Cavia porcellusGuinea PigsSmall

Peruvian Guinea Pig

Has the longest, most dramatic coat of all guinea pig breeds — growing from a central part on the back and reaching 50–60 cm in show animals.

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Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Origin

Peru

Lifespan

4–8 years

Weight

700–1,200 g

Height

20–30 cm body + up to 50 cm hair length

Diet

Herbivore — same as American: unlimited hay, fresh greens, pellets, daily vitamin C.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Mammalia

Order

Rodentia

Family

Caviidae

Genus

Cavia

The Story

Has the longest, most dramatic coat of all guinea pig breeds — growing from a central part on the back and reaching 50–60 cm in show animals. The extraordinary coat completely obscures the animal beneath. Spectacular show animals but coat requires daily brushing and regular trimming. Not practical for children or inexperienced cavy keepers.

Also Known As

Long-Haired CavyPeruvian Cavy

Quick Facts

BreedPeruvian

Breed GroupLONG-COAT

SizeSmall

ActivityModerate

TrainabilityLow

CountryPeru

Lifespan4 - 8 years

Good with KidsGood with PetsHypoallergenic

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Physical Profile

Source: wikimedia

Long, silky coat parting in the middle of the back and hanging forward and backward, sometimes completely covering the face. Show Peruvians kept on specially designed boards to protect the coat.

Grooming

Very High

Shedding

High

Coat Colors

any color — coat parts in the centre and grows forward and backward

Recognized By

ACBAARBANAGPA

Image Available

Source: wikimedia

Temperament & Personality

Same as American Guinea Pig temperamentally. The long coat does not affect personality.

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Living Profile

Activity LevelModerate

TrainabilityLow

Noise LevelModerate

Care & Wellness

Professional Care Protocol

Ear Cleaning

Nail Trimming

Special Eye Care

Teeth Care

•Same basic care as all guinea pigs — pairs, hay, vitamin C, floor time. Coat requires daily brushing minimum, regular trimming around the rear prevents faecal soiling.

Vaccination Schedule

AdultboosterN/A

SpeciesnotesGuinea pigs require an exotic/small animal vet familiar with cavy medicine. Annual wellness exams recommended. Key monitoring: dental occlusion (open-rooted teeth grow continuously), urinary calcium sludge, vitamin C supplementation (guinea pigs cannot synthesise their own), respiratory health. No standard vaccines administered in most countries.

PuppykittenscheduleN/A — guinea pigs have no routine vaccine schedule.

Health Overview

Same as American Guinea Pig. Skin infections under matted coat if grooming is neglected. Tactile daily examination important as GI issues can be hidden by the coat.

Common Conditions

•Name: Coat-Related Skin Infections • Severity: MEDIUM • Prevalence: COMMON • Description: Matted or soiled coat creates conditions for bacterial and fungal infections. Daily grooming and regular trimming preventive.

•Name: Vitamin C Deficiency • Severity: HIGH • Prevalence: COMMON • Description: Daily vitamin C essential — same as all guinea pigs.

Fun Facts

A show Peruvian's coat can reach 60 cm in length — longer than the animal's body. The coat grows at approximately 1 cm per month.

Peruvians in shows are transported on boards covered in paper that prevent the coat from tangling.

Also Known As

Long-Haired CavyPeruvian Cavy

Related Tags

#guinea-pig#long-coat#show-breed#high-maintenance#grooming-intensive#experienced-owner

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