Features of skinny guinea pigs and recommendations for caring for them

Skinny is a guinea pig without hair. On the one hand, the absence of hair is a plus, since there is no need to comb it and clean clothes and furniture of hairs. On the other hand, a hairless rodent needs increased care - it does not tolerate temperature changes well, and its skin can get sunburned.

Let's find out what else is remarkable about this species and how to properly care for this unusual pet.

History of the breed

Hairless guinea pigs appeared in 1978 as a result of a genetic mutation. Canadian scientists from the Armand Frappier Institute in Montreal, while breeding the Hartley breed, accidentally received pigs whose hair fell out as adults. The animals turned out to be very funny. It was decided to breed a hairless breed.

At the very beginning, skinnies were bred for a specific purpose. Hairless pigs have been used for dermatological research. Later, these animals aroused interest among breeders as pets.

The first hairless pigs could not live long due to a weak immune system. It took breeders almost 4 years for the bald variety to gain the right to exist. They crossed these animals with representatives of the Self breed to improve their health.

Interesting fact. The first skinny pigs had white skin and red eyes. Thanks to the efforts of scientists, a wide variety of colors later appeared - monochromatic and combining several colors.

Guinea pig diet

Cereals and pelleted feeds

This type of diet is based on grain crops and ready-made food, containing all the necessary vitamins and mineral supplements for the healthy growth and development of a domestic rodent.

Nutrition Features:

1. You need to buy only high-quality food from trusted manufacturers for your guinea pig. Cheap food contains many harmful and unnatural ingredients that can cause serious health problems.
2. Dry food must be supplemented with moist, juicy food.
3. Clean drinking water should always be freely available to your pet.
4. It is not advisable to feed high-calorie foods to inactive rodents.

Advantages of nutrition: ready-made food has a solid structure, which helps the animal grind its teeth, convenient use of food, no need to prepare special food for the rodent.

Disadvantages: you need to constantly purchase food for your pet and always have a certain supply of it in the house.

On our store’s website you can select and buy high-quality industrial food for domestic guinea pigs from reliable global manufacturers. The range includes cozy cages for rodents, comfortable drinking bowls, special toilets with nozzles, various accessories for games and much more.

Description

The skinny guinea pig is quite large. Its body length is 30-34 cm. A guinea pig weighs about 1 kg (females are slightly smaller). The height at the withers of a mature individual is 6-7 cm.

Unlike Baldwin pigs, skinnies are born completely hairless. As they grow older, sparse fur 0.3-1 cm long appears on the face and neck. Externally, the pets look like small hippos.

Exterior Features:

• skinny pigs – owners of a dense physique;
• the head is large, but looks neat;
• large eyes, expressive gaze;
• the iris is reddish, brown or black;
• large ears are rounded and hang down, but do not touch the head;
• curved nose;
• the neck is short, dense;
• a well-built torso with a well-developed muscle corset is shaped like a barrel;
• there are folds of skin in the back, neck and around the limbs;
• paws are short, with mobile small toes.

You can learn everything about guinea pigs in this article.

A hairless guinea pig may have different skin pigmentation, which determines its color. The most common are chocolate, white, cinnamon. There are also pets with a spotted pattern on the body that combines 2 or 3 colors.

Invisible dangers

Your pet's strong body is actually very fragile. There are many nuances that a loving owner must take into account. Even when climbing to a small height, these plump pigs can fall and seriously harm themselves. Moreover, even a minor blow can cause the intestines to fail and burst.

Starving animals is also strictly prohibited. In practice, it has been proven that just two days without food can lead to the most serious health consequences. Therefore, if you are planning a long trip, be sure to arrange with friends to feed your pets.

Character and behavior

Hairless skinny guinea pigs are friendly and sociable. They love to receive affection, attention from their owner and play with him. These are very sensitive and timid animals. This must be taken into account when handling them. Animals are afraid of sharp sounds. Even a loud TV can cause anxiety.

The pet reacts calmly to the presence of a cat, small dog or rodent in the house. Skinny pigs are not prone to aggression. Cases when they use their teeth or claws are very rare.

They are quite smart. The animal remembers its nickname and reacts to it. Some owners even manage to teach their pet to stand on its hind legs and spin around. True, the skinny pig is ready to demonstrate its skills only for a reward in the form of a treat.

Skinny doesn't like being picked up by strangers. The pet needs to get used to new smells and sounds, so you should not allow guests to cuddle it.

Important nuances

When walking, do not allow your pig to climb to heights. Pets are quite clumsy and even a fall from a small height can cause the death of the animal, because... Intestinal rupture may occur.

Along with overfeeding, starvation is very dangerous for pigs; if a pet fasts for just a few days, irreversible processes can begin in its body.

