How long do albino guinea pigs live

The white spotting gene is responsible for colored guinea pigs with white markings, such as White Crested guinea pigs, or pigs with Dutch markings.

Historically , this was described as an albino guinea pig. On the other hand, when an animal has true albinism, their body is biologically incapable of making pigment.

Finally, some guinea pigs are white because they carry two copies of the gene for roan patterning. White guinea pigs may be more prone to hearing loss than guinea pigs with colored coats, however studies to confirm this have produced mixed results. Anecdotally, guinea pig breeders and show judges also report that they see more cases of abnormal bone formation inside the eyes of pink-eyed white guinea pigs. Remember those albino-looking guinea pigs who owe their coat to inheriting two copies of the roan gene?

Very occasionally a well cared for lethal white guinea pig might survive up to three years with a lot of care. If they are handled gently from a young age, they can become quite outgoing and confident with their human families.

However, if a white guinea pig has lost some of their hearing as a result of their coat color, they might be more nervous, and jumpy when things suddenly come into their field of vision. White guinea pigs have the same habitat and dietary requirements as guinea pigs of all other colors. Since all breeds of guinea pig can have white coats, their grooming requirements will depend upon you choose a cavy with a short smooth coat , a long silky coat, or even a curly or wiry coat.

To keep them safe, always make sure that they have plenty of access to shade when they are exercising in an outdoor run. Bear in mind that lethal white guinea pigs need an awful lot of extra care to overcome their disabilities. But pink-eyed white guinea pigs with indiscernible amounts of pigment in their coat and eyes look exactly the same, and occur in all guinea pig breeds except the White Crested. They are very much like their cousins with colored coats, but they may be more prone to hearing loss.

Don't be surprised if yours quickly learns when it's time to eat or even recognizes your voice. Product Reviews. Home Ideas. United States. Type keyword s to search.

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Some are also deaf, and many will have chronic dental disease, deformities, neurological deficiencies, and gastrointestinal problems.

While their time with us may be short — sometimes a few months, rarely a few years — recognizing their unique traits and addressing medical problems right away can give these special needs pets the best life possible. Lethal white guinea pigs are genetically compromised. But contrary to popular belief, it is not a result of inbreeding. The lethal white gene, called microphthalmia , occurs when breeding roan x roan or Dalmatian x Dalmatian cavies together.

There is a 25 percent chance these pairs of guinea pigs will have a lethal white baby. A roan is a breed of guinea pig that has white hairs mixed with flecks of another solid color through the white. Dalmatians have white hair with dark spots. View the Guinea Pig Web Cams. Flickr Follow our photostream. YouTube Subscribe to our videos. Twitter happycavy.

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