Content
- Origin of the Himalayan Guinea Pig
- Characteristics of the Himalayan Guinea Pig
- Himalayan guinea pig colors
- Himalayan guinea pig personality
- Himalayan Guinea Pig Care
- Himalayan guinea pig feeding
- Himalayan Guinea Pig Health
The Himalayan guinea pig had its origins in South America, not in the Himalayas, more specifically in the Andes mountain range. Over time, it entered our lives, and today it is one of the best known little pigs in the world. The characteristic that distinguishes him from other guinea pigs is the fact that he is albino, that is why he is born totally white and with red eyes, although as the months go by certain areas of his body, such as the nose, ears and legs, if become pigmented. The final appearance of this guinea pig is very similar to that of the Himalayan cat.
Keep reading this PeritoAnimal breed sheet to learn all the characteristics of the himalayan guinea pig, its origin, personality, care and health.
Source
- America
- Argentina
- Chile
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Peru
- Venezuela
Origin of the Himalayan Guinea Pig
The Himalayan guinea pig, despite what its name may indicate, is originally from South America, specifically from the Andes mountain range. It is suspected that it arose from a wild guinea pig called mountain guinea pig (cavia tschudii), which is considered their ancestor because they are closely related.
The Himalayan guinea pig is one of the most popular, and today it can be found all over the world, with more and more people becoming interested in these rodents due to their noble, docile and friendly character combined with their characteristic so peculiar appearance.
The name "Himalayan guinea pig" was taken from the breed of Himalayan cats, as they both exhibit the characteristic color change in certain areas of the body as a function of temperature, just as they do with Siamese cats.
Characteristics of the Himalayan Guinea Pig
It is one of the largest guinea pigs in existence, with broad shoulders, a large head, a long thick body and short legs. the himalayan pig can weigh up to 1.6 kg.
The Himalayan guinea pig is characterized by being a albino race, which only presents pigment in the paws, nose and ears, due to the occurrence of a spontaneous genetic mutation. Thus, at birth, it is completely white, and these areas gain color over time. The color develops in the first months of the pig's life, and the intensity varies according to diseases, temperature and environment. For example, if the pig is in a cold place, the color intensifies, but if it lives in a warm place, the hue becomes lighter.
Himalayan guinea pig colors
In general, it has short, straight and totally white, except on the legs, nose and ears, which are of chocolate or black color. The eyes are red, a characteristic that is given by albinism, and the paw pads can be pink or black.
Himalayan guinea pig personality
The Himalayan guinea pig is an ideal rodent as a life companion, as it is very noble, calm, friendly and playful. He loves to get out of his corner and explore and play with his tutors, including children. Toys for guinea pigs can be used, which can release their playful instinct and ensure exercise, the best prevention for excess weight.
É very sociable and it will not hesitate to solicit the company of its human companions using its squeaks (high-pitched sounds) as an alert. These squeaks can also be emitted during play, but should not be a cause for concern, as they are natural to these animals and a sign that they feel good and happy playing with you, or that they miss your physical proximity.
Himalayan Guinea Pig Care
The Himalayan guinea pig should have a sheltered cage in a quiet place in the house that has minimal space to move around and be comfortable. The minimum measurements that a guinea pig cage should be are 40 cm wide x 80 cm long, not too tall. It is important that it is smooth and does not have bars, as they can injure the pig. The cage should have enough space for him to sleep and rest.
As with all guinea pigs, if you want to provide the best care for the Himalayan, keep in mind that he need to spend time outside the cage and should not be locked in it for more than a whole day without going out, as this will lead to the development of serious problems. This breed especially loves to go out exploring and playing, so this is basic care. Likewise, it is more than advisable to offer him a variety of toys and, of course, dedicate part of his day to play with him, as we have already seen that he is a pig that requires attention from his humans.
The basic care of Himalayan guinea pigs, as well as other breeds, consists of cleaning and periodic examination of teeth and ears for early detection and prevention of dental anomalies such as malocclusion or ear infections. The nails should be trimmed whenever they are long, which usually takes place every month or a month and a half. Your coat must be brushed once or twice a week, and washed with a special rodent shampoo when dirty. Because it is albino, the coat looks dirty quickly, and it can be effective, especially in the coldest months of the year, to rub damp cloths instead of bathing. However, the result will not be so good.
Routine vet checkups are important to keep your guinea pig healthy.
Himalayan guinea pig feeding
Digestive problems are one of the biggest concerns for these animals, and the best way to avoid them is with proper nutrition. Feeding a Himalayan guinea pig should be based on the following:
- Hay: should make up 65-70% of the total diet. It is the main food and is indispensable.
- Fruits and vegetables: 20-25% of the total diet. They are a good source of vitamins and micronutrients. Some that can be safely offered are celery, peppers, carrots, cabbage, tomatoes, chard, cherries, and strawberries. Discover the complete list of fruits and vegetables for guinea pigs in this other article.
- guinea pig feed: 5-10% of the total diet. The feed is essential to achieve a fully balanced diet with all the necessary nutrients. It must be specific for guinea pigs, usually supplemented with vitamin C, essential for these rodents, as they cannot synthesize it and need to obtain it from the consumption of fruits, vegetables and feed.
Water should always be available for the guinea pigs, and it is preferable to put it in the rodent trough than in a container in the cage, as there it will have a greater chance of standing still for a longer time and he may lose the interest in drinking aged water.
Himalayan Guinea Pig Health
The life expectancy of Himalayan guinea pigs is 5 to 7 years with adequate quality of life and without disease. Some diseases common in Himalayan guinea pigs are the following:
- Scurvy: consists of vitamin C deficiency. These animals are at risk of developing this disease because they cannot synthesize the vitamin on their own, so they must take it daily with food. In case of unbalanced or inadequate diets, this disease can develop, and the pig will begin to show symptoms such as immunosuppression, internal bleeding, respiratory system diseases, hypersalivation, pododermatitis, anorexia, skin and coat problems, weakness or difficulty walking.
- external parasites (fleas, lice, mites, ticks). In addition to the physical damage to our guinea pig's skin, they can be transmitters of disease. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out a correct deworming of the guinea pig.
- Digestive problems like cecal dysbiosis: consists in the exchange of flora (commensal bacteria) in the colon for different ones or for pathogenic microorganisms. Factors that can predispose to this pathology by decreasing colonic motility are an excessive intake of highly fermentable carbohydrates, a diet low in fiber or infections with Clostridium piriform.
- Breathing problems: Frequent in times of cold, due to coldness after a bath, poor location of the cage or when exposed to drafts.Symptoms such as runny nose, cough, fever, shortness of breath, sneezing and breathing noises occur.
- Dental malocclusion: Occurs when teeth don't fit together because they haven't grown properly and have lost their alignment. This affects adequate food intake and can cause injury and infection.
The vast majority of guinea pig diseases can be prevented with good management, so it is very important, before adopting an exotic animal whose care we do not really know, to get informed with professionals in the area to ensure that they have the quality of life they deserve.