Hygiene for pigs is quite simple. It is necessary to clean your pet's ears from dirt and dust, wipe his eyes with a swab dipped in warm boiled water. Pigs are rarely bathed, since the pets are quite clean.

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Health and life expectancy

When skinny pigs were first bred, due to inbreeding, hairless offspring were born weak and non-viable. Now the situation has changed.

Guinea pigs of this breed live 5-8 years. True, the lack of fur still affects their health. They are more susceptible to colds than their furry relatives.

A common skinny disease is malocclusion. Due to the pathological structure of the teeth, the pig eats very slowly and has difficulty chewing food. This problem cannot be ignored - it can lead to oral injuries and exhaustion.

Appearance and features

Photo: What skinny looks like

Skinnys have an unusual appearance. Their bodies are mostly smooth, with some wrinkles around the paws and neck. A healthy skinny will have a plump body and you won't be able to see her spine or ribs. Skinnies are born without fur - and stay that way. The only fur they have, even when they are older, is found on their noses and paws.

The Hairless Skinny is typically smaller in size than the average guinea pig. This breed's hairlessness is not related to their gender. You can also find male skinnies as well as female skinnies. Skinnies are often close in size to the average guinea pig - they are only slightly smaller due to their hairlessness. They can weigh between 1 and 2 kg and be between 23 and 30 cm long from head to back.

Despite the lack of hair, this breed can come in a variety of colors. They can also inherit colors from hairy ancestors. As shown in one pigmentation study, if you mate a red guinea pig with a hairless albino guinea pig, their offspring may include hairless but red skinnies. Black Skinnies and Skinny Dalmatians are particularly common examples to be found.

Sninny Health Features:

• sensitivity: they are much more sensitive to the environment, and, for example, are irritated by wood chips. They are also much more sensitive to cold. In some climates it is normal to keep guinea pigs outdoors for most of the year, but a skinny will suffer from the cold much more quickly;
• Exposure to Harm: Hair is also an excellent defense against physical harm. Scratches that would never occur on a hairy guinea pig are common on a skinny;
• tumors: in addition to these specific problems, they may also be susceptible to tumors that affect the typical guinea pig;
• Skin Problems: Guinea pigs in general can be prone to skin problems, but this is especially true for skinnies. They may suffer from ringworm, parasites and other skin infections.

Now you know what skinny looks like. Let's see what she eats.

Recommendations for care and maintenance

Before you get a skinny pig, you need to prepare a cage or enclosure, care products, and equipment. Hairless pets are demanding of temperature conditions. In the room where the rodent lives, the thermometer should not fall below +22 and rise to +30 degrees.

Skinny pigs are more expensive than other breeds because hairless animals are considered exotic. The average price for an animal ranges from 3,500–8,000 rubles.

Number of gilts

Skinny pigs can be kept together or alone. If you decide to have several animals, it is better to choose two females. Those who want to start breeding skinnies buy a pair of opposite-sex individuals. However, they cannot be kept together all the time.

The male and female will have to be placed in different cages or the space of one cage will have to be divided into 2 parts by a partition. This is necessary to ensure that the pigs do not mate too often. It is not advisable to have two males - they often fight for territory.

Cell selection

A spacious metal cage is suitable for skinny pigs. At least 1 m2 of free space is allocated per individual. If it is not possible to install such a bulky structure in an apartment, then you can equip a second tier. If you decide to get a couple of pets, you need to increase their living area by 1.5-2 times.

An aquarium is not suitable for keeping a skinny pig, if only for the reason that it is inconvenient to wash. In addition, the glass container is poorly ventilated - air enters only from above. This means that harmful vapors of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, which are released from the pet’s excrement, will accumulate inside. This is harmful to your guinea pig's health.

It is important to find a suitable location to place the cage. It should not be placed near heating appliances or in direct sunlight on the balcony. Although the skinny pig loves warmth, it does not tolerate heat and drafts. It is better to install the pet’s home in the back of the living room.

Filler

Bedding is placed at the bottom of the cage. Its main functions are to absorb pet urine and eliminate odor.

Silica gel should not be used because the animal may swallow the granules, which will lead to intestinal obstruction. Wood shavings made from softwood are also not suitable. It contains a lot of essential oils that can cause allergies and swelling of the respiratory system.

Suitable types of litter for skinny pigs:

• corn - made from chopped cobs;
• pressed sawdust from hardwood;
• paper is the most inexpensive, but absorbs moisture the worst.

Home interior design

The most important attribute of a cage for a skinny pig is a rest house. When a pet feels threatened or just wants to be alone and sleep, it hides inside. Recommended design size:

• length – 50 cm;
• width – 20 cm;
• height – 10-15 cm.

The house must have an entrance, a roof and several ventilation holes. You can put stuffing or paper napkins inside to keep your skinny pig warm and soft.

