Content
- Origin of Skinny Guinea Pig
- Skinny Guinea Pig Characteristics
- Skinny Guinea Pig Personality
- Skinny Guinea Pig Care
- Skinny Guinea Pig Health
There are many guinea pig breeds, each with its own peculiarities, the special characteristics that make each breed unique and different from the others. In the case of Skinny guinea pigs, this difference is noticeable at first glance, since they are furless pigs, but that doesn't mean they don't have different colors, there are also some differences with other breeds of piglets that are also categorized as bald. Want to know what these are Skinny guinea pig characteristics? At PeritoAnimal, we introduce you to these curious creatures.
Source- America
- Canada
Origin of Skinny Guinea Pig
Skinny guinea pigs did not arise spontaneously because of a natural genetic mutation. These little pigs arose from the need of Canadian laboratories to carry out dermatological studies for which it was essential to have experimental subjects without hair.
For being fruits from crossing hairless pigs and furred pigs, they were very helpful because, like humans, piggies have a thymus, and Skinny's also have a healthy immune system. Its appearance occurred in 1978, at the Armand Frappier Institute, in Montreal, from Hartley pigs that lived in the laboratory.
From that moment on, the Skinny pigs were gaining adherents among those who wished to have them as pets, becoming domestic pigs in a few years.
Skinny Guinea Pig Characteristics
The Skinny guinea pig is about 27 centimeters long, males weigh between 1 kg and 1.5 kg, females being smaller than males, as they usually weigh between 800 and 1300 grams. The average life expectancy of a Skinny pig ranges from 5 to 8 years.
these little pigs they don't have hair all over their bodies, except for a tuft on the snout that distinguishes them from other bald guinea pig breeds, such as the Baldwin guinea pig, although this breed is not born bald, but with fur that shed as they grow . Skinny pigs' skin is wrinkled and he may have skin folds, which is completely normal. Due to the lack of hair, your vertebrae and ribs may look protruding, but this is not abnormal. If they are not marked enough, this indicates that your pig is overweight.
Although they don't have fur, these little pigs can have different skin colors, such as black, white and brown. Likewise, they can have different patterns, such as mottled or mottled, combining several colors, being either bicolor or tricolor.
Skinny Guinea Pig Personality
Skinny guinea pigs are animals very active, usually restless, and need a lot of physical activity that they will do during the day, since they are daytime animals. These little pigs are very affectionate, always seeking attention and affection from their owners.
Guinea pigs are very sociable and gregarious animals, and that's why it is recommended to have at least two, since a single pig usually presents several problems such as anxiety, aggression, depression... However, it is possible that they show a little distrust towards strangers, as they are easily frightened.
Skinny Guinea Pig Care
Due to lack of fur, Skinny Guinea Pigs are extremely temperature sensitive, both very cold and very hot. Therefore, you should always be very careful that your guinea pig does not stay in an area where the temperature is too hot or cold, as they do not tolerate the cold very well, and can contract diseases if exposed to low temperatures .
you also need make sure your pig doesn't sunbathe, as your skin is very sensitive and burns easily. If you are going to be exposed, you need to hydrate your skin and apply special sunscreen for its use, which is one of the main cares for Skinny guinea pigs.
In addition, it is important to take care of the feeding your piglet, providing him with quality food, and leaving him with fresh hay, pellets and clean water at all times. It is recommended to supplement your diet with vegetables such as broccoli, radishes or carrots, as well as all vegetables rich in vitamin C.
Skinny Guinea Pig Health
Skinny guinea pigs are considered immunocompetent guinea pigs, and that means your immune system is able to deal with the possible viruses and pathogens that may affect them. The veterinarian should be visited annually for check-ups, as well as if he notices strange or alarming symptoms such as sadness, listlessness, diarrhea, lack of appetite or when he stops drinking water.
Most of the conditions that are of concern in the case of Skinny guinea pigs are those related to the skin. As already mentioned, this skin without the protection provided by hair is very exposed. This makes it easier for your Skinny to be affected by sunburn, or burns caused by proximity to very hot objects. Likewise, they are prone to catch colds and pneumonia when they have to withstand low temperatures, drafts, or high humidity conditions.
The guinea pigs can present vitamin C deficiencies, which can favor the depression of their immune system, leaving them more exposed to pathogens that make them sick. Therefore, while it may be considered sufficient to provide them with a quality feed combined with vegetables and fruits rich in this vitamin, it may be necessary to provide your guinea pig with a vitamin C supplement, and it is recommended to do this under the supervision of a veterinarian specializing in exotic animals. Some foods rich in vitamin C are peppers and strawberries.