![]() ![]() Fly-strike is a life-threatening, painful and distressing condition.Īlthough regular grooming or clipping/ trimming is recommended and will prevent the diseases associated with long hair, Guinea pigs may find these procedures uncomfortable and stressful. These include: difficulties in mating difficulties in nursing - as the pups (baby guinea pigs) cannot easily find the nipples to feed and fly strike (in which flies lay their eggs on the guinea pig and on hatching, the maggots feed on its body tissues – eating it alive). Large mats can physically affect the guinea pig’s ability to feed if, for example, the mats are below the chin, or can interfere with normal movement when the mats involve the limbs (RWF 2007).Īs well as matting of the fur, Peruvians are predisposed to other problems because of their long coats. The long coat is very vulnerable to matting, where the fur becomes tangled together in a dense, confused mass, and this occurs rapidly without regular grooming (Alderton 2001 ).Ī matted coat causes discomfort and, if severely matted, the skin underneath may become sore and infected. Normally, wild or short-haired guinea pigs are able to groom and care for their fur themselves but this is impossible for the Peruvian. The hair can grow up to 50 cms long (Alderton 2001 ). There are various long haired breeds, the best known of which is the Peruvian, which has long, silky hair growing all over its head and body, so that it is difficult to identify which end of the animal is which. The fur of the guinea pig varies between breeds. ![]() (for more information click on the links below) These conditions can adversely affect the animals’ welfare with effects ranging from discomfort to intense pain. Because the fur often becomes matted and soiled, they are at particular risk of fly strike. Peruvian guinea pigs are unable to groom themselves adequately because of the length of their fur and their coats are prone to becoming matted which can lead to skin infections. Outline : The abnormally long fur of the Peruvian guinea pig is due to an autosomal recessive gene. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |