Guinea pigs live for around four to eight years, so their care is a longterm commitment. They came about as a result of laboratory testing at the institut armand frappier in montreal, canada in 1978. No guinea pig, let alone a skinny pig should be forced to live outside. A guinea pig can be one of the most endearing and wonderful pets. Guinea pig your best friend forever skinny report ebook. What should you do if your guinea pig is getting thin. Its not difficult to maintain a healthy appearance. The skinny pigs are quickly growing in popularity, and many are saying that they are more gregarious breeds.
A comprehensive guide to caring for a guinea pig, full of expert practical advice all aspects of everyday care for guinea pigs are covered in this guide that also offers many interesting facts and anecdotes about this popular pet. The term skinny pig is often used to describe any hairless guinea pig, but it is, in fact, a distinct breed. Skinny pig refers to both my daughters first pet a haired guinea pig named skinny and a predominantly hairless breed of guinea pig. I like to due a set of nail clippers for humans that you are comfortable with. The skinny pig is truly a unique breed of guinea pig that you most likely wont see around.
Skinny pig, guinea pig care and keeping hairless guinea pigs. Find a cavyknowledgeable exotics vet soon after adopting a guinea pig so you know whom to contact in an emergency. To be honest, im not even sure how many people know this odd critter even exists. They need 1to 1 and a half cups of vegetables per day, unlimited hay, lots of grass. Your guinea pig requires daily, diligent care to stay healthy. If you are willing to give your guinea pig a good home with proper food, attention, living space, grooming, and. Just like regular guinea pigs, skinny pigs have some simple but specific care requirements to keep them happy and healthy.
Females are called sows, males are called boars, babies are called pups, and the breed as a whole is. The first part of the name may have been derived from the price of the animal in 16th and 17thcentury englandthat is, possibly one guineaor it may have arisen from the animals being carried to european markets after first being transferred to ships in ports in guinea. Whether youre taking a guinea pig home for your kids or for yourself, the act of bringing one into your life requires the same due diligence that taking any other pet home would. How to look after a hairless guinea pig skinny pig. In this book you will find a wealth of information about caring for guinea pigs of all types, particularly skinny pigs hairlessbald guinea pigs. Give your guinea pig 15 minutes and then try again. Because of these physical characteristics, the skinny pig is known to be a good test subject. My documentszoe fileseducationguinea pig info helpful hint guinea pigs need at least two square feet of cage space including space for their hiding places and food bowls. Why not view our full guinea pig factfile pdf 44kb. They originate from south america and there are eight species, but only one the domestic cavy is kept as a pet. Skinny pigs are born almost completely hairless, however some develop more.
From the different breeds of guinea pig to consider, like the american, silkie, peruvian or teddy guinea pig, to their proper care and maintenance, theres a lot to know before adding one to your family. For skinny pigs that suffer from slightly dry skin, product like cold pressed coconut oil can really help. The guinea pigsizeometer from the pet food manufacturers association in the united kingdom offers more insight on what to look for to judge whether a guinea pig is overweight. The fun thing about skinny pigs is that despite being nearly hairless, they come in a variety of colors and patterns. Pet handbooks are written, designed, and illustrated in much the same attractive style as b. Skinny pigs are a result of a genetic mutation due to experiments in a laboratory during the 70s. Your guinea pig will love all the food you offer, but if sits in their bowl for more than four hours, its time to take it away. Guinea pigs guinea pigs welfare tips, advice, health.
The arl strictly enforces this policy under the terms of the adoption contract. Each skinny pig will react differently so you want to make sure you are ok with keeping your skinny pig feeling safe. Avoid a guinea pig that is either overly skinny or. However, handbooks have a larger page count and with it, more extensive and detailed coverage of each titles subject pet. There are actually two types of hairless guinea pig, this one and another called the baldwin guinea pig. Buy care for your guinea pigs by rspca from waterstones today. History of the breed comparison to other guinea pig breeds cost of care pros and cons habitat requirements daily care teaching. The skinny pig is a very unusual, yet an increasingly popular breed of guinea pig.
Though experience, excellent care, and timely medical intervention can give her the best chance of surviving to raise a healthy family, death is not always preventable. Now comes the fun part of building the home for your newest family. Each additional guinea pig needs and extra two to four square feet. By the time problems become apparent, illnesses may be lifethreatening. A healthy skinny has skin that is mostly smooth with some wrinkling around the legs and neck, the. Avoid a guinea pig that is either overly skinny or grossly overweight. However if you want to take your guinea pig outdoors to get some fresh air, or as a treat you need to take a few easy precautions to ensure that you will not be accidently harming the health of your skinny pig. If its not the owner underfeeding heshe may be getting bullie. Skinny pigs and baldwin guinea pigs are both nearly hairless. Prompt, competent veterinary care is crucial to saving the life of a sick cavy. Breeding is one of the most fascinating things about the hairless guinea pig. Not all hairless guinea pigs have the same type of skin. I like to trim their nails once a week and remove the sharp tips. Guinea pigs stay clean and rarely need baths, but can be spotcleaned with a damp washcloth or unscented baby wipes if needed.
Everything you need to know about hairless skinny pigs. Skinny pig care the best source for taking care of your. Pigs are highly prone to getting scurvy, which is a disease caused by low levels of vitamin c. I want to clear up a common misconception by saying. Black skinny pig babies and dalmatian skinny pig babies are particularly common examples you can find when looking for skinny pig breeders. They most likely were the descendants of the pinkeyed white hartley lab guinea pigs who were being tested at the laboratory. The oldest on record, according to the guinness book of world records, lived 15 yrs. Speak with your new furry friend in soft, soothing tones.