It is better to choose a nipple drinker so that it does not take up space. It is fixed to the outside of the cage on the bars, and the spout is brought inside. You should buy or make your own sennik. You also need a feeder. Running wheels are not recommended for guinea pigs, as they have a weak spine.

If the cage is divided into 2 tiers, it is necessary to install stairs. They should be flat and have notches. A slope that is too steep is dangerous - your skinny pig may fall and get injured.

Home cleaning

It is important to keep the cage clean. The litter is replaced every 5-7 days or as it gets dirty. The need for cleaning is indicated by the appearance of an unpleasant odor. The pigs are removed, all equipment is removed and washed in hot water. The old litter is poured into a trash can and placed clean.

Do not use detergents or cleaners to clean the cage - they can cause allergies in the pig. Heavily contaminated areas are treated with soda solution.

Hygiene procedures

Skinny pigs take care of themselves independently, but sometimes they may need help from their owner. The pet's eyes are wiped with a damp swab every day if possible. The ears are inspected for excess wax. Contaminants are carefully removed with a cotton swab. Overgrown claws are trimmed approximately once a month.

The skinny pig's delicate skin requires special care. To eliminate the unpleasant odor, the animal is wiped with damp wipes. The same ones are used for hygiene of sphinxes; they can be bought at a pet store. It is not recommended to bathe your pig, as frequent water treatments with shampoo dry out the pig's skin.

Wash your pet in a small bowl or sink. The water temperature is about 37 degrees. You will need a special shampoo for hairless rodents or sphinxes. Human ones cannot be used - it contains many harmful additives. The detergent is diluted with water and applied to the skinny body. It is important to protect your pet's ears and eyes from water. Then the soap composition is thoroughly washed off, and the animal is wrapped in a terry towel.

The Hairless Skinny Guinea Pig is sensitive to cold and drafts and can easily catch a cold after bathing. Therefore, you should keep it in a warm place until it dries. Veterinarians recommend periodically lubricating your pet's skin with baby cream to prevent irritation and dryness.

Arrangement of the house

Experienced breeders advise using a large terrarium as a home for rodents. The pet should not only feel comfortable in it, but also be quite spacious, so the minimum size should be at least 0.5 sq.m. Sometimes ordinary aquariums are used as a house.

All side walls must be transparent, the animals need to see what is happening around and observe those around them, in addition, the owners must also observe their pets. A deep tray is installed at the bottom, usually made of plastic.

Of course, the animal needs bedding, which is made from sawdust. But wood filler cannot be used; the fact is that it has quite sharp edges that can injure the delicate skin and paws of a rodent.

The location for installing the house is chosen in such a way that there are no drafts, passages, or direct sunlight. They are very afraid of drafts and hypothermia, which can greatly harm their health.

Arrange the animal's house in such a way that under no circumstances will it be able to get out of it. Injuries sustained from a fall can have permanent consequences and lead to death.

The most dangerous injuries include:

• Limb fractures.
• Spinal fracture.
• Bruises of internal organs.
• Intestinal rupture.

If the sides of the house are not high enough and there is a risk that the animal could get out, you can install a net on top.

In the terrarium you need to install a drinking bowl for water and a feeder for food. In addition, houses made of wood or cardboard, manholes, tunnels, and toys are installed to make the guinea pig interesting, fun and comfortable.

Features of feeding

Skinny pigs are a herbivorous species of rodents; they eat only plant foods. The pet's diet consists of hay, vegetables and root vegetables, grain mixtures and greens. Dried grass is a roughage that not only helps to wear down teeth, but also improves digestion. Vegetables and fruits are a source of fiber and vitamins.

For more information on how to feed your pets, read the article “Vegetable diet for guinea pigs.”

Skinnies love carrots, zucchini, cucumber, broccoli, apples and pears. In summer, you can give pigs shoots and leaves of dandelion, plantain, nettle, a little parsley and dill. In winter, fresh herbs are replaced with wheat sprouts. It is advisable for females to include nuts, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds in their menu.

Skinnies have an accelerated metabolism, as due to the lack of hair, the body loses heat faster. For this reason, hairless pets need more food than their furry counterparts.

Prohibited products:

• food of animal origin - meat, cottage cheese, milk, cheese;
• sweets – candies, baked goods;
• vegetables should not include turnips, potatoes, radishes and garlic;
• mushrooms;
• beans.

Skinny pigs are given branches of fruit trees and shrubs in their cage. This is an additional source of vitamin C, which is not produced in the animal’s body. In addition, roughage is necessary for grinding teeth.

Your pet should drink about 200 ml of water per day. If he receives a lot of succulent food, the rate of fluid intake decreases. It is important to regularly change the water in the drinking bowl so that it does not stagnate.

