Are pigs fat or skinny

10 Skinny Pig Facts Everyone Should Know

1. Hay Must Be Available At ALL Times

This is a mistake that I see new Skinny Pig owners do all the time. Hay is either not provided at all or not enough. Nearly 80% of a Skinny Pigs diet is made up of Hay and should be always available for them. Hay is great in that it is the only natural product that helps grind down their back molars and keeps their digestion constantly moving.

2. Large Cages Are A MUST!

The larger the cage for your Skinny Pig the better. The small desktop sized cages that you see at the pet store are much to small. Skinny Pigs may be small but they are very active and require lots of exercise. A common cage size is 2x4 for two Skinny Pigs. Pet store cages dont come close to this size. The bigger the cage, the more room your Skinny Pig has to run around!

3. Skinny Pigs Need Vitamin C

Skinny Pigs dont create their own Vitamin C, so they need to get it through their diet. It is an important and vital nutrient for bone formation, a strong immune system, and healthy teeth. Ensure your Skinny Pig is getting the correct amount of Vitamin C and that the pellets you are feeding them come from a high quality, reputable maker. You should feed them fresh veggies like bell pepper or give them chewable Vitamin C tablets.

4. Skinny Pigs Have Poor Eyesight

Skinny Pigs do not have the best eye sight. They are prey animals so they have great movement detection all around them but it affects their depth perception. Do not ever leave your Skinny Pig on a table or other place high up. They will not know how far the ground is and will try to jump if they think they can make it. They can seriously injure themselves in a case like this or even cause death.Please be very careful and never leave them unattended.

Skinny Pig Snack

5. A Skinny Pigs Life Span

Skinnypigs can live on average 5-7 years BUT there are plenty of stories about piggies reaching 8,9 and even 10 years old. This means if youre thinking of guinea pigs as pets, you need to think about where you will be in the next 10 years, can that include Skinny Pigs?

6. Skinny Pigs Are MESSY

It is basically impossible to litter train a guinea pig. They will always poop/pee where they eat and sleep. Guinea pigs are incredibly messy and you need to be aware of this. They take a great amount of care in order to keep their living conditions clean. If you are using fleece, be prepared to spot clean two or more times a day. Make sure you are ready to change bedding often, wash beds and remove soiled hay! They take a lot of time, so they arent for everyone.

7. Skinny Pigs Are Expensive

Guinea pigs are not a small cage, pellet and water type pets like some believe.They require large cages, pellets, vegetables, hay, water, bedding, medical care, toys, and accessories! Make sure you have it in your budget for their weekly needs and some to spare for emergencies.

8. Skinny Pigs Require Vet Care

Small pets are just as important and large pets. Skinny pigs are prone to illnesses or injury. Skinnypigs need vet care and only exotic vets specializing in guinea pigs are appropriate. Make sure you have funds set aside for medical care, emergencies and health checks, as they can be costly.

9. Skinny Pigs Arent Extremely Agile Or Flexible

Skinny pigs have short legs and are low to the ground, making them best suited to smooth, one level terrains. Never house your Skinny Pigs in cages designed for rats, chinchillas or rabbits because they do not have the ability to balance and climb. Do not have high up areas expecting your Skinny Pig to jump up or down from, dont have things out of their reach and never put them in hamster balls or give them wheels in their cages. Guinea pigs have extremely fragile legs and backs.

10. Skinny Pigs Are Prey Animals

I hear it all the time, My Skinny pig is scared of me, My Skinny pig doesnt like me or Why doesnt my Skinny pig like being picked up? Guinea pigs are prey animals, meaning they are the ones that get eaten in the wild. It is in their nature to run, hide and be afraid of getting picked up. You cant have expectations of guinea pigs being cuddly or super tame, those things take time and even then, some pigs will always be unable to hide their true instincts. Start off small with them and build on it. Start by feeding snacks and veggies.

The Complete Guide to Skinny Pigs - The Hairless Guinea Pig (2023 Update!)

Hey there GuineaGang,Have you ever wondered about Skinny Pigs? Watch this short video for a quick summary about these amazing, hairless guinea pigs:

What are hairless guinea pigs and what should you know before getting one?

They are not skinny and they certainly arent pigs, but these hairless rodents sure are cute! Skinny pigs are sometimes called Skinny Guinea Pigsor Hairless Guinea Pigs. The iconic look of the skinny pig or hairless guinea pig hasearned them a lot of attention. Its worth getting to know a bit about this unique variety of guinea pig, especially if you are looking to have a skinny pig join your family!

What is a Skinny Pig?

In simple terms, skinny pigs are a hairless or mostly hairless variety of guinea pig. Most skinny pigs lack fur across their body with patches on the face and the legs being an exception in some individuals. You may even notice very thin or fuzzy fur across the back of a skinny pig since their appearance is dependent on genetics that were partly inherited from classic domesticated guinea pigs.