A guide from a veterinarian on caring for your guinea pigs. Guinea pig care 101 is a fulllength book, not a thin report skinny reports is. They may live as long as 9 years the average is 5 to 7, so the decision to bring one into your home must be made carefully. The skinny pig is an almost hairless breed of guinea pig. Unlike dogs, g uinea pigs do not need to be held and given attention by humans every day. Your cavy the proper name guinea pigs are known by will depend on you for food, water, medical care and companionship. Keeping and caring for a pet guinea pig the spruce pets.
Despite their common name, guinea pigs are not native to guinea, nor are they closely biologically related to pigs, and the origin of the name is still unclear. Avoid a guinea pig this panicky when handled, especially if it does not relax quickly. The guinea pig does not come from guinea, nor is it a pig. A well caredfor guinea pig can live for ten years, though an average lifespan is around 57 years. A brief guide to skinny guinea pigs online guinea pig care. Although this breed of guinea pig doesnt have much hair, it has a friendly and outgoing personality that makes it a wonderful pet for adults and children alike.
They are an outcome of a haired guinea pig crossed with a hairless lab strain. Guinea pigs or cavies, to give them their proper name are fascinating, intelligent and, when handled correctly, friendly. Caring for your skinny pig santa barbara skinny pigs. Breeding these guinea pigs needs to be carried out with care. Here you will fi nd tips for selecting and raising your skinny pigs as well as valuable information on housing, feeding. Now that you have decided on a skinny pig as your pet you should have all the supplies necessary before bringing him her home. However, in the past decade, more and more owners have begun to raise this increasingly popular hairless guinea pig. They originated in the andes of south america, and. Like all guinea pigs, oral care is important to avoid abscesses and complications such as weight loss and infection caused by dental issues.
Guinea pig life expectancy skinny pigs care for life. Skinny pigs typically have hair on their muzzles, feet, and legs, but are hairless over the remainder of their bodies. Some of them have a thin covering of fuzzy hair on their backs as well. I dont have time to give them the attention they deserve is not a valid reason to get rid of a guinea pig. Despite not having much hair, the skinny pig is not that much different from the haired breeds of guinea pigs. Healthy, adult pigs need 1030mg per day of vitamin c. The skinny came from a cross breed of haired guinea pig and a hairless lab strain.
This book discusses important and often neglected issues of guinea pig health and care. The skinny guinea pig has one of the most distinct looks among all other guinea pigs breed. If you suspect your guinea pig is putting on weight, consult your veterinarian. Skinny pig skin can range from oily to normal and dry skin. The guinea pig or domestic guinea pig cavia porcellus, also known as cavy or domestic cavy, is a species of rodent belonging to the family caviidae and the genus cavia. The sexes are referred to as sows and boars, as in pigs. Unlike the other type of hairless guinea pig, the baldwin guinea pig, skinny pigs actually do have some hair. How to care for guinea pigs with pictures wikihow pet. Under no circumstances should a guinea pig be used for food for other animals. In this book you will find a wealth of information about the skinny pig as well as. Skinny pig breed information a guide to the hairless.
The skinny pig makes the same sounds, eats the same foods, and is very energetic like its counterparts. A safe and enjoyable home will help you have a happy and healthy skinny pig. Hairless guinea pigs benefit from a small amount of nontoxic aloebased lotion rubbed onto skin to keep it soft. Here you will fi nd tips for selecting and raising your skinny pigs as well as valuable information on housing, feeding, breeding and health concerns. Sick or pregnant pigs require a minimum of 30mg per day. The origin of the colloquial name guinea pig is a subject of much debate. The animal rescue league adopts guinea pigs to be family pets. Have a positive impact on the lifespan of our pet guinea pigs. The risks of breeding a beloved female guinea pig cannot be overstated. This updated edition for guinea pig owners provides a wealth of information on the animals anatomy and life cycle.
A skinny pig gene carrier is a haired guinea pig that carriers the skinny pig gene, and can be bred to a skinny pig to produce a litter of piggies, some of which are usually hairless. Guinea pigs need their nails clipped approximately once a month. Published in association with the experts at the rspca, this book will help you ensure that you are giving your guinea pig the best possible care. With proper care, nutrition, exercise, habitat, and social interaction both with people and other guinea pigs, these animals can live long and be very. An ounce of prevention a cavys health can deteriorate very quickly. If they start to exhibit any symptoms of illness, such as a lack of appetite, wheezing, sneezing, crusty eyes, a hunched posture, hair. They are completely hairless, except for a small amount of fuzz on their nose and paws. Guinea pigs are generally very healthy animals but the proper care of guinea pigs comprehensively mentions a wide array of health conditions that may potentially arise and clearly discusses how to diagnose and treat these problems. They also like it when you gently stroke their head. The porcellus in its name is from latin, meaning little pig.
Skinny pigs have a higher metabolism than guinea pigs with fur because they need to maintain their body heat. Taking care of your skinny pig carmandale guinea pigs. We have covered the basics in guinea pig dental care in this article, which will help you identify issues and course corrective and preventative actions. A complete guide on origin, personality, appearance, lifespan, diet, habitat, grooming and other care needed for skinny pigs. This skinny boar was scratched and bit by his female breeding partner. Guinea pigs love a good cuddle but on the first day home, but make sure to give your guinea pig time to settle in. Also, clean food and water containers dailyand change their bedding once a month. If you or your child lost interest in caring for the animal, you need to take responsibility for that animal. They originate from the grasslands and lower slopes of the andes mountains in south america. Avoid a guinea pig that is overly quiet and calm as it may be ill. The temperature could easily drop and make your piggy sick. These nearly hairless critters have a funny way of winning the.
629 1213 504 158 786 603 1181 701 365 759 1216 1142 1298 775 661 892 1373 1099 483 1342 28 668 947 469 557 97 1001 653 66 150 421 306 1258 757 594 1295