Possible lethal white baby?
Hi guys, I'm new to the forums and am seeking some help!
A few weeks ago I purchased two lovely guinea pigs from a breeder that was liquidating his stock. The sow is a tri-color roan, and the boar a chocolate Dalmatian. He told me that they had been caged together for a time, and that the sow might be pregnant. Having had several pet pigs over the years but having never been a breeder, I didn't know at the time the possible ramifications of breeding two pigs of these genetic makeups.
I've read quite a lot at this point about the lethal white babies that can occur when two copies of the roan allele are inherited, and I'm so disappointed that a proclaimed breeder would take that risk.
Last night Charlotte had three lovely babies - with one being solid white with pink eyes. I nearly cried. He/she appears physically normal, and is not the smallest of the three. The eyes appear normal in size/shape, and from what I can tell this baby is not blind or deaf. I have not been able to check to see if the incisors are normal, though.
My question is, are all white/pink eyed babies born to two roan parents 'lethal'? Or is there a possibility that some of them can be normal with no issues?
A few weeks ago I purchased two lovely guinea pigs from a breeder that was liquidating his stock. The sow is a tri-color roan, and the boar a chocolate Dalmatian. He told me that they had been caged together for a time, and that the sow might be pregnant. Having had several pet pigs over the years but having never been a breeder, I didn't know at the time the possible ramifications of breeding two pigs of these genetic makeups.
I've read quite a lot at this point about the lethal white babies that can occur when two copies of the roan allele are inherited, and I'm so disappointed that a proclaimed breeder would take that risk.
Last night Charlotte had three lovely babies - with one being solid white with pink eyes. I nearly cried. He/she appears physically normal, and is not the smallest of the three. The eyes appear normal in size/shape, and from what I can tell this baby is not blind or deaf. I have not been able to check to see if the incisors are normal, though.
My question is, are all white/pink eyed babies born to two roan parents 'lethal'? Or is there a possibility that some of them can be normal with no issues?
This is mom's last litter. I'll either be keeping the babies or adopting them out to family members who will keep them as pets only. Thank you!
- PinkRufus
- Contributor in 2020
Hopefully your little one is just a PEW, but be on the lookout for any other signs of lethal white syndrome. It can have varying degrees of severity. Definitely have his/her teeth checked and possibly have an x-ray done to screen for other defects. I would weigh him/her daily to make sure he/she is getting enough, especially once he/she is weaned.
It was very irresponsible of that breeder to put a roan in with a dalmatian. By liquidating his stock, do you mean he is getting out of breeding? I hope so!
It was very irresponsible of that breeder to put a roan in with a dalmatian. By liquidating his stock, do you mean he is getting out of breeding? I hope so!
- PinkRufus
- Contributor in 2020
The lethal white gene can affect more than just sight and hearing, it can affect any of the nerve functions. The white hair on a lethal is because of the lack of nerve functioning (it's not just white hair), they can also have dental issues or missing teeth. Of course it is possible to have a regular PEW born to roan, but in this situation, I would err on the side of caution and have him/her checked out.