Cavia porcellusGuinea PigsSmall

Silkie Guinea Pig

gentlecalmsocialaffectionatepatient

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Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Origin

United Kingdom

Lifespan

4–8 years

Weight

700–1,200 g

Height

20–30 cm body

Diet

Herbivore — 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 a long, silky, flat-lying coat that flows backward from the face with no centre part — unlike the Peruvian where the coat parts in the middle, the Silkie coat flows uniformly backward from the nose creating a distinctive teardrop profile from above. The coat is very soft and fine-textured. Same level of maintenance as Peruvians. Developed in the UK in the 1970s by crossing Peruvian and Self guinea pigs.

Also Known As

SheltieSheltie Cavy

Quick Facts

BreedSilkie

Breed GroupLONG-COAT

SizeSmall

ActivityLow

TrainabilityLow

CountryUnited Kingdom

Lifespan4 - 8 years

Good with KidsGood with PetsHypoallergenic

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Physical Profile

Source: wikimedia

Long, soft coat flowing backward from the face with no centre part. Can reach 30–40 cm in show animals. Swept-back appearance distinguishes it clearly from the Peruvian (centre parted) and the Coronet (single forehead rosette).

Grooming

Very High

Shedding

High

Coat Colors

any colour — silkie and cream combinations particularly prized

Recognized By

ACBAARBABCCG

Image Available

Source: wikimedia

Temperament & Personality

Among the calmer guinea pig breeds. Patient acceptance of grooming. Affectionate and sociable.

gentlecalmsocialaffectionatepatient

Living Profile

Activity LevelLow

TrainabilityLow

Noise LevelModerate

Care & Wellness

Professional Care Protocol

Ear Cleaning

Nail Trimming

Special Eye Care

Teeth Care

•Same requirements as Peruvian. Daily brushing, regular trimming, pairs, hay, vitamin C. Not practical for children due to grooming demands.

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 plus coat-related skin infection risk if grooming neglected.

Common Conditions

•Name: Coat-Related Skin Infections • Severity: MEDIUM • Prevalence: OCCASIONAL • Description: Matted coat traps moisture. Daily grooming essential.

•Name: Vitamin C Deficiency • Severity: HIGH • Prevalence: COMMON • Description: Daily vitamin C essential.

Fun Facts

The Silkie was developed in the 1970s by crossing Peruvian and Self guinea pigs — a relatively recent breed.

Also Known As

SheltieSheltie Cavy

Related Tags

#guinea-pig#long-coat#silky#show-breed#high-maintenance#gentle#backward-flowing-coat

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