Silk velvet Himalayan guinea pigs have white and shiny silky fur, with dark-colored nose, ears, and limbs. Their eyes are red. Also known as Dutch pigs, Dutch guinea pigs, multi-colored pigs, guinea pigs, and Guinea pigs, their ancestors originated from the Andes Mountains in South America. In the 16th century, they were brought to the West by European merchants and were highly favored as pets. They have a gentle and adorable temperament, are relatively easy to care for, and are still commonly kept as household pets. Some organizations around the world are dedicated to breeding guinea pigs, resulting in the development of various breeds with different coat colors and appearances.
Silk velvet Himalayan guinea pigs have smooth and shiny fur, just like silk. Their noses, ears, and limbs are dark brown. They have a gentle and adorable temperament, making them a popular choice for pets. They are also known by different names such as Dutch pig, Dutch guinea pig, multi-colored pig, guinea pig, and Guinea pig. Their ancestors originated from the Andes Mountains in South America. Because of their cute appearance and market potential, they were introduced to the Western world by European merchants in the 16th century and were kept as pets by many families. Nowadays, there are many organizations worldwide dedicated to breeding guinea pigs, resulting in a variety of fur colors. The silk velvet Himalayan guinea pig is one such breed. Their fur is smooth, shiny, and comes in various colors, but the base color is white, with dark brown noses, ears, and limbs. Their eyes come in red and black. They have a small body size but a large head. Their nose and mouth protrude forward, and their eyes are round and bright. Their ears are fan-shaped and horizontally curled, with a tender pink color. They have short limbs, with four toes on the front feet and three toes on the back feet, and no tail.
For small pet lovers, it is recommended to keep silk velvet Himalayan guinea pigs. They have a very obedient and well-behaved nature. They are listeners, companions, and playmates around their owners. They seem to be able to perceive when their owners are happy or unhappy. If the owner is in a good mood, they will roam around the owner and occasionally playfully interact with them, as if to remind the owner that happiness can be shared with them. But when the owner is not in a good mood, they will quietly lean against the owner, but most of the time they choose to be alone in their own nests. Because these adorable little creatures cannot determine what is wrong with their owners, when they see that their owners are in a bad mood, they choose to stay away from them to avoid trouble.
Sarcoptes scabiei
The source of sarcoptic mange is the contamination of the guinea pig's living environment. They mainly reside around the eyes and ears of guinea pigs. Sarcoptic mange causes the affected areas to become bald, as if the mites have eaten away the guinea pig's fur. If signs of sarcoptic mange are found, it is necessary to seek medical treatment. The general treatment method is to inject insecticidal agents. Alternatively, agricultural dichlorvos diluted at a ratio of 1:100 can be applied to the affected areas (it is harmless if the guinea pig licks a little). Additionally, it is important to thoroughly disinfect the cage, otherwise the mites may return.
Bacterial infection
The main symptom is patchy baldness on the head, which is extremely similar to the symptoms of sarcoptic mange, sometimes even doctors can't differentiate. This disease is caused by high humidity and long-term consumption of concentrated feed. The symptoms are similar to athlete's foot in humans, which can cause dandruff on the skin.
Diarrhea
Caused by gastroenteritis from consuming unclean food. The symptoms are obvious, with loose stools. If this symptom is discovered, immediate medical attention should be sought. Diarrhea is quite dangerous for guinea pigs because sometimes we don't know which food causes it. For common diarrhea, medication can resolve it. However, if it is caused by poisoning from chemical substances, it is difficult to save the life even with immediate medical treatment. So please be careful.
Flatulence
Caused by consuming unsuitable foods, such as pears. Flatulence can lead to suffocation and heart failure. Therefore, in severe cases, it is necessary to seek medical attention promptly.
Constipation
Caused by excessive dryness of food and insufficient water intake. Increasing the amount of water intake and providing foods with high water content such as vegetables and fruits can cure constipation.
Excessive hair loss
Guinea pigs shedding 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 supplement with powdered vitamin C mixed into food or water. The vitamin powder is sour, so some guinea pigs may avoid eating it. In this case, it needs to be fed to them with a syringe.
The silk velvet Himalayan guinea pig has strong breeding ability and is almost always in the breeding season throughout the year. A silk velvet Himalayan guinea pig can reach sexual maturity in about three months and can breed five or six times a year. That means they can breed once a month. After breeding, they need to mate, give birth, lactate, and rest. Oh my, when you think about it, they spend their whole lives in breeding. Haha, actually not, they will stop breeding after producing five or six litters. Himalayan guinea pigs are herbivores with no special requirements for food and have strong health and rarely get sick. It's amazing that their chubby bodies are vegetarian. Himalayan guinea pigs mainly eat weeds, grass, and vegetable leaves. Adding some concentrated feed can increase their weight by half. In winter, crushed corn stalks, wheat stalks, straw, peanut seedlings, and a little bran can meet their growth needs. High-quality silk velvet Himalayan guinea pigs have a smooth appearance. Their whole body is elliptical, with a relatively large head and similar sizes in the front and back. They won't have a large head and a small rear, which is abnormal for silk velvet Himalayan guinea pigs. Their body color is uniform and glossy, like a layer of varnish. Their fur is smooth and there are no stray hairs.
Strictly speaking, as long as the keeper has time, they can help the hamster groom its fur every day. But if the owner is busy, they can groom it once every 1-2 weeks. However, when the hamster sheds in the spring and autumn seasons, it still needs frequent grooming. The tools for grooming the hamster's fur are also simple, you can use a toothbrush, towel, and a small comb of appropriate size.
Of course, besides grooming the hamster's fur, there is also the task of helping the hamster clean its fur. Hamsters are naturally afraid of water and they also resist bathing, so keepers do not need to bathe them frequently. However, when the hamster's fur gets dirty, keepers need to clean it in a timely manner. Keepers can use a towel dipped in warm water to gently wipe the hamster, removing the dirt on its body. If you must bathe the hamster, it is best to do it when the weather is warm, and after bathing, use a hairdryer to thoroughly dry its fur to prevent the hamster from catching a cold and getting sick.
Pet Encyclopedia
