Post by Dawn - Admin on Nov 2, 2005 11:58:30 GMT
Guinea Pig Dictionary, courtisy of comfycavies
Abyssinian - These are a rough-coated breed with up to eight rosettes all the body.
Afterbirth - The placenta tissue shed after giving birth. The new mother will eat this as it contains valuable nutrients which help to stimulate her milk production.
Agouti - The colour of the original, wild guinea pig. Each hair has two seperate bands of colour with the tips being lighter than the shafts. This gives the coat a fleckedor speckled appearance similar to that of wild rabbits.
Alfalfa - A plant used as a food source for guinea pigs as hay and in pelleted food. See also:
Breeding
Feeding
Alpaca - A Peruvian guinea pig which carries the Rex gene, causing the coat to be curly. See also:
Breeds
American - Name used in the United States for smooth coated guinea pigs.
American Crested - Unlike the English Crested cavy, the rosette of the American Crested is white. Again, the body can be of a variety of colours.
Ascorbic acid - Vitamin C
Belly band - The non-ticked area of an agouti.
boar A male guinea pig.
Bonnet strings - Streaks of non-ticked hair coming down from the chin on an Agouti - considered a fault by judges at cavy shows.
Book steward (UK) - The judge's assistant at shows helps by recording placings and comments. In America this person is usually referred to as the "clerk".
Bumblefoot A condition in which a guinea pig's foot pads become swollen and painful when bacteria enters small lesions.
Caecotrophes - A soft stool produced by guinea pigs as the result of bacterial fermentation in the hind gut. Rich in protein and vitamins (particularly vitamin K and various B vitamins) , guinea pigs usually eat these stools directly as they leave the anus - see coprophagy. Guinea pigs can produce up to 150 caecotrophes each day.
Impacted Anus
Cataract - A cloudy white film covering the lens of the eye.
Carry box - A small, specially made box used for transporting guinea pigs. See also:
Handling
Cavia porcellus - The scientific Latin name for the domestic guinea pig.
Cavy - A tailess rodent from South America - the "proper" name for guinea pigs
Clerk (Am.) - The judge's assistant at shows helps by recording placings and comments. In Britain, this person is usually referred to as the "Book Steward".
Cloudy tears - A milky discharge that appears in the corner of the eyen when irritated and needs flushing out.
Collagen A protein found in the bones that is necessary for growth and development.
Comment card - A card used by clerks at shows to record the judge's remarks.
Coprophagy - Term used when a guinea pig eats his own droppings in order to re-absorb valuable vitamins.
Coronet - A Coronet is basically a Sheltie but with a crest on the head.
Crest - A single rosette of hair on the top of a guinea pig's head as in a Coronet or Crested (American or English) cavy.
Diastema Rodents have no canine teeth, instead there is a gap (called the diastema) between the incisors and the premolars. This allows the rodent to push its cheek into the gap and separate the front part of the mouth from the rear. It can then gnaw and select what food items it wishes to allow into the rear of the mouth and thus the digestive system.
Dilute - The lighter shade of a dark colour such as black or brown.
Diurnal - An animal which is awake during the day - as opposed to a nocturnal animal which is active at night.
Duncan-Hartley - A special line of white guinea pigs bred for use in laboratories for medical research.
Dystocia - Female guinea pigs intended for breeding must be first bred before 7 months of age. If the first breeding is delayed beyond this time, serious (sometimes life-threatening) problems with delivery are encountered. A portion of the pregnant sow's pelvis must widen for successful delivery of her young. This separation fails to develop in females bred for the first time after 7 months of age, usually necessitating a cesarean section to deliver the young and save the sow's life. Signs of dystocia include straining and uterine bleeding. Veterinary help must be sought immediately.
Ear tag - A temporary adhesive label placed on the ear used to identify guinea pigs at shows.
English European - name for smooth coated guinea pigs.
English Crested - The circular rosette (crest) on the head of the English Crested variety is of the same colour as the body coat (which can be of a variety of colours).
Estrus - The period of time when a sow is capable of conceiving.
Fancy - The term given to the interest or hobby of breeding and showing guinea pigs.
