The Texel guinea pig is a newer breed among the 13 available and known breeds of guinea pigs.
One of the main features that makes them more striking than other breeds is their long curly, shiny hair.
They are just adorable, and it is lovely to have them near you in your home.
If you plan to get a Texel guinea pig as your next pet, you are in the right place.
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10 Interesting Facts To Know About Texel Guinea Pigs
Read on to find fun facts about the Texel guinea pig to see if it fits you as your next pet.
The Origin Of The Texel Guinea Pig
The texel guinea pig is not purebred, but I crossbreed between a British Rex guinea pig and a Silkie guinea pig.
The crossbreeding results between the two guinea pig breeds gave rise to this creature of much beauty.
Crossbreeding started in 1980 in England and has been going on until the year 1998.
Surprisingly!
1998 is the year when the American Breeders Association Recognised the Texel guinea pig as an official breed.
It has, in turn, increased the population of the pigs people are keeping as pets in their homes.
Body Size And Weight
When it comes to body size, expect your Texel guinea pig to reach between 8-10 inches long in maturity, which is the average length of any mature guinea pig.
One easy way to distinguish the male from the female is using the length of the body.
Male guinea pigs are usually longer than their female counterparts.
Generally, the Texel guinea pig always seems shorter than the other curvy breeds.
A healthy mature curvy should weigh between 1.5-2.5 pounds (700-1200g), and the same applies to the Texel guinea pig.
A point to note is that several factors, including diet, exercise, and genes, will affect a cavy’s weight.
A point to note on the Texel guinea pig, you need to be careful and get the exact weight since the fur covering the body could be hiding overweight and obese issues.
Coat And Colors
The Texel piggie, as mentioned earlier, has a long curly, shiny coat that covers the whole body.
It makes them even more admirable because you can show the Telex cavy in any color.
The coat color can range from black, white, gold, and even a mix of colors.
The colors can be solid, mixed, or patterned.
The standard terms used in describing the pig’s color are ‘self’ and ‘non-self.’
Let this not confuse you.
The breeders use a language to mean solid color coat for self and non-solid color coat for non-self.
Generally, the color of the coat depends on the genes of the guinea pig.
The Health Of The Texel Cavy
When all the essential factors, including the housing, food, and enough exercise, for the Texel pig are well-taken care of, the pig’s health is usually good.
But as with all the guinea pigs, health problems usually crop up from time to time.
It’s always good for you to know the issues and ways to handle them when they arise if you’re seriously considering getting one as a pet for yourself.
Coat Problems
Even though the guinea pig has a unique curly, long, and shiny coat, it does not come without downsides.
Tangles and mats can be a significant concern if you don’t take time to care for your pigs’ coats and especially for an active cavy and move a lot around its house.
The long coat is also susceptible to objects sticking on it, for instance, grass and wood shavings.
The long coat can also create a right home for pests that include mites and lice, which can end up causing so much irritation to the pig if not keen.
To make sure you overcome these problems, experts recommend grooming the guinea pig at least twice a day if possible or at least once if you don’t have time.
Wood shaving and anything that may stick to the pig’s coat shouldn’t be placed in the pig’s habitat as bedding.
Eye Problems
Texel guinea pigs are prone to an eye condition called Entropion in their early life.
It is a condition where the lower eyelid is turned inwards so that the eyelashes keep rubbing against the eyeball, causing many discomforts.
The main symptoms to watch for eye problems are cloudiness, redness in the eyes, closing its eyes for more extended periods than average, discharge of the eyes’ inflammation, and a cavy frequently scratching the eyes.
The excellent news about Entropion is that you can quickly treat the condition using antibiotic eye drops once you notice the infection.
In severe cases, but hoping it doesn’t get to that point, your pig may be forced to undergo surgical procedures to correct the condition.
The two main surgical procedures include eyelid tightening, where the eyelid is shortened to tighten the lid.
The other procedure is Retractor reinsertion, where there is tightening of the muscle that opens and closes the lid.
Another major cause of eye problems is excessive exposure of a guinea pig to bacteria or fungal spores.
The good news is that you can treat the bacteria with the right antibacterial or antifungal medications.
In cases where two or more pigs are kept in a cage, you should observe that they stay in harmony and not fight.
Fighting between your pets can lead to scratching of each other’s eye, leading to corneal ulcers, which affects the cornea.
Sharp objects such as hay can also lead to corneal conditions.
Keeping the Texel guinea pigs cage clean is the best solution to avoiding bacteria and fungal build-up.
Besides, if your pets can’t seem to be at peace staying together, separating them into different cages will help.
Telex Cavy Digestive System
Guinea pigs, at times, tend to have a sensitive digestive system.
The significant issues of concern to watch out for in your piggie include Diarrhea, bladder stones (calculi), and cystitis (bladder infection).
