The fur of the Chocolate Crested Guinea Pig is chocolate in color, with a crest-shaped swirl on top of its head. Also known as Dutch pig, Dutch guinea pig, calico pig, cavy, or Guinea pig, their ancestors come from the Andes Mountains in South America. In the 16th century, Europeans brought them to the West and people loved these small animals as pets. They have a gentle and cute temperament, are relatively easy to care for, and are still common household pets. Some organizations around the world have been dedicated to breeding guinea pigs, creating various breeds with different colors and forms.
Chocolate Crested Guinea Pig, originated in the 16th century, is native to the Andes Mountains in South America. Its body is covered with chocolate-colored fur, and like other guinea pigs, it has a crest-shaped swirl on top of its head. It is very popular, has a gentle temperament, and likes to please its owner. Later, organizations competed to breed this breed of guinea pig, resulting in different fur colors of Chocolate Crested Guinea Pigs, which are very beautiful! The main difference between them and most guinea pigs is their fur and coat color. Overall, Chocolate Crested Guinea Pigs are covered with chocolate-colored fur, which is soft and delicate in texture. In addition, it has a pair of black, round eyes with thick fur around its head, and small, round ears that hang straight. It is also evident that it has some white whiskers on both sides of its cheeks, and its upper lip is split apart. Furthermore, the feet of Chocolate Crested Guinea Pigs are very hard and well-developed, giving them a particularly agile appearance! The name "Guinea Pig" may have originated from the fact that they were sold for one "Guinea" (an ancient British coin), and they resemble pigs in being chubby, hence the name Guinea Pig. Some people also believe that it is derived from Guinea in Africa, while others believe it is derived from Guyana in South America, which had frequent interaction with Europe at that time and was later written as Guinea. In Chinese, it is called "天竺鼠" (tian zhu shu). It is speculated that the name might originate from the direction of Tianzhu (currently India) entering China, hence it being called "Tianzhu" rat.
It is recommended to keep the Chocolate Crested Guinea Pig for pet lovers. Chocolate Crested Guinea Pigs like to move around and are similar to other types of guinea pigs. For them, the method of keeping them is very simple, and parents don't have to worry too much about taking care of them. Moreover, they are very intelligent. If you spend a lot of time with them, they will also become familiar with you and sometimes act flirtatiously with you, like a child. When you come home from work, it will take small steps to welcome you and then rub against you to find food. This shows their intelligence. Choose a cage for the guinea pig. The cages may look similar, but as the guinea pig grows, the cage it lives in will also need to be larger. So it is best to choose a slightly larger cage. In addition, there is usually a plastic mat under the cage for easy cleaning. Place some wood shavings under the plastic mat, which can absorb the smell of urine. The wood shavings should be changed every 3-5 days depending on the situation. In terms of drinking water, it is recommended to buy a small animal-specific water dispenser (such as those used for rabbits), which can usually be hung next to the cage, allowing it to drink whenever it wants. It is not recommended to use a bowl of water for it to drink, as it is easy for it to spill. The diet of guinea pigs is mainly vegetarian. They like to eat vegetables, alfalfa grass, radish, apple, peas, corn, and other fruits and vegetables. Guinea pigs have a very good appetite and can eat up to ten pounds of vegetables and fruits in a day.
Scurvy (vitamin C deficiency) is caused by a low level of vitamin C in the diet. This can result in defects in collagen formation, immature bone formation, and increased bone resorption. Fractures (most commonly in the proximal tibia) and swelling, deformed joints, and bleeding throughout the body (due to vascular collagen defects) can occur. Animals become lethargic, anemic, and reluctant to move. Joints may be swollen and fractures may occur, requiring supplementation of vitamin C in water and diet.
Streptococcal lymphadenitis – The lymph nodes in the neck become filled with pus and swell, eventually rupturing and exuding. It has a high infection and mortality rate and can cause septicemia and systemic infection resistant to treatment. 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 and ultimately death. Traditionally, it was believed that death was due to the moderate proliferation of Gram-negative bacteria. Recent research has shown that the toxin produced by Clostridial bacteria belonging to Gram-positive bacteria is also an important factor in death. Therefore, antibiotic treatment can only be continued for a short period of time (no more than seven days).
