The coronet guinea pig arose after crosses between sheltie guinea pigs, characterized by their long hair, and crested guinea pigs, whose crest or rosette and short hair are the main characteristics. As a result, a long-haired crested guinea pig emerged, which can be of various colors. Like all guinea pigs, it is elongated, with short legs and a large head. Regarding his character, he is a docile, friendly, pleasant and playful guinea pig. They love human company, not hesitating to squeak or yelp for attention. The diet, as in the rest of the guinea pigs, must be balanced and include hay, fruits, vegetables and feed for guinea pigs in the appropriate proportions to prevent diseases and maintain the correct metabolism and functionality of the organism.
Keep reading to find out all the characteristics of the coronet guinea pig and its main care, as well as its origin, character and he alth.
Origin of the coronet guinea pig
The coronet guinea pig is a long-haired guinea pig that arose from the cross between a crested guinea pig and a sheltie guinea pig This breed began in England, in the 70s, and continued in the United States in search of getting even longer hair, which was achieved by mixing the sheltie guinea pig with crested guinea pigs with longer hair on the rump. The result was a guinea pig that exhibited the long hair of the sheltie guinea pig and the whorl of hair on the forehead of the crested guinea pig.
The coronet guinea pig breed was first recognized in 1998 by the American Rabbit Association, which is affiliated with the American Guinea Pig Association.
Characteristics of the coronet guinea pig
The coronet guinea pig is mainly characterized by having long hair that cascades down all over its body, except on its face. It has a rosette on its forehead that, unlike its relatives the crested guinea pigs, can be of various colors, not just white.
Weighs between 700 grams and 1.2 kg and can be 25-35 cm long, with males being larger than females. The coronet guinea pig is characterized by having a elongated body, a large head practically indistinguishable from the body, lively eyes and short legs. The color of its fur can vary in different shades, but the brown colors predominateYou can also see some satin specimens, with a coat of shinier and denser hair. However, this type of coronet guinea pig has not yet been recognized by the American Guinea Pig Association.
The coronet guinea pig matures at three months and a female guinea pig can gestate 2 to 5 guinea pigs in a gestation period of 59 to 72 days.
Coronet guinea pig character
The coronet guinea pig is an ideal companion, especially for the youngest members of the household. She is a very affectionate, friendly and playful guinea pig She loves to draw attention so that her human companions spend time with her, at any time of the day. She's a very energetic guinea pig who won't stay still for long outside of the rest period. This feature benefits you when it comes to preventing overweight and obesity, but at the same time requires a lot of attention.
Precisely because of its need for attention, another characteristic of the coronet guinea pig's temperament is that it tends to emit shrieks or yelps to that their humans come to their call, this being one of their ways of communicating. Therefore, a good idea is to get toys for guinea pigs to satisfy that playful, curious, tender and restless instinct.
Coronet guinea pig care
The main care for the coronet guinea pig is hygiene and the maintenance of its long coat Brushing should be done every day at in order to untangle and avoid the appearance of knots. For this, a soft bristle brush should be used. It can be bathed, but you must use a shampoo for guinea pigs or rodents and dry it very well to avoid colds or respiratory diseases. You can also cut the coat in certain parts if it is too long.
Continuing with the care of the coronet guinea pig, the nails should be cut when they are long, which is usually done once a month, and the teeth should be checkedof the guinea pig in order to find dental problems such as malocclusion.
The coronet guinea pig needs a sheltered cage in a quiet place, without noise and with minimum dimensions of 80 cm long x 40 cm wide and not too high. The surface must be smooth and not with grids, to prevent injuries, and must have plenty of bedding to absorb moisture from urine and fresh food. The ideal temperature is between 10 and 25 ºC. They should go out several times a day to feel free, run and play because they need it and enjoy it very much. Of course, it is advisable to watch the animal to prevent it from getting hurt or getting lost.