Diarrhea can be a significant upset caused by several bacteria, parasites, and viruses.
The upset digestive system’s primary symptoms include weight loss, energy loss, lack of appetite, and dehydration.
The sad part is that if you’re not careful, your pet may die from these illnesses without seeming to be sick.
Ensure to provide enough grass hay such as Timothy hay to your pig to enable it to have good digestion.
The hay provides your cavy with fiber which supports the digestion process.
To keep your Texel healthy, avoid foods with many calories, such as legume hay like alfalfa.
Its to prevent your cavity from becoming obese, which poses more significant health challenges to your pet.
Foods like broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbages of all types should be given to your pet in small amounts and occasionally.
The main reason is that the said foods tend to produce a lot of gas.
If you feed your pet in large quantities, it may cause bloat to your pet.
Some of the mentioned disorders can be easily treated at home, and maintaining high cleanliness standards is vital.
If you are not sure how to handle these conditions, always seek a qualified vet’s assistance.
The Texel Guinea Teeth
A guinea pig’s teeth tend to grow throughout its life span.
To keep the teeth healthy, a guinea pig has to keep chewing and gnawing.
To ensure your Texel does a lot of chewing and gnawing, experts recommend a diet rich in fiber.
It would be best if you fed your piggie a lot of quality hay and grass daily.
If possible, add pellet foods compressed and designed explicitly for your cavy along with the hay and grass.
Chewing toys can also be of great help in keeping your pigs’ teeth healthy and also keep the guinea pig nibbling.
In case you cannot get the right toys, tree branches can act as the best alternative for nibbling.
Make use of tree branches that are free from chemicals and pesticides to avoid poisoning your cavy.
Hardwoods which include apple, hickory, and maple, are a great choice.
The dental formula of the Telex piggie and generally all breeds face several issues.
The issues may hinder your cavy feeding properly, so you need to act fast if such issues show up.
Elongated Roots
With the continuous growth of the cavy teeth, the roots can be pushed up or grown into the jaw.
The result is an elongated root, and you may not be able to tell this problem through an oral examination.
However, you can tell the issue exists on your pig if you feel bumps in the bottom teeth along the lower jawline.
If you suspect an elongated root problem, a sure way to confirm is through an x-ray which will show clear pictures of cavy teeth structure.
For piggies in the early stages of the problem, the vet uses a chin sling to treat the condition.
A chin sling is a piece of the strap attached around your cavys’ jaw.
Malocclusion
Malocclusion is a term used to refer to a guinea pigs’ teeth that are overgrown but not adequately worn out.
The condition occurs both in the front and back teeth.
So, you may be wondering how does malocclusion affects your guinea pig?
Naturally, your pet has to chew and gnaw for its teeth to wear off and remain healthy.
But as the condition worsens, your piggy’s ability to chew is affected, and so teeth wearing off doesn’t happen.
Consequently, malocclusion teeth result in injuries, sores, and infection in the pigs’ mouth.
So, how can you tell your pet is affected by malocclusion?
The main sign to watch out for includes your pet only chews on one side, picking and instantly dropping food, picking and holding food for long instead of chewing, and pigs’ eye and nose discharge.
Malocclusion teeth condition is usually treated by filling the front, it may sound that simple, and you may be tempted to do it yourself.
But that’s not right!
Always seek a qualified vet service, and in case of severe malocclusion, you will need to make arrangements to visit the vet a couple of times.
Broken Teeth And Tooth loss
With the much chewing and gnawing guinea pigs do, broken teeth and teeth loss are things you should anticipate in your pet.
But that shouldn’t worry you since, for a healthy pig, the teeth will grow back.
But then here is something that you need to be keen on
The primary cause of broken teeth for guinea pigs is lack of vitamin C.
Be sure to provide your pet with enough vitamin C in their diet since they can’t produce it in their body.
Vitamin C is responsible for the growth of healthy bones and teeth of your cavy.
The best vitamin C source for your pet is vegetables with high amounts of vitamin C and fresh guinea pig pellets.
Also, you can consider supplementing with vitamin C tablets.
The Lifespan Of Your Texel Cavy
Like many guinea pig breeds, the Texel has a lifespan of 5 to 7 years.
Most guinea pigs make it up to 5 years, and getting one beyond this age is quite rare.
On reaching five years of age, your Telex cavy is considered a senior, and you may be tasked to give him more attention and care.
Experts also advise that at this age, you need to make arrangements for your pet to be evaluated by a qualified vet to ensure they are healthy.
You may be wondering and asking, what is the leading cause of death for these lovely creatures?
Here is the answer to your question.
The most frequent cause of death to the guinea pig is Pneumonia or, in other terms, inflammation of the lungs.
Bacterial infections are the cause of Pneumonia in guinea pigs.
Another major cause of death of the cavy breed is food.
