Skinny Guinea Pig – Description, Breeding, Care and Maintenance

There are many breeds of gorgeous guinea pigs – some with long silky hair, others with short hair, some guinea pigs have unusual characteristics and some even have no hair on their bodies and are simply bald!

These adorable looking bald guinea pigs cannot be found in the wild as they are the result of experiments done in a lab. These funny little creatures are actually the results of genetic mutations that were first created in 1978 in the laboratories of the Armand Frappier Institute based in Montreal, Canada.

Skinny guinea pigs, as these furless guinea pigs are called, have gained a lot of popularity in recent times, although animal rescue organizations have published some words of caution, concerned about their welfare, which is of course understandable.

Skinny guinea pigs need a lot of special care

Since skinnies have no fur, except for their noses and a little on their legs, they must be kept in a warm room. Since they do not have fur that naturally keeps them warm when it is cold, skinnies are very susceptible and can easily catch colds or even hypothermia. Their indoor cages should be cozy. We should make sure that they never feel the cold.

During the warmer summer months, you need to be careful not to let your bald guinea pig get sunburned. Therefore, if you take them outside, you should apply sunscreen to their bodies and faces, taking special care not to get the cream in their eyes.

Skinny pigs are popular among allergy sufferers

These hairless guinea pigs have become incredibly popular with people who otherwise could not keep pets due to allergies they suffer from. I can not have contact with animal fur. More and more people who love animals but who could not be around them due to allergies are now the proud owners of skinny guinea pigs.

Being such fun, friendly and curious little creatures, skinny pigs have made their mark on the animal world, with breeders now found all over the world. Because skinny pigs have to live indoors, they truly become part of the family much like a cat or dog. Because they have no fur on their bodies, every little thing about their body is clearly visible, including any marks, including where fur could grow. However, skinny pigs do have some fur on their noses and paws, but other than these areas, they are absolutely furless from the moment they are born.

Skinny pigs come in a variety of skin pigmentations, including chocolate, cinnamon, silver, lilac, white, gold, and even albinos and Dalmatians! These adorable markings consist of black spots on white skin. By far the most popular color among skinny pig lovers is chocolate.

Here are some interesting facts about skinny pigs

• Skinny pigs are born without fur – and stay that way. The only fur they have, even as they get older, is on their noses and paws.
• Guinea pigs cannot live outside because they feel the cold too much. Since they have no fur, they must live in a warm, heated home.
• If you let your bald guinea pig out in the garden in the summer, you'll need to apply sunscreen to protect its delicate skin from burning - a sun protection factor of 50+ is ideal.
• Skinny pigs have a higher metabolism than furry guinea pigs because they need to maintain body heat. This means they eat a lot more food. They even munch all day if they can!
• Skinny guinea pigs can be a lot messier than their furry counterparts – which means you’ll need to clean up after them more often.
• Skinny pigs can be much louder than their furry counterparts!
• Skinny Guinea Pigs are very quick learners and pick up on things quite quickly, especially the sound of a fridge door opening or the rustling of a bag that may contain food – they will soon let you know they have heard what is going on, even from across the room!
• The Skinny Guinea Pig, like his furry brothers and sisters, are super fun little animals, and each one has their own unique personality!
• Skinny pigs started life as the result of genetic experimentation, but today these adorable little animals with such big character are ethically bred.
• Skinny guinea pigs, if well cared for, can live up to six years.
• The Skinny Guinea Pig loves the company of other guinea pigs of the same breed and loves to attract attention from its owners.
• Hairless guinea pigs, if treated well from birth, make extremely affectionate family pets, with the male gender often being more loving than the female.

If you want to learn more about skinny pigs, the best place to go is the internet, where you can find reputable breeders who absolutely adore these adorable little animals that were created in a lab in Canada. You need to be prepared to set up the indoor cage in a warm spot in your home and make sure your guinea pig never gets cold.

Another thing to remember is that skinny pigs have a faster metabolism than their furry brothers and sisters, so they eat a lot more food, which means they are more expensive to keep. So you need to be prepared to pay more for the privilege of owning a skinny pig – and since they are always much happier when they have their own kind, you need to invest in two wonderful little rodents!