Since we are dealing with a guinea pig that needs a lot of attention, its care also includes spending time with it playing or pampering it. Likewise, an adequate environmental enrichment is vital to keep it entertained when it is alone or when we have enough time, so it will need many toys. Find out how to make guinea pig toys in this article.
As prevention, it will be necessary at least one routine visit to the exotics veterinary center once a year to check that our coronet guinea pig is he althy, in addition to when any symptoms of illness appear.
Coronet guinea pig feeding
Some of the diseases that coronet guinea pigs can frequently suffer from can be prevented with a correct diet. The diet of a coronet guinea pig should include the following foods in their proper proportions: hay, fruits, vegetables and feed.
First, with 65-70% of the diet, the hayis the main food as it is fibrous and good for metabolism and intestinal transit. Second, they should include, in about a 25 % for the supply of vitamins, minerals and moisture, various fruits and vegetables Some of these vegetables and fruits that coronet guinea pigs can safely consume are the following:
- Orange
- Apple
- Pear
- Blueberry
- Strawberry
- Papaya
- Kiwi
- Romaine lettuce (not iceberg)
- Carrot
- Cucumber
- Cabbage
- Green peas
- Pepper
- Chard
- Cherry
- Tomatoes
Discover the complete list of recommended fruits and vegetables for guinea pigs.
In third place, but not less important and necessary for that, would be the feed intended for guinea pigs, occupying the5-10 % of our guinea pig's daily diet. With the feed it is possible to complete the daily nutritional needs and, together with the fruits and vegetables, cover the needs of vitamin C.
Water should be provided to coronet guinea pigs from a rodent waterer, rather than from a container in the cage, as with the latter there is a risk of it becoming stagnant and a source of bacteria.
Coronet guinea pig he alth
Coronet guinea pigs have a life expectancy of between 5 and 9 years, provided they have been cared for and sanitary as prescribed. deserve. In relation to the he alth of these guinea pigs, the following important diseases should be highlighted:
- Digestive problems such as cecal dysbiosis. This disease is characterized by the transformation of the natural commensal flora of the transition between the cecum and the colon by pathogenic microorganisms or by another different flora. This usually occurs when certain predisposing factors reduce colonic motility, such as a low-fiber diet, a high intake of fermentable carbohydrates, or an infection by Clostridium piriformis bacteria.
- Scurvy or vitamin C deficiency Vitamin C in guinea pigs is an essential nutrient, since they cannot synthesize it like other animals and need acquire it from food. This disease occurs when the guinea pig's diet is unbalanced, does not respect the indicated proportions or lacks feed, fruits and vegetables that are sources of vitamins, including vitamin C. Scurvy in guinea pigs can produce clinical signs such as diseases of the respiratory system. respiratory system, immunosuppression, internal bleeding, hypersalivation, anorexia, hair and skin problems, pododermatitis, lameness and weakness.
- Dental malocclusion: appears when the teeth are not properly aligned or with adequate growth, losing alignment and losing symmetry, which predisposes to the formation of wounds and infections, as well as in the proper intake of food, so digestive problems may appear.
- Respiratory problems: produce symptoms such as cough, sneezing, fever, runny nose, malaise, depression, dyspnea, and breath sounds. They usually appear when the diet is inadequate or vitamin C deficiency appears by causing immunosuppression, when they get cold after a bath or when their cage is in a place where there are drafts.
- External parasites by fleas, mites, lice and ticks. In addition to the lesions caused on the skin of our guinea pig, these small organisms can transmit diseases, so, to prevent or eliminate them, the coronet guinea pig must be dewormed.
In fact, most of the common illnesses that coronet guinea pigs can experience can be prevented with proper handling and care. In the presence of any sign of illness such as isolation, fever, depression, not wanting to play, decay, lethargy, watery eyes, inadequate stools, increased water intake, anorexia or the appearance of skin lesions or dental alterations, you should go to an exotics vet to be able to give him a solution as soon as possible.