How to choose a skinny and how much the animal costs

It’s worth mentioning right away that this breed is not cheap, they are quite rare animals, and therefore their cost is higher. For one individual, breeders set prices from 19 to 38 dollars.

If you decide to purchase just such a breed, then spend a little time finding a reliable and trusted nursery, this way you will protect yourself from buying an unhealthy rodent.

When we purchase furry animals, the condition of the fur can tell us about its health. In a healthy rodent it is shiny, smooth, without any bald spots. But in the case of buying a skinny, we cannot rely on these criteria, so we need to pay attention to other signs that indicate good health:

• The guinea pig should be active and mobile.
• There should be no discharge on the eyes.
• There should be no nasal discharge.
• Paws are clean and dry.
• Moderately well-fed.
• The skin should be smooth and clean, without any damage or inflammation.
• The area near the anus should be clean.

Remember that despite her friendliness and love for attention and affection from a person, she needs rest. Therefore, you do not need to constantly hold her in your arms, give her time to rest so that she can rest and not suffer from excessive attention.

Pros and cons of content

The popularity of hairless guinea pigs is explained by their many advantages. But they also have disadvantages.

Lifestyle

This guinea pig is a social animal. It gets along well with its relatives and other pets. In general, they are friendly and rarely anything can cause them aggression. Sometimes animals bite their owners when they want to bite themselves. This behavior indicates that Skinny has fleas. But it is not always the case. A pig may chew or bite while in its owner's arms when it wants to urinate.

This mammal is easy to tame. At first the animal may be nervous, but then, if it feels love, it will begin to trust.

Breeding

Sexual maturity in skinny pigs occurs at the age of 8-10 weeks. The female is untied at 5-6 months. Earlier crossing is dangerous for health - the animal will not be able to bear and give birth to healthy piglets. But you shouldn't wait too long. It is advisable to mate a female for the first time before 9-10 months.

Selection of a pair for mating

Breeding skinny pigs has its own characteristics. The hairless gene is recessive, and in order to get hairless offspring, you need to choose the right partner for mating:

1. When crossing two individuals of the skinny breed, the piglets will be born naked.
2. If you breed a female skinny with a male baldwin, pigs with fur will be born. However, they will be carriers of the hairless gene, such piglets are called skinnycarriers. In the future, their offspring may be born bald in 25-50% of cases.
3. When mating a skinny with a representative of any other breed, pigs with wool will be born - skinnycarriers.
4. When crossing a hairless individual with a carrier of the hairless gene, 50% of the offspring will be skinny, and the remaining 50% will be skinny.

Professional breeders recommend periodically crossing purebred hairless pigs with wool pigs, as well as descendants from a mixed union. Thanks to such matings, the breed becomes more resilient.

Pairing

The skinny guinea pig comes into heat every 16-20 days and lasts about 12 hours. The most favorable time for mating is the first 6 hours.

Individuals of different sexes are kept separately. The female is placed with the male during estrus. After a short introduction, the male makes several attempts to mount. The onset of pregnancy is judged by the absence of another sexual heat. The fertilized pig must be separated from the male.

Pregnancy and childbirth

Skinnies have a litter of 2 to 5 cubs. The gestation period depends on the number of piglets. Pregnancy lasts from 64 to 72 days. Childbirth usually occurs without complications.

Newborn guinea pigs weigh 55-130 g. The more piglets in the womb, the smaller they are and the faster the pregnancy ends. The babies are completely bald, but after a while they begin to grow hair on their faces, necks and shoulders. It is very thin and short.

The piglets have open eyes and ears. On the second day of life, babies can already eat finely chopped vegetables, since their teeth are fully formed. Guinea pigs have a well-developed maternal instinct. They independently take care of the cubs, feed them milk, warm them and protect them. At one month of age, piglets can be given to new owners.

Those who have experience keeping skinnies are very happy with their choice. They speak of these animals as cute, good-natured and sociable pets, which are not at all difficult to care for.

The main thing is to protect the rodent from hypothermia, keep the cage clean, feed it properly and hold the baby in your arms more often.

Reproduction

This question will not cause any difficulties for anyone, since there is no need to create special conditions for breeding hairless guinea pigs.

Sexual maturity occurs in females at 2-2.5 months, and in males at 3 months. But it’s not worth giving birth to pets so early: the body is not yet fully formed and pregnancy can be difficult. The optimal age for breeding is 6 months of age.

During gestation, the female is provided with adequate feeding, but not overfed! Vitamin E, B and others are introduced into the diet.

After the birth of the offspring, the female needs to rest from childbirth and pregnancy for at least six months before mating with the male again.

Skinnies, like Baldwins, are ideal pets that will not let their owners get bored. Their lack of hair makes them look good compared to other guinea pigs. This point is especially important for allergy sufferers, for whom hairless pets are unlikely to cause an asthma attack.