Dark-eyed Self White Guinea Pig

1 Dark-eyed Self White Guinea Pig Breed Overview

The Dark-eyed Self White guinea pig, like all guinea pigs, is very alert, lively, gentle, chubby and cute, easily startled, and sometimes gives sharp squeaks. It likes a dry, clean living environment. The guinea pig is also called the cavy or Dutch pig, so the Dark-eyed Self White is also known as the white black-eyed Dutch pig or white black-eyed cavy.

2 Physical Characteristics of the Dark-eyed Self White Guinea Pig

Dark-eyed Self White Guinea Pig (details)

The guinea pig is a fairly easy small pet to keep at home. This animal from South America has a thick coat that resists fleas and skin disease and is relatively easy to keep.

The Dark-eyed Self White guinea pig has an all-over snow-white, shiny, smooth coat like satin, with black eyes. Its aliases include Dutch mouse, Dutch pig, colored cavy, cavy, and guinea pig. Their ancestors came from the Andes of South America and were brought west by European merchants in the 16th century; people liked the little animal and kept it as a pet. They are gentle and adorable, relatively easy to care for, and remain common household pets. Some organizations eagerly breed cavies, developing many varieties of different coat colors and forms. The Dark-eyed Self White is very gentle and rarely bites unless provoked (even a rabbit will bite when cornered).

3 Dark-eyed Self White Guinea Pig Care Tips

Dark-eyed Self White Guinea Pig (details)

Caring for the Dark-eyed Self White can be analyzed from three angles—eating, housing, and outings. Although guinea pigs are relatively easy pets, neglecting them makes them prone to illness or even death.

I. Eating

The Dark-eyed Self White’s diet has basically no seasonal change; even in winter appetite does not vary much, so under normal conditions feed as usual. As it gets colder, water intake decreases. Outdoor guinea pigs need extra nutrition to withstand the cold. If kept indoors above 20°C, feed the usual amount without worry.

II. Housing

The Dark-eyed Self White is naturally afraid of cold; when the temperature drops below 20°C, keep it warm. Depending on where it is kept, prepare accordingly. Indoor guinea pigs are easier—if you have heating, lay a pet warming blanket where it rests. Because it may urinate on the blanket, clean and wash it often.

Outdoor or balcony guinea pigs need a wind-sheltered, warm nest to withstand cold wind. DIY owners can build one from wood boards, or buy a pretty cat or dog bed—just big and warm enough. Line the nest with wood shavings or hay for comfort and warmth. Place the cage away from drafts, not in direct wind. If the cage cannot be moved, cut a cardboard box to size and place it outside the cage to block the cold.

III. Outings

Avoid taking the Dark-eyed Self White outside in winter. If necessary, wrap a paper bag or towel around the carrier to avoid direct wind. You can also use a warm pack on the cage bottom or sides for warmth, but note the guinea pig may chew through it, so handle carefully.

IV. Notes on keeping female guinea pigs

1. Never force a female cavy into your hands—this not only makes her dislike you but also makes her attack aggressively (stronger than males).

2. Give her enough space to play and vent. Females are active; even with a chew stone they will gnaw the cage mesh—this is venting, not anger, so do not over-worry about ‘abnormal’ behavior.

3. Females are short-tempered, so do not house them with other rodents (no males or females of any breed) to avoid bloody injuries.

4. Do not disturb females often; over time they will treat you as an enemy.

4 Dark-eyed Self White Guinea Pig Living Environment

Dark-eyed Self White Guinea Pig (details)

If you keep only a Dark-eyed Self White as a pet, you need not worry about other animals disturbing its rest. But if you have other animals, prepare a quiet, comfortable nest. You can also build one yourself following these steps.

If you have not prepared a nest when buying, first find a box (wood, plastic, or even cardboard) lined with clean rags. Newspaper ink is bad for small animals, so avoid it. This box is temporary—once the guinea pig adapts and grows bolder, it will use the box to gnaw and may sneak out.

So you must prepare a suitable, sturdy box as a nest. You can buy a small-animal enclosure or a special groundhog enclosure. The former has two levels—a tray below and wire mesh in the middle—easy to clean but risks the animal’s feet getting caught and injured.

The groundhog enclosure has only one layer, slightly larger, with a top opening. When keeping the Dark-eyed Self White, line it with wood shavings or sawdust. Easy for the animal to move, but droppings are harder to clean and the bedding must be changed often. Keep the enclosure as large as possible, or the guinea pig may become fat from lack of exercise and even develop nervous problems. This is especially true for multiple animals. Store it away from cats and dogs, out of direct sun and rain, with good ventilation.

5 Dark-eyed Self White Guinea Pig Feeding Tips

Dark-eyed Self White Guinea Pig (details)

The Dark-eyed Self White eats mainly weeds; greens and vegetable leaves are favorites, but with modern husbandry the simplest, most convenient approach is special hay and feed.

Feed made mainly from timothy has little nutritional difference from timothy hay, but for tooth-wearing and intestinal peristalsis, the fine fibers in processed feed (cut during manufacturing) fall far short of the long fibers in hay. So regardless of feed type, hay is an indispensable food.

Owners should understand that good palatability does not mean the guinea pig is automatically healthy. Alfalfa feed is more aromatic and sweeter than timothy, so acceptance is higher, but its fiber content is lower than timothy’s.