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Guinea Pig Breed Guide

by Lianne McLeod, DVM
for About.com

3 of 9

Peruvian Guinea Pig

Peruvian Guinea Pigs - Brownie and Ash

Brownie and Ash

Photo Courtesy of Kevin
The Peruvian coat is smooth and straight, and grows to several inches in length. The hair naturally parts down the center of the back, and also grows forward over the head.

The dense, soft coat of the Peruvian requires a great deal of grooming, and many owners of Peruvian guinea pigs end up trimming the hair to keep it manageable (if the guinea pig is to be shown, wraps can be used to keep the hair from getting tangled or soiled).

The ACBA also recognizes the Peruvian Satin (again, referring to the shiny quality of the coat).

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