The Cream Guinea Pig has cream-colored fur all over its body, also known as Dutch Pig, Dutch Guinea Pig, Cavy, Guinea Pig, Guinea Pig. Their ancestors came from the Andes Mountains in South America and were brought to the West by European merchants in the 16th century, when people liked this small animal and kept it as a pet. They are gentle, cute, relatively easy to take care of, and are still common domestic pets. Some organizations around the world have been striving to breed Guinea Pigs, and people have bred various breeds with different fur colors and diverse forms.
Cream Guinea Pig, like most guinea pigs, the only difference is its fur color, the fur color of this guinea pig is cream all over its body. Its appearance is as beautiful as its name. People also call it Dutch Pig, Dutch Guinea Pig, Cavy, Guinea Pig. It originated from the Andes Mountains in South America and was brought to the West by European merchants in the past. It looks very cute, with a mild temperament, and is an easy-to-raise breed. Even in the 21st century, it is still loved and appreciated by countless people! The Cream Guinea Pig is medium-sized, covered with thick and dense cream-colored fur all over its body. It is about 30cm long and has a moderate weight. It can be clearly seen that the head of the guinea pig is larger, with a pair of small round ears on both sides of the head. Its upper lip is slightly split and it has a pair of round and black big eyes. Its appearance is delicate and irresistible. In addition, the Cream Guinea Pig has well-developed and strong paws, which are truly exquisite! The name "guinea pig" may come from the fact that it used to be sold for one "Guinea" (an ancient British penny), and because it is fat like a pig, it is called Guinea Pig. Some people also believe that it comes from Guinea in West Africa, while others believe that it comes from Guyana in South America, which had frequent contact with Europe at that time and was later written as Guinea. In Chinese, it is called guinea pig, and it is speculated that it may have originally been brought into China from India (known as Tianzhu today) and then called "Tianzhu" mouse. Some organizations in the world have been dedicated to breeding guinea pigs and have cultivated various colors.
Loved by the next crowd, it is recommended to raise. The Cream Guinea Pig is gentle and always gives a clumsy feeling, but its appearance is very cute. If you don't provoke it, it won't get angry with you. Not only that, the Cream Guinea Pig is also an easy-to-raise rodent.
Scurvy (vitamin C deficiency) - caused by a low intake of vitamin C in the diet. This can cause defects in collagen formation, immature bone formation, and increased bone resorption. Fractures (most commonly in the proximal tibia) and swelling result in deformed, flattened joints. Bleeding can occur throughout the body (due to vascular collagen defects). Animals become lethargic, anemic, and reluctant to move. Joints may swell and fracture, and vitamin C supplementation is needed in water and diet.
Streptococcal lymphadenitis - lymph nodes in the neck become filled with pus and swell, eventually rupturing and oozing. It has a high infection rate and high mortality rate. It can cause bacteremia and systemic infections that are hard to resist. Streptococcus zooepidemicus is the main culprit (but other pyogenic bacteria can also be seen). It is recommended to reintroduce clean animals into the population.
Antibiotic Toxicity - like most rodents, almost all antibiotics cause diarrhea, which ultimately leads to death. It is traditionally believed that death is caused by moderate growth of gram-negative bacteria. Recent studies have shown that toxins produced by Gram-positive clostridial bacteria are also important factors in death. Therefore, antibiotic treatment can only last for a short period (no more than seven days).
Spontaneous diabetes mellitus - Abyssinian guinea pigs are prone to this disease, which may be caused by a retrovirus. C-type retrovirus particles have been detected in the urine of infected animals.
Guinea pig leukemia - can be found in 2 strains of animals, infected animals are in poor condition and may have enlarged spleen, liver, and lymph nodes. Blood leukocyte count can be as high as 250,000/mm3. It is a lymphoblastic leukemia and animals progressively weaken before virus death.
Pododermatitis - foot injuries caused by flooring materials or walking on excrement. Effective treatment is difficult. Prevention is the key.
Pneumonia - Bordetella bronchiseptica is the most common pathogen. Do not cohabitate with guinea pigs and carriers of Bordetella in rabbits, pigs, dogs, and other species.
Ringworm: Very common. Trichophyton mentagrophytes is the primary pathogen causing guinea pig ringworm.
Feeding environment. Overall, the Cream Guinea Pig is not difficult to raise, and the requirements for the feeding environment are not high. For the Cream Guinea Pig, parents do not need to spend effort on professional care. Parents only need to prepare a suitable-sized cage for it and place some fresh fruits, vegetables, and other foods in it. Honestly, the key to raising a Cream Guinea Pig lies in the companionship of the owner. Only in this way can its physical and mental health be developed comprehensively! Food points, the Cream Guinea Pig's diet is relatively complex, and it can eat almost all the foods that small rodents can eat. Of course, the main food is rodent feed, such as bread, bread worms, etc. However, these foods alone are far from enough to raise this guinea pig. In order to ensure the balance of its food, parents may consider giving it some fresh fruits, vegetables, etc. Sometimes they will also forage outside. If you hear its stomach grumbling, it means they are hungry, so you should feed it something timely, as it is not good for the Cream Guinea Pig to be hungry! The Cream Guinea Pig gives people a very clumsy and cute feeling. In fact, it is also very intelligent. As long as you take good care of it, it will recognize you and be willing to play with you. It will not run away like a mouse when it sees people. The price of Cream Guinea Pigs sold on the market is not high, and they do not require professional care equipment. They are very suitable for the elderly and children to raise. As long as you prepare a suitable-sized cage, provide fresh water and food every day, play with it often, and clean the nest regularly, it can grow up healthy and happy.
1. Bathtub for bathing. It is recommended to use a tall bathtub because many guinea pigs are not used to bathing and will try to jump out. Use natural shampoo or special shampoo for small animals. If not available, use a mildly stimulating one. Prepare a soft towel and a hairdryer. Connect the hairdryer to a power source. Prepare some food that guinea pigs like to eat. It's also optional.
2. Fill the bathtub with warm water, wet the guinea pig but avoid getting its head wet. Apply shampoo. If using human shampoo or shower gel, rinse the guinea pig several times with water to ensure thorough cleaning, as it can be dangerous if not completely rinsed. After bathing and drying the guinea pig, they usually clean themselves again. If they lick the shampoo or shower gel and ingest it, it can be harmful.
3. After cleaning, quickly wrap the guinea pig in a towel and place it in a clean box. Use a hairdryer that has already been connected to dry a small amount of water. Pay attention to the temperature of the hairdryer. You can place your hand next to the guinea pig while blowing to determine the temperature. This way, you can prevent it from being too cold or too hot.
4. After drying a small amount of water with the hairdryer, lay a towel on yourself and hold the guinea pig in your arms to continue drying. If you have prepared food, you can offer it to them at this time. The reason for laying the towel on yourself is to keep the guinea pig warm and prevent it from getting wet again. It can also help absorb the remaining water on its belly. We often can't dry the water underneath the belly thoroughly, but flipping the guinea pig over to blow dry will make it very uncomfortable. So laying a towel on yourself is very useful. Offering food to the guinea pig is to divert its attention. Many guinea pigs are not used to hairdryers and are afraid of the noise. They may hide in clothes or run away. By offering food, the guinea pig will shift its attention and won't run away. After the guinea pig finishes eating, its brain will naturally adapt slightly to the hairdryer, so it won't run away as much or even not at all.
5. If it is an Abyssinian guinea pig, it is necessary to thoroughly dry it because Abyssinian guinea pigs have longer hair on their back feet than on their front feet, and water can easily accumulate at the junction. Be careful not to let it get cold.
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