Fatty eye - A small protrusion of fat around the inside of the eyelid. A harmless condition, but one which causes much concern for unaware owners. This is a result of a guinea pig being well fed! Cutting back on food will not help, although you could try giving more fresh veg and less cereals.
Free-range - Guinea pigs living in apartments or gardens with free access to roam and explore a large area as opposed to living in hutches or cages.
Frontal - The long fringe of hair which falls forward, covering a Peruvian's face.
Gestation - The length of time for a pregnancy from conception to birth. See also:
Breeding
Grease spot - A grease gland is situated on the guinea pig's rump - a spot of stick hair caused by secretions used for scenting territory and other pigs. The grease can become quite hard and smelly and requires cleaning when grooming.
Gurney, Peter Author of a number of books on guinea pig care and recognised internationally as a leading authority on them.
Hand rearing - Pups which have been either orphaned or abandoned by their mother and hand raised by their human owners.
Impaction - A condition affecting some older boars who are no longer able to pass soft droppings which become trapped in the skin fold of the anus, causing a painful lump. If left uncleared the anal canal will eventually become blocked.
Incisor - The long front teeth of a guinea pig. Since these teeth grow constantly throughout the pig's life material on which they can gnaw is essential to prevent them from from over-growing.
In-pig - Term used to describe a pregnant guinea pig.
Intermediate - 5/8 At shows, young guinea pigs between 5 and 8 months.
Judges - The person(s) at a show who examines guinea pigs for health, cleanliness, breed standard etc, and decides which to award 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions in each group and class.
Judging time - This is the time at a show by which all pigs should be penned and exhibited, the judges call for the first pigs to be examined and the show really gets underway!
Junior / U5 Show - class of young guinea pigs up to 5 months old.
Lethal recessive or lethal gene - A gene mutation which creates a condition that is harmful to an animal.
Malocclusion - Improper alignment of the teeth.
Marked - Guinea pigs with specific patterns and colourings arranged in an orderly fashion such as the Harlequin or Dutch breeds.
Merino - A crested Texel.
Mites - Tiny parasites which can burrow into the skin and inside the ears causing itching, irritation, hair loss and sores.
Molars - The guinea pig's back teeth, used for grinding.
Nesting box - A small hay-filled wooden box placed inside a cage for hiding and sleeping in.
Neutering - A surgical procedure in which a boar's reproductive organs are removed in order that he can no longer sire young. Some vets and owners also believe that this will help calm the behaviour of some males.
Oestrus - A sow's season when she is capable of conceiving.
Otoscope - Instrument used by a vet to look inside the mouth and ears.
Pecking order - A system of rank (usually with a dominant male at the top of the order) amongst guinea pigs living in small groups.
Pedigree - A purebred cavy's recorded family line.
Pellets - Prepared guinea pig food that is the basis of their diet.
Penning - The penning time at a show refers to the time at which you should arrive with your pigs to have them booked in, and placed in their pens before judging starts.
Phoberomys Pattersoni - Name given to a now extinct ancestor of the guinea pigs which roamed South America 8 million years ago and grew to be 9ft tall! :
Peruvian - A long-haired guinea pig - the hair falls over the face and around the body. Long haired pigs such as this are not recommended as domestic pets for children or any but the most dedicated fancier because of the large amount of grooming required.
Points - The extremities of a guinea pig's body - the ears, nose, and feet - that are sometimes darker than the rest of the body (for example in the Himalayan).
Popcorning - The peculiar little hops and bounces that a guinea pig does when feeling happy with life.
Pups - Baby guinea pigs.
Quick - The living tissue inside the toenails.
Rare variety - Any of a new breed of guinea pig yet to be recognised officially by the governing bodies of the cavy fancies. These currently include (in the UK) - Magpie, Fox, and Teddy.
Rex - Breed of guinea pig with a short, curly coat. The Rex is sometimes confused with the American "Teddy" breed which looks almost identical but is genetically different.
Rosette - A swirl of hair such as the crest on the head of a Crested guinea pig, or the body of an Abyssinain.
Rosettes of a rather different kind are also awarded to winners at shows!
Run - An enclosed outdoor area (often fold-away and storable) in which caged pets can enjoy some fresh air and excercise on the lawn.
