Lethal White Guinea Pig

[Laurensamantha9]

Hi,

I have just found out about lethal white guinea pigs and think i have one.

Ghost is three months old and we got her from a family friend. She is tiny (375g), pure white with red eyes. We are pretty sure she is blind and deaf. She tilts her head to the side a lot and she was born without bottom incisors. She had her top two incisors removed at 6 weeks old because they were so long but hasnt seemed to have any further teeth problems since *touch wood*

She is eating fine although sometimes we have to hand feed her (because of the no teeth thing) and she loves to run around and explore so she seems happy enough. She is putting on a steady 25g a week.

I'm just concerned because of this lethal white thing. Does anyone have any advice?

She is really flighty when we try to hold her and scrambles for her cage, is there any advice on how to keep her calm with us even though we think she cant see or hear us?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi,

I have just found out about lethal white guinea pigs and think i have one.

Ghost is three months old and we got her from a family friend. She is tiny (375g), pure white with red eyes. We are pretty sure she is blind and deaf. She tilts her head to the side a lot and she was born without bottom incisors. She had her top two incisors removed at 6 weeks old because they were so long but hasnt seemed to have any further teeth problems since *touch wood*

She is eating fine although sometimes we have to hand feed her (because of the no teeth thing) and she loves to run around and explore so she seems happy enough. She is putting on a steady 25g a week.

I'm just concerned because of this lethal white thing. Does anyone have any advice?

She is really flighty when we try to hold her and scrambles for her cage, is there any advice on how to keep her calm with us even though we think she cant see or hear us?

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It sounds rather like a lethal. if they are not too badly affected, they can live to 4-5 years of age and have a happy, normal, enriched life. They other senses are supersharp and compensate for those they don't have.
You have to work through touch and smell mostly. Lethals can climb, popcorn, run and know exactly where they are just by smell and touch, so you don't have to be afraid about changing the layout.

You may find these links here helpful:
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/roans-dalmatians-and-lethals-explained.51194/

How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig
How To Understand Guinea Pig Instincts And Speak Piggy Body Language (you may find using guinea pig body language by touch helpful)

A UK sanctuary that is caring for guinea pigs with chronic dental problems and which is looking after several lethals; you may find their videos interesting: https://www.facebook.com/teasnorthampton/
@furryfriends (TEAS)