Things I Have Noticed About Teddy Guinea Pigs

[4GorgeousGuineas]

I have had 2 teddy guinea pigs since I first became a piggy momma and I have noticed some odd things about the breed that seem different than other breeds. Firstly both of my teddies had foot spurs despite being on fleece and vet bed, none of my other pigs have ever had foot spurs even though they have all received the same care. Another thing I have noticed about teddy pigs is that they seem really prone to waxy ears so I have to use ear drops to keep the wax down whereas my other pigs don’t have much wax at all. Lastly, both teddy pigs I have had have suffered from dry skin that gets flaky and isn’t due to mites or fungal. Has anyone else experienced things like this with their teddies?

 

[Freela]

I actually haven't had teddies, but I have had abyssinians with foot spurs and short-haired pigs with foot spurs, so I wouldn't necessarily chalk that up to being a teddy! Hopefully someone can give you some insight on the other things.

 

[Betsy]

Dennis is a Teddy Pig and I have had him nearly 3 years. He doesn't have anything you mentioned that your Teddies have.

 

[DM030819]

@4GorgeousGuineas Alot of my pigs have/had foot spurs so that's not a Teddy thing.

I've only had one Teddy so I don't have a lot of evidence for you but he did have very scurfy dry skin. He had mites once and it took quite a long time for his skin to settle. But even generally his skin was drier. We used a few Gorgeous Guineas melts on him.

I can't remember his ears being any waxier than other pigs but he did have problems with blocked tear ducts. I think that was unique to him though not a trait of the breed.

 

[VickiA]

I’ve had teddies, too and the only thing they all had in common apart from their rough coat was that they all had drier skin than other piggies. But nothing that wasn’t manageable with regular care. Foot spurs definitely aren’t breed specific, I’ve had them in many piggies, but only one of my teddies had them. I think it has more to do with weight and possibly their lives before I had them (all have been rescues).

 

[Hank288]

I have noticed this with one of mine as well. A few of my pigs have foot spurs but my teddies are particularly bad.

Teddies can be prone to drier skin and dirtier ears (more ear wax). this does not mean that all teddies will have these problems but it can be more prevalent.

Both of my teddies have drier skin than the rest of my piggies.

 

[4GorgeousGuineas]

Does anyone know the cause of foot spurs? My piggies are on vet bed so not walking around on wet bedding at all. My current teddy only gets spurs on his front paws and I trim them off with nail clippers when they get too long.

 

[Freela]

Does anyone know the cause of foot spurs? My piggies are on vet bed so not walking around on wet bedding at all. My current teddy only gets spurs on his front paws and I trim them off with nail clippers when they get too long.

It's supposed to be pretty random. I have had pigs living in the same cage, same food, same bedding, same everything, one with foot spurs and one without. I think it's just like some people are more prone to callus than others. I've heard a theory that it can be connected to weight, but I'm not convinced, I've had large pigs without foot spurs and an itty bitty pig with them.