Golden Crested Guinea Pig

The Golden Crested Guinea Pig has a golden shiny appearance with spiky fur. It is also known as the Dutch Pig, Dutch Guinea Pig, Abyssinian Pig, Cavy, or Guinea Pig. Their ancestors originated from the Andes Mountains in South America and were brought to the Western world by European merchants in the 16th century. People have been fond of these small animals and kept them as pets. They have a gentle and adorable temperament, are relatively easy to care for, and are still common household pets. Some organizations around the world have been devoted to breeding guinea pigs, and they have developed various breeds with different colors and forms.

The GoldenAgoutiGuineaPig, also known as the Golden Crested Guinea Pig, has a golden shiny appearance with spiky fur. They have a body length of 22 to 34 centimeters and weigh between 400 and 700 grams. They have a short and stout body shape, a large head with big and bright round eyes, round ears, a split upper lip, and small ears. Their limbs are short, with 4 toes on the front feet and 3 toes on the back feet, and they have no external tail.

The Golden Crested Guinea Pig, also known as the Golden Agouti Dutch, is a breed of guinea pig with a golden shiny appearance and spiky fur. It has a long history, dating back to the 16th century, and is admired by many pet owners for its cute and adorable appearance. The Golden Crested Guinea Pig has been extensively studied and bred by experts and has become a very common pet. Its medium-sized body weighs approximately 400-700kg. The head is short, round, and thick, giving the impression of having no neck. The eyes are very large and bright, with small, round ears. The upper lip is split. The limbs are very short but do not affect their running speed. The front feet have 4 toes, while the rear feet have 3 toes, without an external tail. The fur color is mainly composed of white and chocolate. Usually, the white fur forms the base, while the chocolate fur is distributed in spots all over the body. The area around the ears and tail is predominantly chocolate, while the mouth, back, and abdomen are predominantly white. The Silver Crested Guinea Pig has a silver-white and hard fur, resembling spines. It is also known as the Dutch Pig, Dutch Guinea Pig, Abyssinian Pig, Cavy, or Guinea Pig. Their ancestors originated from the Andes Mountains in South America and were brought to the Western world by European merchants in the 16th century. People have always loved these small animals and kept them as pets.

Recommended for pet lovers, the Golden Crested Dutch Guinea Pig has a very gentle nature and will play games with its owner. As long as the owner takes good care of the guinea pig, it will become a great companion with a lifespan of around 8-10 years. This breed of guinea pig is quite smart and can quickly evade various dangers. They are not very adaptable to temperature changes, especially in winter and summer, so owners must pay attention to temperature regulation to prevent the guinea pig from catching a cold. A Golden Crested Dutch Guinea Pig needs to drink about 80-150 milliliters of water daily. In fact, you don't need to know the exact amount of water it needs, just keep the water bottle filled and it will drink when thirsty. However, make sure to keep the water bottle clean and change the water regularly.

Scurvy (vitamin C deficiency) - caused by a low intake of vitamin C in the diet. This leads to defects in collagen formation, immature bone formation, and increased bone resorption. Fractures (most commonly the proximal tibia) and swelling occur, resulting in joint flattening and widespread bleeding due to vascular collagen defects. The animals become lethargic, anemic, and reluctant to move. Joints may swell and fracture, and vitamin C supplementation is needed in water and food.

Streptococcal lymphadenitis - the lymph nodes in the neck become filled with pus and swell, eventually rupturing and leaking. It has a high infection rate and mortality rate. It can cause sepsis and uncontrolled systemic infections. Streptococcus zooepidemicus is the main culprit (but other pyogenic bacteria can also be observed). It is recommended to reintroduce clean animals into the population.

Antibiotic Toxicity - like most rodents, almost all antibiotics cause diarrhea, leading to death. Traditionally, it was believed to be due to moderate proliferation of gram-negative bacteria. Recent studies have shown that toxins produced by gram-positive bacteria such as Clostridial bacteria are also significant contributors to death. Therefore, antibiotic treatment should only be continued for a short period (no more than seven days).

Spontaneous diabetes mellitus - commonly observed in Abyssinian guinea pigs, this disease 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 two strains of animals, infected animals have poor condition and enlarged spleen, liver, and lymph nodes. Blood leukocyte counts can reach up to 250,000/mm3. It is a lymphocytic leukemia and progresses to weakness before viral death.