Spontaneous diabetes mellitus – this disease is common in Abyssinian guinea pigs and may be caused by a virus (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. The white blood cell count can be as high as 250,000/mm3. It is a lymphocytic leukemia and the virus will gradually weaken before death.
Foot skin disease – foot injuries are caused by floor materials or walking on excreta. Effective treatment is difficult. Prevention is the key.
Pneumonia – Bordetella bronchiseptica is the most common pathogen. Rabbits, pigs, dogs, and other species are carriers of hidden Bordetella, so they should not be housed with guinea pigs.
Ringworm: Very common. Trichophyton mentagrophytes is the main pathogen causing guinea pig ringworm.
Feeding environment - For it, the difficulty of feeding is not great, and the requirements for the feeding environment and food are not high. It is an easy-to-raise small rodent. Before feeding, parents should prepare a moderately sized cage for it and place some fresh fruits or other foods in it. It should be noted that it must be provided with sufficient drinking water. In addition, parents should pay special attention to its physical hygiene. Their excreta will have an odor, so their nests should be cleaned every day, and they should be given regular baths and vaccinations! Dietary characteristics - The Chocolate Crested Guinea Pig does not have high requirements for food. They like to search for food in the ground and outside. Their food is mainly bread and mealworms. If you want to raise them well, you still need to give them some other vegetarian foods, like vegetables, vegetable leaves, or carrots, etc. Be careful not to feed them too much at once, otherwise, it will be difficult for them to digest, and it will also be detrimental to their health! If your guinea pigs are young, let them get used to your presence and the current living environment. You can make a paper tube for them to hide in. If you let them out to move, they will not only run around but also find hiding places. This is the nature of rodents. Because the size of guinea pigs is much larger than golden hamsters, leaflet hamsters, and other rodents, there is less worry about not being able to find them, but be careful if there are rodent baits or other drugs placed on the ground to prevent them from eating them by mistake.
1. Bathing Basin: It is recommended to use a higher basin, as many guinea pigs are not accustomed to bathing and will try to jump out. Use natural shampoo or specialized shampoo for small animals. If not available, use mild shampoo. Prepare a soft towel and a hair dryer. Connect the hair dryer to a power source. Prepare a clean box, with a height to prevent the guinea pig from jumping out. You can also prepare the guinea pig's favorite food, or not prepare any.
2. Fill the basin with warm water and wet the guinea pig, but avoid wetting its head. Apply shampoo. If using human shampoo or body wash, make sure to rinse the guinea pig thoroughly with clean water multiple times, as it can be dangerous if not completely cleaned. After bathing and drying, guinea pigs usually clean themselves again. It would be harmful if they ingest any shampoo or body wash.
3. After cleaning, quickly wrap the guinea pig with a towel. Place it in a clean box and use a pre-connected hair dryer to dry a small part of its body. Pay attention to the temperature of the hair dryer. You can place your hand beside the guinea pig to determine the temperature. This prevents it from getting too cold or too hot.
4. Once a small part is dry, place the towel on your lap and hold the guinea pig while continuing to dry it. If you have prepared food, you can feed it to them at this time. The towel helps to keep the guinea pig warm and prevents it from getting wet again. It also helps absorb moisture from its belly. It is difficult to completely dry the water under the belly, but flipping the guinea pig over to dry it will make it uncomfortable. Therefore, using a towel is very useful. Feeding the guinea pig helps shift its focus to the food. Many guinea pigs are not accustomed to hair dryers and are afraid of the sound. They may hide in clothes or run away. By offering food, the guinea pig's attention is diverted and it will not run away. After eating, the guinea pig's brain naturally adjusts to the hair dryer, and it will not run away as much, or even stop running away.
5. If drying a guinea pig with crest, make sure to dry it completely, as the crest adds length to its back. The area where the crest and back meet is prone to retain water. Be careful not to let it get cold.
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