It may sound surprising, but experts warn against the following foods: chocolate, which is considered very dangerous; citrus fruits contain many acids that may cause stomach upsets.
Also, snacks, milk products, avocados, the meat of any kind, onions, potatoes, tomatoes, and nuts.
With the short life span of the Texel guinea pig, losing the pet to death is inevitable.
Sad to imagine, but then preparing yourself early for the inevitable moment is always prudent.
What Are The Signs That Your Guinea Pig Is About To Die?
Watch out for these signs.
Lack Of Appetite
A very ill Texas guinea pig will resist eating, and with time this will lead to weight loss.
Also, the cavy may avoid drinking water, which may cause severe dehydration to the pig.
It would be best if you took the time to monitor your pet’s eating and drinking pattern.
Also, make use of a small scale to monitor weight gain and loss.
Unusual Urine And Feces
Urine and Feces can tell you a lot about the health conditions of your pet.
When you notice signs of watery stool, bloodstains, and difficulty urinating, that only means your pet needs medical care.
Another sign that may seem not bad but is dangerous is little feces than usual.
Fever
High fever in the guineas pigs is an indication your pet could be suffering from Pneumonia which is the leading cause of death among the cavy.
Breathing Difficulties
These may be in the form of coughing, sneezing, panting, or wheezing.
They are a definite sign your pet is suffering from Pneumonia, so you need to move faster to save it.
Eye Condition
You can notice eye conditions when you see discharge from the pig’s inflamed eyes.
The eyes may also appear cloudy and dull.
Crusty substances may form around the eyes and the nose.
Difficulty In Movement
Difficulty in mobility is a sign your pig is sick.
It will manifest by pet limping or lacking coordination when moving around.
Take time to notice your pet’s pasture; if it’s not normal, then there must be something not right.
Inferior Coat Condition
An inferior coat that looks dull and rough is a sign your is sick and might be dying.
There can also be loss of the coat in patches and areas of inflamed skin.
How Active Is A Texel Guinea pig?
Texel guinea pigs are active and love being outside.
When it comes to making their habitat, always ensure enough space for these pets to move around and be happy.
Being active and moving around a lot is of benefit to the cavy family.
It ensures the guinea pigs do a lot of exercises and therefore stay healthy and avoid obesity.
You may be tempted to let your pet move around outside its habitat, especially applying to cages if the space seems small.
In such circumstances, you need to take care and ensure the environment is safe for the cavy.
In any case, you want to leave your pet outside, consider a favorable climatic condition, which should neither be too cold or too hot.
Preferably consider leaving your pet to have fan time under tree shade.
As your cavy grows old, it becomes less active and spends more time sleeping.
The movements drastically reduce, and it shouldn’t surprise you to notice your senior cavy spending more time in one place.
At this point, make sure to change their bedding now and then to keep them both dry and clean.
Are Texel Guinea Pigs Good Pets?
If the above question lingers in your mind and you still don’t have a clear answer, let me make it easy for you.
The answer to the question is a definite yes!
Telex guinea pigs have adorable qualities that make them good pets to keep.
They are small, friendly, and very social creatures.
Their looks also give them an edge over other pets.
Guinea pigs are also spotless animals.
It would help if you rarely bathed them, and as a warning, don’t ever wash them unless circumstances force you to wash.
Washing them may result in dry skin and coat.
On many occasions, the pets will groom themselves, but this should not prevent them from caring for them.
Ensure you groom them as required.
Should You Consider Keeping A Guinea Pig?
The decision to consider raising a Texel guinea pig is a personal decision that depends on many factors.
If you are not sure of your decision, then providing an answer to the following questions can lead you in the right direction.
How Much Time Do You Have To Spare for Caring?
Telex guinea pigs are delicate animals.
They need a lot of care, including feeding, grooming, stroking them, engaging them in exercise, and monitoring their weight and health.
If you don’t have time for this, then consider changing your mind.
Is A Guinea Pig A Suitable Pet For Your Family?
If you have a family, raising a pet would require their support.
Your family will share the same space with your pet, so they need to be willing to support you in caring for the pet.
Do You Have Enough Finances To Cater To The Pet?
Finances play a primary role in raising your pet in a healthy and relaxed environment.
You need to buy food, create a cage for your pet, buy toys and occasionally take your pet for a visit to the vet.
All these activities will need you to put some cash aside to cater to your pet.
Final Thoughts
Keeping a pet has been proven to have positive effects, and so the extra care the texel guinea pig requires should not deter you from keeping on.
But to raise your cavy well, take time to learn as much as possible before you make the brave step of keeping one.
Once you get one in your home, you will get accustomed to it, and you will have a great time with your Texel pig.
They are tiny, cute, lovely home pets that can contribute a lot to your mood.
All in all, we hope that this article helped you to learn more about your future pet.
