Discoloration of the fur?

Question

Some of my guinea pig's fur is chaging colors otherwise fading to sord of like a light brown when her fur is dark brown.It doesnt look bad,but is it?PLEASE HELP!

Answer 1

Is she a baby? They will often get lighter colored coats as they age. If she's an adult, I can't think of anything bad that causes a color change. If she is exposed to sunlight, that can bleach the hair a lighter color. Make sure she is getting enough vitamin C every day!

Answer 2

I agree with the previous post some colors such as with the Satin breeds will start out as a darker variation of the color and as they age usually about 8 weeks or so they start to come into their adult color. Also most piggies which are agouties are born with their tipping (ticking) color, however it is not uncommon to develop heavier ticking as the piggie gets older especially on the feet. And this may give the illusion of the pig getting lighter.

Another such instance is if there is any barbering, which is when the pig itself or the cage mate eats strands of the hair, no the whole strand, but about half of it leaving the lighter undercolor to show through.

Answer 3

I can only speak for the kind of rodents I'm familiar with.

With gerbils, changes in fur color and patterns developing or changing over time is perfectly normal. It's part of aging. You can come home with a brown one and end up with one whose fur color turns peach.

I Googled and found this:

"As a baby matures he goes through fur change and often by blowing into the top fur you will notice 4 distinct colour rings, i.e. light brown top fur, slate grey, darker brown and slate grey. A baby is normally always lighter than it parents, and as they moult from their juvenile coats to their adult coats this should change colour as well falling (not always) in line with the parents."