If you guessed that hairless guinea pigs are not a naturally occurring species, then you're right! These cute guinea pigs are the result of a genetic mutation first identified in 1978 atMontreal's Armand Frappier Institute, a medical research facility. This also makes hairless guinea pigs the only guinea pig species to originate from Canada, or North America in general.The skinny pigs we see as pets today are the descendants of domesticated guinea pigs with a genetic mutation that is commonly bred into lab guinea pigs. You may be wondering things now like are skinny pigs a good pet, and the answer, of course, is yes! In a laboratory setting, these hairless rodents work as animal subjects for testing on topics related to human skin, but in the average household, they serve as quirky and loving pets.

Being hairless does not mean they are whiskerless. Even the most hairless of domestic bred skinny pigs still have whiskers and other small hairs that are used to sense their surroundings. Much like their furry relatives, skinny pigs also have pigmentation. Their skin can display a variety of pigments, like black, brown, and a lack of pigmentation which is displayed as pink skin. These colors can create patterns and overlap, just as they would on a guinea pig that has fur. You may also learn that there are two types of hairless guinea pigs, the Baldwin guinea pig and of course, the Skinny pig!

A Skinny Pig's Temperament

The skinny pig temperament aligns with most other breeds of guinea pigs. They are considered to be very docile and make great pets when properly conditioned. Guinea pigs are considered to be rather hearty and are unlikely to fight or bite in most situations, which is why many children keep them as pets. Be sure to always bond your guinea pigs in general before pairing them together. Guinea pig fights can lead to skinny pigs being more injured because of their lack of coat. For more information on bonding guinea pigs, you can follow our blog Bonding Your Guinea Pigs.

Their docile nature is countered by a natural predisposition to be skittish, especially when facing unfamiliar scenarios. It is not uncommon for skinny pigs to try and make a run for it if they feel uncomfortable or are faced with sudden changes.

Skinny pigs are also very social animals. They can be desensitized to other pets and people, but most prefer a compatible companion of the same species. Once skinny pigs are accustomed to being held, they make for cuddly companions, but it might take some time to get used to petting a hairless animal. Your skinny pig may be even more friendly in the winter if they learn that you are a reliable heat source when they are feeling chilly.

Skinny Pig Care

As far as eating, housing, and socializing go, skinny pigs are very similar to furry guinea pigs. So lets start with the thing that makes this variety of guinea pig so special, their skin! Skinny pigs are commonly referenced as a good non-human model for skin reactions and pigmentation because their skin functions similarly to human skin.

These sweet, bald guineapigs will eat the same things as other guinea pigs, which means they should always be supplied with the best kind of hay, water, and fresh vegetables daily. It can occur that often you may notice that guinea pigs seem to eat and drink more than your other guinea pigs. That's because Skinny pigs have a high metabolism, and will eat twice as much as a fur piggy. Due to the fact that they are missing fur, they use a lot of energy trying to keep themselves warm. So always make sure you supply your skinny pig with a GuineaDad Liner, GuineaDad Hay, and clean water.

It is also important to note that because Skinny pigs eat more than furry guinea pigs, you may also need to clean their guinea pig cage more. Spot cleaning with GuineaDad Liners shouldbe more frequent, as well as switching out soiled fleece liners. Always take your skinny pig to the vet at least once a year for a routine check up.

Skinny Pig Skin Care

It has been found that skinny pigs experience pigmentation change when exposed to UV light and that change is dependent on their natural pigmentation. This similar reaction to UV light suggests that skinny pigs are also susceptible to damages caused by excess UV light exposure, like sunburn and DNA damage.

Due to hairless guinea pig's skin being constantly exposed, they can develop dry skin if not cared for properly. Wild guinea pigs evolved with fur so they could naturally prevent damages from UV light, so skinny pigs need to be protected from excess UV exposure. Just like bald humans, a bald guinea pig is more vulnerable to sun burns and other skin damage from the sun's harsh rays. Skinny pigs'hairless bodies are also sensitive to substances that would otherwise have been buffered by their fur. Some studies have found that skinny pigs have allergic reactions that are similar to those of people when they are exposed to known skin irritants. In many ways, the skin of a naked guinea pig should be treated with the same care as a human's. You may consider using coconut oil for skinny pigs with dry skin. Always consult with a vet before changing your skinny pig's health routine.

This means that most creams, fragrances, and other human-grade topicals could be upsetting to your Skinny pig's sensitive skin. It also means that Skinny pigs are more susceptible to fungal infections, such asringworm, as there are more opportunities for skin-to-skin transmission if their bedding is not kept dry and clean. Consider healthy guinea pig bedding like GuineaDad Liner, which is created to be multi-purposeful by keeping your guinea pig's feet dry and fighting against bacteria related infections.

You should also keep your skinny pigs environmental temperature in mind since they lack a key physical structure meant to help regulate their body temperature. Without hair, skinny pigs may feel warmer than guinea pigs with fur, but they are still sensitive to the cold. Studies have found that singular skinny pigs prefer temperatures around 30 OC, but their preferences may change when housed with other guinea pigs.

Is a Skinny Pig Right For You?

Skinny pigs may have a shocking appearance, but they are similar to the furry domestic species in more ways than you would expect. The key to caring for these unique critters is getting to know them personally. Naked guinea pigs are sweet and personable animals. With an understanding of your skinny pigs preferences and medical requirements, you can give them a quality home and they can give you quality companionship

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