Lemon crested guinea pig has a lemon-colored fur that is stiff and spiky. Guinea pigs, also known as Dutch pigs, Dutch guinea pigs, Cavy, or Guinea pig, originated from the Andes Mountains in South America. In the 16th century, European merchants brought them to the West, and people liked this small animal as a pet. They are docile, cute, relatively easy to take care of, and still a common pet. Some organizations around the world are devoted to breeding guinea pigs, and they have bred varieties with different fur colors and diverse morphologies.
Lemon crested guinea pig, Lemon Agouti Guinea Pig, has a lemon-colored fur that is stiff and spiky. It is 22-34 cm long and weighs 400-700 grams. It has a short, thick, and round body, a large and round bright eyes, round ears, divided upper lip, and small ears. The limbs are short, with 4 toes on the front feet and 3 toes on the back feet, without a tail.
Lemon Crested Guinea Pig, it is different from the general guinea pig in that its fur is lemon-colored, stiff, and spiky. People also call it Dutch pig, Dutch guinea pig, Cavy, Guinea pig, and so on. It is a kind of small mouse species originating from South America. In the 15th century, it was introduced to the West by European merchants, where people liked this mouse very much and kept it as a pet mouse. Indeed, they are easy to train and very obedient, deeply loved by the public! The lemon crested guinea pig has a body length of about 33cm, belonging to the medium-sized body type, but its body is round and fat, short and thick. In addition, the lemon crested guinea pig has a larger head and a pair of black eyes occasionally shimmering with a hint of gold, with a dull look, giving a feeling of stupidity. Not only that, the little mouse also has a strong and powerful body and well-developed limbs, short and plump, looking very cute, it can't help but make people feel tempted! The life span of the lemon crested guinea pig can be as long as ten years. If you are sure to keep it as a pet, you must make sure that there are no other animals such as dogs or cats in the house that can harm it. The fur color of the lemon crested guinea pig is silver and white, the hair is hard and spiky, also known as Dutch pig, Dutch guinea pig, Cavy, Guinea pig, and so on. Their ancestors came from the Andes Mountains in South America and were brought to the West by Central European merchants in the 16th century. At that time, people liked this small animal very much and kept it as a pet.
Recommended for small pet lovers, the lemon crested guinea pig is gentle and easy to care for. This type of guinea pig has neat and smooth fur all over its body, so you don't need to spend too much time grooming it. It is a very popular small rodent. They are naturally inclined to live in quiet and comfortable environments. Despite their chubby appearance, they are more favored than other ordinary rodent species. They generally do not attack others unless provoked. They do not hold grudges. This type of guinea pig does not have high requirements for care, and if you treat it well, it will consider you its master.
Mange
The source of mange is the contamination of the guinea pig's living environment. It mainly resides around the eyes and ears of the guinea pig. Mange can cause scabies, as if the mites have eaten the guinea pig's hair, resulting in patchy baldness. Once signs of mange are found, it is necessary to seek medical treatment. The general treatment method is to inject insecticidal drugs. It can also be treated by applying the diluted agricultural neem oil at a ratio of 1:100 to the affected area (a little bit is not harmful to the guinea pig). In addition, it is important to thoroughly disinfect the guinea pig's cage, otherwise the mange mites may return.
Bacterial Infection
The main symptom is patchy baldness on the head, which is extremely similar to mange symptoms, and sometimes even doctors cannot distinguish between them. This condition is caused by high humidity and long-term consumption of concentrated feed and other factors. This condition is similar to athlete's foot in humans, and dandruff may appear on the skin.
Diarrhea
It is caused by gastrointestinal inflammation due to the consumption of unclean food. The symptoms are obvious, that is, the feces are not well-formed. If this symptom is found, it's important to seek medical attention immediately. Diarrhea is quite dangerous for guinea pigs because sometimes we don't know which foods caused the diarrhea. If it is a common diarrhea, medication can help. However, if it is caused by chemical poisoning from food, even if taken to the doctor in the first time, it is difficult to save its life. So be careful.
Flatulence
It is caused by consuming unsuitable foods, such as pears. Flatulence can lead to suffocation and heart failure. Therefore, when the condition is severe, it is important to seek medical attention promptly.
Constipation
It is caused by dry food and inadequate water intake. It can be cured by increasing water intake and providing watery foods such as vegetables and fruits.
Hair Loss
It is normal for guinea pigs to shed hair, 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 mix powdered vitamin C with food or water to supplement it. Vitamin powder has a sour taste, so some guinea pigs may avoid eating it. In this case, it is necessary to feed them with a syringe.
External Injury
Apply veterinary iodine to the bleeding area in a timely manner to prevent bacterial invasion.
Feeding Environment - The lemon crested guinea pig is quite chubby in size. If you judge it solely based on its appearance, you might think it's a foodie. However, that's not the case. In reality, it is actually a typical vegetarian. Overall, the process of raising them can be quite complex. Firstly, before raising them, the owner should prepare a spacious cage for them and place some soft shredded fabric inside. It's best to buy a cage that is easy to clean, as these guinea pigs have a natural inclination to chew and the cage needs to be secure. Secondly, provide them with a feeding bowl, drinking apparatus, and foot pads. For young guinea pigs, the owner must keep them warm, especially for those lemon crested guinea pigs that live in the northern regions all year round, where temperatures are generally low. They are more prone to illness. Overall, be prepared to keep them warm, cool, well-ventilated, and protected from the cold! Food Tips - Don't be deceived by their appearance. They are not food lovers. Remember, vegetarian food is their favorite. Their diet consists mainly of vegetables, alfalfa, lettuce, apples, peas, corn, and other vegetables and fruits. They won't waste these foods because lemon crested guinea pigs always have a good appetite. Owners need to pay attention to the food they choose, avoiding foods that are not suitable for guinea pigs. This can effectively prevent them from becoming seriously overweight and experiencing hormonal imbalances. It is also the best way to ensure their healthy growth!
After washing, wrap the guinea pig in a towel quickly. Put it in a clean box and blow-dry a small portion of the water with a pre-connected hairdryer. Pay attention to the temperature of the hairdryer. When blowing, you can put your hand next to the guinea pig to know the temperature of the air. This way, you don't have to worry about it being too cold or too hot.
After blow-drying a small portion of the water, lay a towel on yourself and hold the guinea pig in your arms to blow-dry. For students who have prepared food in advance, you can feed them at this time. The reason for laying a towel on yourself is that guinea pigs are warm, which can prevent them from getting wet and also help absorb the moisture under their belly. We often can't dry the water under their belly, but drying them upside down will make them uncomfortable. So laying a towel is still useful. Giving guinea pigs food is because it can divert their attention to the food. Many guinea pigs are not used to blow-dryers and are afraid of the sound. They will either hide in clothes or run away. With food, guinea pigs will shift their attention and won't run away. After they finish eating, their brains will naturally adapt a little to the blow-dryer, so they won't run away as fiercely or even stop running away.