The Golden American White Crested Guinea Pig has golden fur all over its body, with a white crest-shaped swirl on its head. It is also known as the Dutch pig, Dutch guinea pig, cavy, piggy, or guinea pig. Its ancestors originated from the Andes Mountains
The Golden American White Crested Guinea Pig has golden fur all over its body, with a white crest-shaped swirl on its head. It is also known as the Dutch pig, Dutch guinea pig, cavy, piggy, or guinea pig. Its ancestors originated from the Andes Mountains
The Golden American White Crested Guinea Pig belongs to a breed of guinea pigs. As the name suggests, this pig has golden fur all over its body, with a white crest-shaped swirl on its head. It is also known as the Dutch pig, Dutch guinea pig, cavy, piggy, or guinea pig. Its ancestors originated from the Andes Mountains in South America. In the 16th century, traders brought this cute and adorable pig to the West, and it became very popular as a pet. The Golden American White Crested Guinea Pig is a medium-sized pig, measuring around 15-25cm in length. It has very small ears symmetrically located on both ends of its head, which adds to its cuteness. Its fur is mainly golden yellow, and its white crest on the head is its most distinctive feature. Its limbs are short, and it prefers to stay quiet and undisturbed rather than running around. Its temperament is very gentle, and it is not afraid of strangers, although it cannot tolerate excessive play from children. Like most guinea pigs, the White Crested Guinea Pig is lively, active, gentle, chubby, easily startled, and sometimes makes squeaking sounds. It prefers a dry and clean living environment. It loves to eat, sleep, and reproduce, which is similar to a pig in the usual sense. The White Crested Guinea Pig is easy to raise, has a high breeding rate, strong resistance to diseases, a short sexual cycle, and starts eating and moving soon after giving birth.
Recommended for small pet enthusiasts. The Golden American White Crested Guinea Pig prefers peace and quiet. For them, sitting is always preferable to standing, and resting is always preferable to movement. Therefore, they are prone to obesity. This guinea pig has a low level of destructive behavior and is not prone to running around randomly, making it suitable for children or the elderly.
Scurvy - caused by a low intake of vitamin C in the diet. This leads to defects in collagen formation. There is inadequate bone formation and increased bone resorption. Fractures, most commonly in the proximal tibia, and swelling occur, leading to joint flattening. Bleeding can occur anywhere in the body (due to vascular collagen defects). Animals become lethargic, anemic, and reluctant to move. Joints may become swollen and prone to fractures, requiring supplementation of vitamin C in water and diet.
Streptococcal lymphadenitis - the lymph nodes in the neck become swollen with purulent discharge that eventually ruptures. Highly infectious and has a high mortality rate. Can cause septicemia and systemic infections that are difficult to combat. Streptococcus zooepidemicus is the primary culprit (but other pyogenic bacteria can also be seen). Recommended to reintroduce clean animals into the population.
Antibiotic toxicity - like most rodents, almost all antibiotics cause diarrhea, eventually leading to death. Traditionally, death was believed to be due to overgrowth of gram-negative bacteria. Recent research has shown that toxins produced by Clostridial bacteria, which are gram-positive, also contribute to mortality. Therefore, antibiotic therapy should only be continued for a short period of time (no more than seven days).
Spontaneous diabetes mellitus - common 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 are in poor condition and may have enlarged spleen, liver, and lymph nodes. Blood leukocyte count may be as high as 250,000/mm^3. It is a lymphocytic leukemia that progresses to weakness before viral death.
Pododermatitis - foot injuries from floor materials or walking on excreta. Difficult to treat effectively. Prevention is the key.
Pneumonia - Bordetella bronchiseptica is the most common pathogen. Rabbits, pigs, dogs, and other species can be carriers of latent B. bronchiseptica, so do not house guinea pigs with them.
Ringworm - very common. Trichophyton mentagrophytes is the main pathogen causing guinea pig ringworm.
1. The Golden American White Crested Guinea Pig is very popular among owners due to its gentle personality and chubby appearance. Many owners choose it as a pet. It is relatively easy to raise. It is a vegetarian and does not require meat. It can be provided with guinea pig food for its main diet. Additionally, some vegetables can be provided. As long as the owner takes good care of it, the Golden American White Crested Guinea Pig has strong resistance and is unlikely to get sick. It can live up to 10 years.
2. When raising a Golden American White Crested Guinea Pig, it is necessary to prepare a cage for it. Owners can purchase a dedicated cage from a pet market, which should include a running wheel, a water bottle, a food bowl, a toilet, and a sleeping nest. Owners can also put some sawdust at the bottom of the cage for the guinea pig to play, reduce odor, and keep warm.
3. As for food, guinea pig food is the best choice. Owners must pay attention to providing fresh food and avoid giving expired food to the guinea pig. Access to drinking water is also essential and should be prepared regularly.
4. Hygiene is also extremely important for owners. It is best to clean the cage every day and remove feces. The bedding in the cage can be changed every few days, but it is not necessary to change it every day. Guinea pigs can clean themselves, so owners only need to provide them with bathing sand. The Golden American White Crested Guinea Pig likes to play in spacious areas, so it can be let out to play once a day for half an hour.
First, prepare warm water and wet the guinea pig, but avoid wetting its head. Apply shower gel. If using human shampoo or shower gel, make sure to rinse the guinea pig thoroughly with clean water, as it can be dangerous if not completely washed off. After bathing and drying the guinea pig, it usually cleans itself again. If the shampoo or shower gel is ingested, it can have negative consequences.
After cleaning, quickly wrap the guinea pig in a towel and place it in a clean box. Use a hairdryer with pre-set temperature to dry a small portion of the dampness. When blow-drying, you can place your hand next to the guinea pig to gauge the temperature of the air. This way, you can avoid it being too cold or too hot.
After drying a small portion of the dampness, lay a towel on yourself and hold the guinea pig in your arms. If you have prepared food beforehand, you can feed them at this time. The reason for laying the towel is to keep the guinea pig warm and prevent it from getting wet. It can also help absorb the moisture underneath its belly, which is often difficult to dry. However, flipping the guinea pig over and blow-drying directly on its belly can make it very uncomfortable. Therefore, laying a towel is very helpful. Feeding the guinea pig is to divert its attention to the food. Many guinea pigs are not accustomed to blow-drying and are afraid of the noise. They may hide in clothes or run away. With food, the guinea pig's attention is diverted, and it will not run away. After the guinea pig finishes eating, its brain will naturally adapt to the sound of the hairdryer, and it will not run away as fiercely or even stop running away.
If blow-drying an Abyssinian guinea pig, make sure to thoroughly dry it, as Abyssinian guinea pigs have longer hair on their hands compared to other guinea pigs, and it is easier for moisture to collect at the junction of the two types of hair. Be careful not to let it catch a cold.
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