Satin - A variety of guinea pig with hollow hair shafts that reflect light, giving its coat a glossy look.
Scurvy - A deficiency in Vitamin C in both humans and guinea pigs causes a condition known as scurvy, resulting in dry, crusty skin and hair loss. Since the symptoms of scurvy can easily be confused with mite infestations you should seek the advice of your vet if your guinea pig shows any of these symptoms.
Self - A variety of cavy with a coat which is the same colour over the entire body.
Senior /adult - A cavy over 8 months old.
Sheltie - A long-haired breed similar to the Peruvian, but with the hair growing back from the face and around the body.
Silky - The North American name for the Sheltie.
Sipper tube - The device on a water bottle containing a ball bearing, from which the caged guinea pig can get his drink.
Slaves - The owners of guinea pigs often refer to themselves as "Slaves" - constantly feeding, cleaning and caring for their beloved pets!
Slicker - A soft, wire brush used for grooming thick coated cavies.
Smooth coat - A guinea pig with short, smooth hair.
Sodium ascorbate - Vitamin C crystals.
Sow - A female guinea pig.
Standard (of perfection) - A guideline by which purebreed guinea pigs are judged at shows.
Standards committee - A group of people in a cavy club who decide whether or not a new breed is to be accepted, or standardised.
Stewards - Assist at cavy shows, fetching and returning guinea pigs from their pens to the judging table.
Styptic powder - A clotting agent to safely stop bleeding from a toenail which has been cut too short or for minor wounds.
Sweep - The long hair that flows past the sides and rump of a guinea pig.
Teddy - A guinea pig originally bred in North America, but recentley arrived in Britain with kinked, plush hair. Very similar in appearance to the Rex but genetically different.
Texel - A longhaired breed of guinea pig - a rexed sheltie - the long curly coat falling in ringlets around the body.
Timothy Hay - Grass from which the hay commonly used for guinea pigs is made from.
Vaginal plug - A whitish mass formed by the boar after mating and shed by the sow after a few hours.
"Wheek!" - The noise made by guinea pigs when they hear bags rustling and telling them that food is on the way!
www.comfycavies.com/Info/dictionary.htm
Abyssinian - These are a rough-coated breed with up to eight rosettes all the body.
Afterbirth - The placenta tissue shed after giving birth. The new mother will eat this as it contains valuable nutrients which help to stimulate her milk production.
Agouti - The colour of the original, wild guinea pig. Each hair has two seperate bands of colour with the tips being lighter than the shafts. This gives the coat a fleckedor speckled appearance similar to that of wild rabbits.
Alfalfa - A plant used as a food source for guinea pigs as hay and in pelleted food. See also:
Breeding
Feeding
Alpaca - A Peruvian guinea pig which carries the Rex gene, causing the coat to be curly. See also:
Breeds
American - Name used in the United States for smooth coated guinea pigs.
American Crested - Unlike the English Crested cavy, the rosette of the American Crested is white. Again, the body can be of a variety of colours.
Ascorbic acid - Vitamin C
Belly band - The non-ticked area of an agouti.
boar A male guinea pig.
Bonnet strings - Streaks of non-ticked hair coming down from the chin on an Agouti - considered a fault by judges at cavy shows.
Book steward (UK) - The judge's assistant at shows helps by recording placings and comments. In America this person is usually referred to as the "clerk".
Bumblefoot A condition in which a guinea pig's foot pads become swollen and painful when bacteria enters small lesions.
Caecotrophes - A soft stool produced by guinea pigs as the result of bacterial fermentation in the hind gut. Rich in protein and vitamins (particularly vitamin K and various B vitamins) , guinea pigs usually eat these stools directly as they leave the anus - see coprophagy. Guinea pigs can produce up to 150 caecotrophes each day.
Impacted Anus
Cataract - A cloudy white film covering the lens of the eye.
Carry box - A small, specially made box used for transporting guinea pigs. See also:
Handling
Cavia porcellus - The scientific Latin name for the domestic guinea pig.
Cavy - A tailess rodent from South America - the "proper" name for guinea pigs
Clerk (Am.) - The judge's assistant at shows helps by recording placings and comments. In Britain, this person is usually referred to as the "Book Steward".
