The silk golden crown guinea pig has golden fur that is shiny and smooth. It has a crown-shaped swirl on its head. It is also known as the Dutch pig, Dutch guinea pig, rainbow pig, piggy, or cavy. Its ancestors originally came from the Andes Mountains in South America. In the 16th century, European traders brought them to the West, and people loved these small animals as pets. They are gentle and adorable, relatively easy to take care of, and still a common domestic pet today. Some organizations around the world are devoted to breeding guinea pigs, and people have bred various breeds with different colors and forms.
Silk golden crown guinea pigs have golden fur that is shiny and smooth. They have a crown-shaped swirl on their heads. They are also known as Dutch pigs, Dutch guinea pigs, rainbow pigs, piggies, or cavies. Their ancestors originally came from the Andes Mountains in South America. In the 16th century, European merchants brought them to the Western world. Since then, people have loved silk golden crown guinea pigs for their small size, gentle temperament, and cuteness. They are also very easy to care for, so many people keep them as pets. Currently, there are many different breeds of guinea pigs due to breeders. Silk golden crown guinea pigs have a medium size, ranging from 22 to 34 centimeters in length and weighing between 400 to 1,000 grams. They have a short and round body with a large head, big and bright eyes, and round ears that hang on the sides of their heads above the eyes. They have a split upper lip and short limbs with four toes on the front feet and three toes on the hind feet, without a visible tail. They have long and shiny golden fur that is soft. Guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) originate from South America and are also known as cavies, guinea pigs, Dutch pigs, or Guinean pigs. They are very popular locally due to their gentle temperament, small and cute appearance, and easy care.
The silk golden crown guinea pig is recommended for small pet lovers. It is lively and adorable, although it is chubby, it is gentle and clever, loves to eat and sleep, and also enjoys breeding. It has become a beloved pet, and the silk golden crown guinea pig has become accustomed to a pampered life, becoming as fond of eating and sleeping as a little piggy. At the same time, because they love to eat so much, they eat a lot, so their bellies become very big.
Scurvy - 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 in the proximal tibia) and swelling occur, resulting in joint flattening and bleeding throughout the body due to vascular collagen deficiency. The animals become lethargic, anemic, and reluctant to move. Joints may swell and fracture, requiring the supplementation of vitamin C in water and diet.
Streptococcal lymphadenitis - the lymph nodes in the neck become swollen with pus and eventually rupture. It has a high infection rate and high mortality. It can cause septicemia and systemic infection that is difficult to combat. Streptococcus zooepidemicus is the main culprit, although other pyogenic bacteria can also be present. It is recommended to reintroduce clean animals into the population.
Antibiotic toxicity - like most rodents, almost all antibiotics cause diarrhea, eventually leading to death. Traditionally, it was believed to be due to moderate proliferation of Gram-negative bacteria. Recent research shows that toxins produced by Clostridial bacteria, which belong to Gram-positive bacteria, are also a significant factor in death. Therefore, antibiotic treatment should only be continued for a short period of time (no more than seven days).
Spontaneous diabetes mellitus - commonly seen in the Abyssinian breed of 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, with infected animals showing poor condition and enlarged spleen, liver, and lymph nodes. The white blood cell count may be high at 250,000/mm3. It belongs to lymphocytic leukemia, and progressive weakness occurs before viral death.
The silk golden crown guinea pig likes a dry, clean, and quiet living environment. So if your home is in a busy area, it is important to place them in a room away from the noise. Remember to close the doors and windows but leave a ventilation opening to minimize noise. Even in a generally quiet environment, sudden loud noises should be avoided. In addition, to maintain a clean and dry environment, good ventilation is essential. Do not keep them in a stuffy room to prevent the growth of bacteria. However, do not place them directly in front of a ventilation opening for the sake of ventilation, as they may catch a cold. Although the silk golden crown guinea pig has thick fur, they are still sensitive to cold, so remember to provide them with a warm nest in winter.
The silk golden crown guinea pig has relatively long and dense fur, with a higher probability of getting dirty and tangled compared to ordinary guinea pigs, so it requires a bit more effort to take care of. The timing doesn't necessarily have to be fixed. When you see their fur dirty and frizzy, you can go and tidy it up. Also, it's best to use specialized pet bath lotion when bathing them. After washing, dry them immediately, usually by first wiping them with a dry towel and then using a hairdryer. If they don't take a bath, you can also use dry shampoo powder on them and then use a comb to remove dirt and impurities.