Pododermatitis - foot injuries caused by flooring materials or walking on excrement. It is difficult to treat effectively. Prevention is the key.

Pneumonia - Bordetella bronchiseptica is the most common pathogen. Do not keep guinea pigs with rabbits, pigs, dogs, and other species that are carriers of latent B. bronchiseptica in the same housing.

Ringworm - very common. Trichophyton mentagrophytes is the primary pathogen causing guinea pig ringworm.

Space for Breeding. Breeding Golden Crested Dutch Guinea Pigs does not require a large breeding space. It is best to prepare a cage. The cage can be equipped with climbing ladders, running wheels, toilets, food bowls, waterers, etc. For guinea pigs, it is not necessary to let them out for a walk. It is fine for them to stay in the cage all the time. However, it is best to place the breeding cage in a sunny and well-ventilated area.

Food. The main food for breeding Golden Crested Dutch Guinea Pigs is preferably guinea pig food, which contains all the nutrients guinea pigs need. It is best for the owner to feed them at regular intervals and control the amount of food, not to feed too much, otherwise it may cause guinea pigs to become overweight. It is best to remove the food bowl after a few days, do not let the guinea pigs continue to eat. Secondly, it is necessary to ensure an adequate water supply, do not be careless. Wild guinea pigs mainly feed on grass and some plants. However, although these plants contain abundant natural fibers, they lack many other nutrients compared to guinea pig specialized feed. Vitamin C is crucial for guinea pigs. Guinea pigs are animals that cannot synthesize vitamin C on their own, so they need to constantly intake vitamin C from the feed. Vegetables and fruits are also loved by Golden Crested Guinea Pigs. As for vegetables, they prefer lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, etc. These three types of vegetables are harmless to Golden Crested Guinea Pigs as long as they are fresh. Carrots contain a large amount of vitamin A, which is necessary for the formation of rhodopsin, maintaining the health of the skin and mucous membranes, protecting the eyes, and promoting metabolism.

1. Bathtub for bathing. It is recommended to use a higher bathtub, because many guinea pigs are not used to taking baths and will try to jump out. For bathing, use natural shampoo or specialized bath shampoo for small animals. If not available, use a mildly stimulating shampoo. Prepare a soft towel and hair dryer. Connect the hair dryer to a power source. Prepare a clean box with a height that can prevent the guinea pig from jumping out. You can prepare some food that guinea pigs like to eat, or you can choose not to.

2. Fill the bathtub with warm water and wet the guinea pig, but avoid wetting the head. Apply the bath shampoo. If using human shampoo or bath gel, be sure to rinse the guinea pig thoroughly with clean water several times, because it can be dangerous if not completely rinsed. After bathing and drying the guinea pig, they usually clean themselves again. If these shampoos and bath gels are licked into their belly, it will be harmful.

3. After cleaning, quickly wrap the guinea pig in a towel. Put it in a clean box and use the pre-connected hair dryer to blow-dry a small portion of the water. Pay attention to the temperature of the hair dryer. When blowing, you can put your hand next to the guinea pig to feel the temperature of the air. This way, you won't be too cold or too hot.

4. After drying a small portion of the water, lay the guinea pig on the towel and hold it in your arms to blow-dry. Students who have prepared food can give it to them to eat at this time. The reason for laying the towel on the body is to keep the guinea pig warm, preventing it from getting wet and helping to absorb the moisture under its belly. We often can't dry the water under the belly, but if we turn the guinea pig over to blow-dry, it will be very uncomfortable for the guinea pig. So laying the towel is still very useful. Giving guinea pigs food is to divert their attention. Many guinea pigs are not used to hair dryers and are afraid of the sound. They will hide in clothes or run away. With food, guinea pigs will shift their attention and won't run away. After finishing the food, the guinea pig's brain will naturally adapt to the hair dryer and will not run away so fiercely, or even stop running.

5. If it is a guinea pig with hair facing the opposite direction, blow-dry it as dry as possible, because the guinea pig's hair on the opposite side is longer than the hair on the same side, and there may be hidden water at the junction of the opposite and same sides. Be careful not to let it catch a cold.