General Faults {All Breeds}

Faults are shortcomings or imperfections that detract from the general appearance of the animal.  Specimen shedding or otherwise out of condition (but not diseased).  Urine stains.  Broken toenails.  Poor ear carriage.  Poor eye color.  Flabby or over fat.  Thin and extremely poor flesh.  Eye circles.  Stray colored hairs in all varieties.  Slit or torn ears.

NOTE:  Where, in the judge's opinion, the ears are torn or ripped due to insertion of eartag, it is recommended that the cavy not be penalized.

General Disqualifications from Competition {All Breeds}

Animals disqualified from competition are ineligible for registration.   Those disqualifications from competition that are judgmental in nature are indicated by an asterisk (*), and are not subject  to protest.  Under all disqualifying causes, the specimen shall have the benefit of the doubt.

Colds *, pot belly, vent disease *, sore eyes *, noticeably running eyes, if severe or conspicuous *.  Any diseased specimen *, boils *, abscess or any raw or infected sore *, bare spot or spots where there should be hair *, bare spots not in normal pattern behind ears *.

Mange, or a scurvy condition with large flakes resembling dandruff or scale at the roots of the hair *; fungus growth, causing scabby condition (e.g., ringworm)*.

A heavy infestation of parasites:  mites, lice, ticks, etc.*

Impacted boars *.  Broken or missing tooth/teeth *.

Sows heavy with young *.  Incorrect class weight *. Incorrect color variety *.  Lack of permanent identification in left ear with ARBA approved eartag (size 001 or 003 monel metal eartags as manufactured by National Band & Tag, Newport, KY).

Any cavy entered in the wrong class by sex, variety or breed.

Patches of foreign hair color consisting of 6 or more hairs in all color varieties *; patches of foreign skin color*, i.e., where the color does not correspond to the variety (agouti skin color to match base color) of the hair growing from it.   White toenail or nails in self, solid, and agouti colored varieties except when called for *.  Any deformities, such as crooked legs, or other than four toes on front feet and three toes on hind feet.  Full toenail missing where color cannot be determined *.  Reds with black ears or feet *.  Rosettes or part of rosettes in any part of the coat of Americans, Silkie, Teddy, American Satin, Silkie Satin, Teddy Satin, or white Crested *.  Side whiskers * (rosettes or parts of rosettes).

Ridges of hair not laying flat on smooth coated animals *(not necessarily part of a rosette).  NOTE: Areas of the chest and groin where hair grows from different directions naturally must come together and should not be considered ridges.

Pea eye.  Eyes other than color called for.  Mismatched eyes.   Spots or specks in iris of eye.  Wall eyes.  Very small eyes *.  One eye smaller than the other.  Rotated eyeballs producing squint eyes.  Lack of eyes on either or both sides. Blindness in one or both eyes *.

Unworthy of an Award {All Breeds}

When any cavy is not of the quality to be placed (on the basis of type, color, condition, or coat), a notation shall be made by the judge, "Unworthy of An Award".  If, in his opinion, the animal would be placed in good competition, it shall be given 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th.  It shall either be worthy of a first with only one in a class, or not be placed with the above remark.  It is possible that more than one cavy competing in the same class can be determined to be "Unworthy of An Award".  "Unworthy of An Award" changes the number shown in the class.