The Red American Crested Guinea Pig is a Red American Crested Guinea Pig (RedAmericanCrested), with red fur all over its body and a white crest-like swirl on the top of its head. It is approximately 22-34 centimeters long and weighs between 400-700 grams. It has a short, chubby, and round body, with a large head, big round and bright eyes, round ears, cleft upper lip, and small ears. Its limbs are short, with 4 toes on the front feet and 3 toes on the back feet, with no external tail.
The Red American Crested Guinea Pig has red fur all over its body, with a white crest-like swirl on the top of its head. It is also known as Dutch pig, Dutch pig, colorful pig, pig, and 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. At that time, people liked this kind of small animal very much and kept it as a pet. They are gentle, cute, and relatively easy to care for, and they are still common household pets. Some organizations in the world are scrambling to breed guinea pigs, and people have bred a variety of varieties with different fur colors and shapes.
Guinea pigs have a rich variety, all of which were bred after they were transported to Europe and North America. This is mainly reflected in the difference in hair and color. The most common pet variety is the English guinea pig, which has short, smooth hair, while the Abyssinian variety has upright and non-smooth hair. The Peruvian and Sheltie varieties are also common pet varieties, with straight and long hair, while the Texel variety has long curly hair.
It is suggested to keep the Red American Crested Guinea Pig for the people who love small pets. Unlike other mice, it does not have a biting habit, which is comforting. At first, they may be a little afraid or shy of the external environment, so even if you open the door, they will not run away. Once they get along well with their owners, they become very mischievous. However, if you want to raise this mouse well, parents should provide it with a moderately sized cage and place some snacks, vegetables, and fruits that they love to eat.
Mites
The source of mites is the contamination of the guinea pig's living environment. They mainly inhabit around the guinea pig's eyes and ears. Mites can cause mange, just like mites eating away the guinea pig's fur, leading to patches of baldness. Once mite infestation is detected, it is necessary to consult a doctor, and the general treatment method is to inject insecticide. Alternatively, one can use agricultural dichlorvos diluted 1:100 and apply it to the affected area (adding a little bit to the guinea pig is harmless). It is also important to thoroughly disinfect the cage, otherwise mites will come back.
Bacterial Infection
The main symptom is patchy baldness on the head, which is extremely similar to mite infestation, sometimes even doctors cannot distinguish between the two. This condition is caused by high humidity in the air and prolonged consumption of concentrated feed. This disease is similar to athlete's foot in humans, and dandruff may appear on the skin.
Diarrhea
Caused by gastroenteritis due to the consumption of unclean food. The symptoms are obvious, with loose stools. If this symptom is found, immediate medical attention should be sought. Diarrhea is quite dangerous for guinea pigs because sometimes we do not know which food caused it. If it is a common case of diarrhea, medication can help. If it is caused by chemical poisoning from food, even immediate medical treatment is difficult to save their lives. So, be careful.
Flatulence
Caused by consuming inappropriate foods, such as pears. Flatulence can lead to suffocation and heart failure. So, when the situation is serious, prompt medical attention is required.
Constipation
Caused by excessively dry food and insufficient water intake. As long as the water intake is increased and water-rich foods such as vegetables and fruits are provided, it can be cured.
Excessive Hair Loss
Guinea pigs shedding their fur is normal, just like humans shedding 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 food or water for supplementation. Vitamin powder is acidic, so some guinea pigs may refuse to eat it, in which case it needs to be fed to them with a syringe.
A guinea pig that has been held comfortably since childhood will behave very cooperatively with humans when it grows up, without biting or scratching. They are shy and rarely attempt to escape from the cage, even if the cage door is open. Once familiar with the owner, when the owner approaches the cage, they will whistle; if they hear the rustling sound of a plastic bag or the sound of the refrigerator door opening, they know that the owner is about to feed them and will also whistle.
The lifespan of a guinea pig can be as long as 10 years, so you must be mentally prepared before keeping one. Make sure there are no other animals such as cats or dogs in your home that could harm it. It must be provided with water and food every day, its excrement will have an odor, and sometimes it will make noise and gnaw on things.
1. Bathtub for bathing. It is recommended to use a higher bathtub because many guinea pigs are not used to bathing and will try to jump out. Use natural shampoo or dedicated 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 is optional.
2. Fill the bathtub with warm water and wet the guinea pig, but avoid wetting the head. Apply shampoo. If using human shampoo or body wash, make sure to rinse the guinea pig with clean water several times, as it can be dangerous if not thoroughly cleaned. After bathing and drying the guinea pig, they usually groom themselves again. It could be harmful if they ingest the shampoo or body wash.
3. After cleaning, quickly wrap the guinea pig in a towel and place it in a clean box. Use the hairdryer with the power connected earlier to dry a small portion of the guinea pig. Pay attention to the temperature of the hairdryer. Place your hand next to the guinea pig while blowing to determine the temperature. This way, you will avoid it being too cold or too hot.
4. After drying a small portion of the guinea pig, cover it with a towel and hold it in your arms for further drying. If you have prepared food, you can feed them at this time. The reason for covering with the towel is to keep the guinea pig warm and prevent it from getting wet. It can also help absorb the moisture on its lower belly. It's difficult to dry the water under the belly, but flipping the guinea pig over to blow-dry can be very uncomfortable for them. So, using a towel is very useful. Feeding the guinea pig is to divert its attention. Many guinea pigs are not used to the hairdryer and are afraid of the sound. They may hide in clothes or run away. By providing food, the guinea pig will shift its attention and will not run away. After eating, the guinea pig's brain will naturally adapt to the hairdryer, and it won't run away or be as agitated.
5. If blow-drying an American Crested guinea pig, be sure to dry it thoroughly because the hair on their backhand is longer than their front. There can also be hidden water at the junction between the backhand and front. Be careful not to let it get cold.
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