The sheltie guinea pig is one of the most recommended to have as a pet. It is a beautiful rodent that is characterized by long, soft and silky hair, which is shorter on the head, so its vision is not impeded. In addition, the hair on the face of this guinea pig is much shorter than that of the Peruvian guinea pigs, from which it originates. Specifically, it comes from the cross between a Peruvian guinea pig and a self black guinea pig. It emerged on purpose in the early 1970s and today is one of the most popular guinea pigs in the world.
Keep reading this breed file on our site to find out all the characteristics of the sheltie guinea pig, its origin, character, care and He alth.
Origin of the Sheltie Guinea Pig
The sheltie guinea pig originated in the Shetland Islands of the United Kingdom, hence its name, when a self black guinea pig was crossed from shorthair with a Peruvian longhair guinea pig in the 1970s for experimental purposes. Today it can be found in any country in the world, being one of the most popular and well-known guinea pigs.
This breed was recognized in 1973 in the United Kingdom, its country of origin. In 1980 it was recognized as a Sheltie guinea pig in the American continent, although it was already known before this year by the name of Angora guinea pig. Today, rather than as a sheltie guinea pig, many know them as silkie or silky guinea pigs, due to their silky fur.
Characteristics of the sheltie guinea pig
The sheltie guinea pig is a medium-sized. The female is up to 25 cm long and weighs 700 grams, while the male is 30 cm long and weighs 1.4 kg. It reaches sexual maturity at three months of age.
Like all guinea pigs, the sheltie or silkie guinea pig has a elongated and compact body, with short legs, large head, drooping ears and round, lively eyes. When it is born, its hair is short and without rosettes, but it grows an average of 2.5 cm per month until it has its definitive adult coat. Said fur is long, dense, silky and very soft, this being the most representative characteristic of the sheltie guinea pig. However, it never covers the face as in the case of Peruvian guinea pigs because it is longer in this area and tends to fall forward, since in the sheltie guinea pig the hair on the face is shorter and grows faster. the reverse (backwards). So there is no such thing as a short-haired sheltie guinea pig.
Sheltie Guinea Pig Character
Sheltie guinea pigs are calm and friendly Although they may be shy at first, they quickly gain confidence and affection. They are not guinea pigs that seek attention with squeals or annoyances, on the contrary, they have a very docile character and are very affectionate
Because of everything mentioned about the character of the sheltie guinea pig, it is one of the best guinea pigs to have as a pet and to live with children or other animals, especially for its docility and its calm and friendly character. Although it is one of the best guinea pigs to have at home, they also need their rest and independence times. Likewise, it is essential to educate children so that they know how to treat them correctly and, above all, that they understand that they are not toys.
Sheltie guinea pig care
The sheltie guinea pig should have a cage with considerable space located in a quiet place so that it can rest comfortably and avoid stress anxiety. voices or noises. It must have abundant bedding that must be changed frequently to avoid moisture from urine and fruits and vegetables. Of course, no guinea pig should remain confined to its cage 24 hours a day, so it is highly recommended to allow it to move outside of it for a few hours up to date. To do this, it is convenient to check that there are no cables or objects that could harm the guinea pig. You could even set up a whole room for the guinea pig and place its cage here.
In relation to the previous point, the sheltie guinea pig, like any other, must be able to enjoy adequate environmental enrichment, made up of toysvaried to keep her entertained. For this reason, the idea of enabling a room for her is highly recommended. If you are one of those who prefer to make their own toys, don't miss this article: "How to make toys for guinea pigs?".
Continuing with the care of the sheltie guinea pig, the nails should be trimmed monthly or when they are observed to curve excessively. Teeth should be checked for problems, such as malocclusion, that cause excessive tooth growth and lead to infection and injury with excessive salivation.
Due to its particular coat, the sheltie guinea pig must have specific care to keep it clean and avoid knots. To do this, you should brush several times a week with a soft plastic comb in the direction of the hair. It is important to be careful in the lower part, since it usually presents more tangles. If the hair on some sides is excessively long, it can be trimmed a little.
Another way to care for the sheltie guinea pig's fur is by bathing with a special shampoo for rodents when it is very dirty or with a bad smellDuring the bath it is important to ensure that the water does not enter the guinea pig's nose, eyes or ears to prevent infections or irritations. You can also moisten a cloth and pass it on instead of bathing her if the bath time is very stressful, although it will not be the same.
Discover all the guinea pig care in this article.
Feeding the sheltie guinea pig
The feeding of the sheltie or silkie guinea pig does not differ from the rest of the guinea pigs. When they are young, they will consume hay and fruits, vegetables and feed should be introduced progressively.
In adult guinea pigs, the diet should be as follows:
- hay should make up 70% of the daily feed, being the main food for guinea pigs.
- The fruits and vegetables make up the 30 % of the diet of our guinea pig. Among them, they can consume carrots, celery, peppers, tomatoes, cabbage, spinach, Swiss chard, strawberries and cherries. Discover the complete list of fruits and vegetables for guinea pigs in this other article.
- The pienso must be specific for guinea pigs in order to ensure that we feed it with all the nutrients and in their correct proportions for the proper guinea pig he alth and development. The feed constitutes the 5-10 % of the daily feed.
Water must always be available through a drinking fountain for rodents, since water bowls are not recommended because they stagnate and are a source of infection. It should be changed frequently.
Something important to keep in mind about the care of the sheltie guinea pig is that obesity must be prevented, since they tend to suffer from it, with physical exercise or the use of toys.
Sheltie Guinea Pig He alth
The life expectancy of Sheltie guinea pigs is between 5 and 8 years, provided they are fed a balanced diet and have the necessary care and routine check-ups at the exotics vet.
Among the most frequent he alth problems that sheltie guinea pigs can suffer from are:
- Parasites, especially because of their long hair, since they are more difficult to find. If you observe excessive scratching of your guinea pig, it may be indicative of a parasitic process (mites, lice, fleas) or allergies. The solution and prevention is routine deworming.
- Digestive problems, which are especially common if you do not follow a balanced diet. These problems are the leading cause of mortality in guinea pigs.
- Scurvy, a disease caused by vitamin C deficiency, a key vitamin in guinea pigs that must be supplemented in feed as it is not be able to synthesize it by themselves. This disease can cause diseases of the respiratory system, hypersalivation, anorexia, immunosuppression, pododermatitis, internal bleeding, weakness, lameness, alopecia, darkened skin or pain, among others. Hence the importance of feeding our guinea pig with a feed intended for this species, which has the necessary proportion of this vitamin to prevent deficiency.
- Dental problems, so control is essential for the early detection of dental malocclusion and promptly go to the vet to put solution. You should not file or cut the teeth at home, it can cause serious damage to your guinea pig.
See How to tell if your guinea pig is sick in this other article.