Cloudy tears - A milky discharge that appears in the corner of the eyen when irritated and needs flushing out.
Collagen A protein found in the bones that is necessary for growth and development.
Comment card - A card used by clerks at shows to record the judge's remarks.
Coprophagy - Term used when a guinea pig eats his own droppings in order to re-absorb valuable vitamins.
Coronet - A Coronet is basically a Sheltie but with a crest on the head.
Crest - A single rosette of hair on the top of a guinea pig's head as in a Coronet or Crested (American or English) cavy.
Diastema Rodents have no canine teeth, instead there is a gap (called the diastema) between the incisors and the premolars. This allows the rodent to push its cheek into the gap and separate the front part of the mouth from the rear. It can then gnaw and select what food items it wishes to allow into the rear of the mouth and thus the digestive system.
Dilute - The lighter shade of a dark colour such as black or brown.
Diurnal - An animal which is awake during the day - as opposed to a nocturnal animal which is active at night.
Duncan-Hartley - A special line of white guinea pigs bred for use in laboratories for medical research.
Dystocia - Female guinea pigs intended for breeding must be first bred before 7 months of age. If the first breeding is delayed beyond this time, serious (sometimes life-threatening) problems with delivery are encountered. A portion of the pregnant sow's pelvis must widen for successful delivery of her young. This separation fails to develop in females bred for the first time after 7 months of age, usually necessitating a cesarean section to deliver the young and save the sow's life. Signs of dystocia include straining and uterine bleeding. Veterinary help must be sought immediately.
Ear tag - A temporary adhesive label placed on the ear used to identify guinea pigs at shows.
English European - name for smooth coated guinea pigs.
English Crested - The circular rosette (crest) on the head of the English Crested variety is of the same colour as the body coat (which can be of a variety of colours).
Estrus - The period of time when a sow is capable of conceiving.
Fancy - The term given to the interest or hobby of breeding and showing guinea pigs.
Fatty eye - A small protrusion of fat around the inside of the eyelid. A harmless condition, but one which causes much concern for unaware owners. This is a result of a guinea pig being well fed! Cutting back on food will not help, although you could try giving more fresh veg and less cereals.
Free-range - Guinea pigs living in apartments or gardens with free access to roam and explore a large area as opposed to living in hutches or cages.
Frontal - The long fringe of hair which falls forward, covering a Peruvian's face.
Gestation - The length of time for a pregnancy from conception to birth. See also:
Breeding
Grease spot - A grease gland is situated on the guinea pig's rump - a spot of stick hair caused by secretions used for scenting territory and other pigs. The grease can become quite hard and smelly and requires cleaning when grooming.
Gurney, Peter Author of a number of books on guinea pig care and recognised internationally as a leading authority on them.
Hand rearing - Pups which have been either orphaned or abandoned by their mother and hand raised by their human owners.
Impaction - A condition affecting some older boars who are no longer able to pass soft droppings which become trapped in the skin fold of the anus, causing a painful lump. If left uncleared the anal canal will eventually become blocked.
Incisor - The long front teeth of a guinea pig. Since these teeth grow constantly throughout the pig's life material on which they can gnaw is essential to prevent them from from over-growing.
In-pig - Term used to describe a pregnant guinea pig.
Intermediate - 5/8 At shows, young guinea pigs between 5 and 8 months.
Judges - The person(s) at a show who examines guinea pigs for health, cleanliness, breed standard etc, and decides which to award 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions in each group and class.
Judging time - This is the time at a show by which all pigs should be penned and exhibited, the judges call for the first pigs to be examined and the show really gets underway!
Junior / U5 Show - class of young guinea pigs up to 5 months old.
Lethal recessive or lethal gene - A gene mutation which creates a condition that is harmful to an animal.
Malocclusion - Improper alignment of the teeth.
Marked - Guinea pigs with specific patterns and colourings arranged in an orderly fashion such as the Harlequin or Dutch breeds.
Merino - A crested Texel.
Mites - Tiny parasites which can burrow into the skin and inside the ears causing itching, irritation, hair loss and sores.
Molars - The guinea pig's back teeth, used for grinding.
