusiasts, it is recommended to raise guinea pigs. The lifespan of a guinea pig can be as long as 10 years, so you must be mentally prepared before raising one. Make sure there are no other animals, such as cats or dogs, in your home that could harm it. It needs to be supplied with water and food every day. Its excrement has a smell, and it sometimes makes sounds and chews on things.
Mange
The source of mange is the contamination of the guinea pig's living environment. It primarily resides around the guinea pig's eyes and ears. Mange can cause scabies, as if the mites have eaten the guinea pig's fur, resulting in patchy baldness. Once signs of mange are detected, it is necessary to seek medical treatment. The usual treatment method is injecting insecticidal drugs. You can also apply a diluted solution of agricultural insecticides at a ratio of 1:100 to the affected areas (a small amount won't harm the guinea pig). Additionally, thorough disinfection of the cage is required, otherwise the mites may return.
Bacterial Infection
The main symptom is patchy baldness on the head, which is extremely similar to mange, and sometimes even doctors cannot distinguish between the two. This condition is caused by high humidity and long-term consumption of concentrated feed. The symptoms are similar to athlete's foot in humans, and the skin may produce flakes.
Diarrhea
It is caused by gastrointestinal inflammation due to the consumption of unclean food. The symptoms are obvious, with loose stool. If this symptom is discovered, seek medical attention immediately. Diarrhea is quite dangerous for guinea pigs because sometimes we do not know which food caused the diarrhea. If it is a common case of diarrhea, medication can help. However, if it is caused by poisoning from chemicals, even if you seek treatment immediately, it is difficult to save the guinea pig's life. So please be very cautious.
Flatulence
It is caused by consuming inappropriate food, such as pears. Flatulence can lead to suffocation and heart failure. Therefore, when the situation is severe, it is important to seek medical attention promptly.
Equipment. Bathing tools are necessary to bathe a Cream Crested Guinea Pig. Bathing lotion is necessary, and it is best to use special bathing lotion or natural shampoo to reduce irritation to their skin. Towels and hairdryers are also necessary because they need to be dried immediately after bathing to prevent them from catching a cold. As for grooming, Cream Crested Guinea Pigs don't get too dirty, so there are no strict rules on when to bathe them. You can bathe them whenever you think it's appropriate without any problems. Generally, it is recommended to consider giving them a bath every month. The bathwater should not be too hot, and it is important to have a dry towel ready to dry them. Cream Crested Guinea Pigs prefer a dry and clean environment, so the cage where they are kept must be kept clean. It should also be well-ventilated, especially in summer, to reduce the growth of bacteria and create a cool environment for the Cream Crested Guinea Pigs. However, they should not be placed near ventilation openings as this can easily cause them to catch a cold. As for food, there are no specific requirements. Feeds, grass, fruits and vegetables, and water are enough. High-quality feed is recommended as the main source of food because it is rich in nutrients. Grass and fruits and vegetables with more crude fiber can help with intestinal peristalsis and can be used as supplements. The water should not be fresh, but boiled and cooled before being fed to them. In addition to eating guinea pig food, Cream Crested Guinea Pigs can also eat common household vegetables, fruits, and cereal foods, such as grass, dried grass, fruits, green vegetables, carrots, potatoes, alfalfa, wheat, corn, soybeans, peanuts, oats, sunflowers, and so on.
After bathing, dry a small amount of water and lay a towel on yourself. Hold the guinea pig in your arms and blow dry. If you have prepared food, you can feed them at this time. The reason for laying the towel on the body is that the guinea pig is still warm, which can prevent the guinea pig from getting wet. It can also help absorb the water under its belly. We often can't dry the water under the belly, but this is afraid that the guinea pig will catch a cold. If we blow dry the guinea pig upside down, the guinea pig will also be very uncomfortable. So laying a towel is very useful. Feeding the guinea pig is because it can 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 hide in clothes or run away. With food, the guinea pig will shift its attention, so it won't run away. After the guinea pig finishes eating, its brain will naturally adapt to the blow dryer a little bit, and it won't run away so aggressively, and eventually it will stop running away.
If you are blow drying a Crested Cream guinea pig, blow dry thoroughly, because the hands of the Crested Cream guinea pig are longer than the hands of a regular guinea pig, and the junction between the Crested Cream and regular fur is also easy to hide water. Be careful not to let it get cold.
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