Nesting box - A small hay-filled wooden box placed inside a cage for hiding and sleeping in.
Neutering - A surgical procedure in which a boar's reproductive organs are removed in order that he can no longer sire young. Some vets and owners also believe that this will help calm the behaviour of some males.
Oestrus - A sow's season when she is capable of conceiving.
Otoscope - Instrument used by a vet to look inside the mouth and ears.
Pecking order - A system of rank (usually with a dominant male at the top of the order) amongst guinea pigs living in small groups.
Pedigree - A purebred cavy's recorded family line.
Pellets - Prepared guinea pig food that is the basis of their diet.
Penning - The penning time at a show refers to the time at which you should arrive with your pigs to have them booked in, and placed in their pens before judging starts.
Phoberomys Pattersoni - Name given to a now extinct ancestor of the guinea pigs which roamed South America 8 million years ago and grew to be 9ft tall! :
Peruvian - A long-haired guinea pig - the hair falls over the face and around the body. Long haired pigs such as this are not recommended as domestic pets for children or any but the most dedicated fancier because of the large amount of grooming required.
Points - The extremities of a guinea pig's body - the ears, nose, and feet - that are sometimes darker than the rest of the body (for example in the Himalayan).
Popcorning - The peculiar little hops and bounces that a guinea pig does when feeling happy with life.
Pups - Baby guinea pigs.
Quick - The living tissue inside the toenails.
Rare variety - Any of a new breed of guinea pig yet to be recognised officially by the governing bodies of the cavy fancies. These currently include (in the UK) - Magpie, Fox, and Teddy.
Rex - Breed of guinea pig with a short, curly coat. The Rex is sometimes confused with the American "Teddy" breed which looks almost identical but is genetically different.
Rosette - A swirl of hair such as the crest on the head of a Crested guinea pig, or the body of an Abyssinain.
Rosettes of a rather different kind are also awarded to winners at shows!
Run - An enclosed outdoor area (often fold-away and storable) in which caged pets can enjoy some fresh air and excercise on the lawn.
Satin - A variety of guinea pig with hollow hair shafts that reflect light, giving its coat a glossy look.
Scurvy - A deficiency in Vitamin C in both humans and guinea pigs causes a condition known as scurvy, resulting in dry, crusty skin and hair loss. Since the symptoms of scurvy can easily be confused with mite infestations you should seek the advice of your vet if your guinea pig shows any of these symptoms.
Self - A variety of cavy with a coat which is the same colour over the entire body.
Senior /adult - A cavy over 8 months old.
Sheltie - A long-haired breed similar to the Peruvian, but with the hair growing back from the face and around the body.
Silky - The North American name for the Sheltie.
Sipper tube - The device on a water bottle containing a ball bearing, from which the caged guinea pig can get his drink.
Slaves - The owners of guinea pigs often refer to themselves as "Slaves" - constantly feeding, cleaning and caring for their beloved pets!
Slicker - A soft, wire brush used for grooming thick coated cavies.
Smooth coat - A guinea pig with short, smooth hair.
Sodium ascorbate - Vitamin C crystals.
Sow - A female guinea pig.
Standard (of perfection) - A guideline by which purebreed guinea pigs are judged at shows.
Standards committee - A group of people in a cavy club who decide whether or not a new breed is to be accepted, or standardised.
Stewards - Assist at cavy shows, fetching and returning guinea pigs from their pens to the judging table.
Styptic powder - A clotting agent to safely stop bleeding from a toenail which has been cut too short or for minor wounds.
Sweep - The long hair that flows past the sides and rump of a guinea pig.
Teddy - A guinea pig originally bred in North America, but recentley arrived in Britain with kinked, plush hair. Very similar in appearance to the Rex but genetically different.
Texel - A longhaired breed of guinea pig - a rexed sheltie - the long curly coat falling in ringlets around the body.
Timothy Hay - Grass from which the hay commonly used for guinea pigs is made from.
Vaginal plug - A whitish mass formed by the boar after mating and shed by the sow after a few hours.
"Wheek!" - The noise made by guinea pigs when they hear bags rustling and telling them that food is on the way!
www.comfycavies.com/Info/dictionary.htm
