Guinea pigs are well known for their pouty lips, adorable noses, and floofy fur, which comes in wool-like curls, soft rosettes, and even long locks. But what about the hairless guinea pig? Are there hairless guinea pigs at all? Yep, and they make adorable pets.
The little furless friends are known as skinny guinea pigs, or simply skinny pigs. Apart from their unusual appearance, these sweet pigs aren’t too different from their furry relatives, though every aspiring hairless guinea pig parent should read up on skinny pigs skincare. Find out more about the adorable and adoring skinny guinea pigs with this ultimate guide!
Where do Skinny Pigs Come From?
The origin story of the hairless guinea pig is a sad one. Many little floofs spend their lives confined to the unwelcoming environment of labs, where they’re used for testing and other scientific purposes. And, that's exactly where hairless pigs originate from!
The story goes that skinny guinea pigs come from an unplanned genetic mutation in a Canadian lab in 1978, so the floofless friends have been around for over 40 years! Unfortunately, their hairlessness makes the skinny pigs even more useful for testing, especially dermatological testing with products that go directly on the skin. The skin of a hairless guinea pig is similar to our human skin, so the poor pigs have become the guinea pig for lots of cosmetics.
At Kavee, we’re against animal testing, and we take great care that our products are cruelty-free. While the world of cosmetics is also trying to move away from it, many big brands still test their products on our little friends. Next time you’re out looking for a new face cream, keep an eye out for the cruelty-free sticker - for your own sake, and that of skinny piggies!
On a much brighter note, skinny guinea pigs are beloved pets across the globe today, and their piggy parents are often experts in skinny pigs care. Let’s find out what kinds of hairless guinea pig there are, in case you’re looking for the perfect floofless friend for yourself!
Hairless Guinea Pig Breeds
We’ve got the answer to the question, ‘Are there hairless guinea pigs?’, but what about different breeds of hairless guinea pigs? You may be surprised to find out that hairless guinea pigs are divided into two guinea pig breeds: the skinny pigs and the Baldwin guinea pigs. The differences between the two? Let’s find out!
Skinny Pigs
Today, when we talk about skinny pigs, we usually mean any guinea pig that’s hairless. If your friend tells you about the new skinny guinea pig addition to their little herd, they could have a skinny pig or a Baldwin guinea pig, without knowing there’s a difference - but there is one (or two, or three)!
Skinny pigs are completely hairless except for a bit of fluff on their legs and feet, and a cute hairy patch on their nose that looks almost like freckles. The skinny pig’s skin comes in various colours, and sometimes even different colours on one pig, just like their hairy counterparts.
When a skinny pig has some extra tufts of hair across their cute bodies, they’re lovingly known as werewolves. No studies show whether these cute companions are more active during a full moon, but we’ll just assume they won’t go howling at it!
Another difference between skinny guinea pigs and Baldwin guinea pigs? Skinny pigs are born with very little to no hair. The tufts on their feet, legs, and face grow as the pigs themselves get bigger.
Baldwin Guinea Pigs
Baldwin guinea pigs are also a breed of hairless guinea pig, but they’re a little different from their skinny pigs friends. The Baldwin guinea pigs are born with hair - unlike the skinny guinea pigs - and their fur falls out gradually over the first few months of their lives. We can all imagine how surprised piggy parents can be when their hairy floofs are suddenly floofless!
When the Baldwin guinea pig’s hair falls out, they end up being entirely bald - the other way to tell them apart from the skinny guinea pigs. While the skinny pigs have tufts of hair on some body parts, Baldwin guinea pigs are bald from head to piggy toe.
Just like skinny pigs, the Baldwin guinea pig is an accidental genetic mutation. A breeder in California noticed her White Crested guinea pigs going bald - probably expecting the worst - only to realise she had a new breed of adorable hairless guinea pigs at her hand.
Hairless Guinea Pigs and Guinea Pigs with Luscious Locks: What are the Main Differences?
Now you know hairless guinea pigs do exist, and there’s two types of them, you may be wondering how skinny pigs and Baldwin pigs are different from their furry relatives. Because their skin isn’t protected by a layer of cosy fur, a hairless guinea pig has some extra needs skinny pig parents should know about. Time to take a look at the 3 ways in which our cute hairless guinea pigs are unique.
Hairless guinea pigs are more sensitive
Guinea pigs with fur wear a protective layer against the cold, sun, and moisture, similar to their hoomans wearing clothes. Skinny piggies miss that layer, so they’re more sensitive to the temperature and other elements that affect their soft skin.
Fur protects guinea pigs from sunburn and skin damage from UV light, but our hairless guinea pig friends don’t have this luxury. They’re also much more likely to feel drafts and cold - imagine walking around in nothing but your undies in winter. You’d be freezing pretty quickly!
And because a pig’s fur also protects them from moisture and injuries, it’s extra important for hairless guinea pigs to stay dry and safe (read: extra cage cleans and soft bedding), or they could end up with sores and fungus.
Because skinny pigs care and skinny pigs skincare is a bit more demanding, it’s best to give these cute hairless guinea pigs to experienced pig parents.
Hairless guinea pigs snack more
Since hairless guinea pigs burn more energy to keep cold, they're also bound to have a bigger appetite! What does this mean for piggy parents? First and foremost, they need to make sure their precious pets have lots of food and water available at all times.
Like any other guinea pig, hairless guinea pigs need plenty of fiber and some vitamin C in their diet. Guinea pigs are known as walking stomachs because they constantly eat and poop, and skinny pigs do even more of both. An extra big pile of hay will help these sweet pets stay warm and healthy.
The downside of this situation? Extra cage mess. Skinny pig parents clean up even more poop than their furred friends’ parents, and a perfect cage cleaning routine is an absolute must for hairless guinea pigs.
Hairless guinea pigs love the indoor life
Most guinea pigs live indoors with regular trips to the garden if the weather’s right. Skinny pigs shouldn't be housed outdoors because they’re super sensitive to the heat, cold, and drafts. As they have no fur for protection, they require a higher room temperature of 21°C to 24°C (72°F to 75°F) to stay comfortable.
Another big factor in hairless guinea pig care is their sensitivity to the sun. Yes, hairless guinea pigs love the warmth, but their skin can't be protected from the sun’s rays in any way. If you’re now thinking about getting your sunscreen out for your pigs, wait a second! If we’ve learned one thing about hairless guinea pigs, it’s that their skin is so sensitive and so is likely to have a bad reaction to human sunscreen. That's why it's best to keep your skinny guinea pigs out of direct sunlight and in the shade, avoiding the midday sun and hot temperatures at all costs.
Now, this doesn’t mean that trips to the garden with your skinny pigs are out of the question. Skinny guinea pig parents just have to prepare a little more before going outside, offering their pigs shade, plenty of water, areas to keep cool and hide from any wind. Although this list sounds pretty complex, once you’ve got a good outdoor setup, it’ll be easy to take them to the garden with you.
What are Skinny Pigs really like?
We’ve learned a lot about skinny guinea pigs’ looks and needs, about the difference between skinny pigs and Baldwin guinea pigs, and the basics of hairless guinea pig care. But what are they really like? Do skinny pigs get along with other guinea pigs? Every pig is an individual with their own personality. So let’s uncover the hidden depths of the cute hairless guinea pigs!
Can skinny pigs live with hairy guinea pigs?
The short answer: absolutely! Your hairy and hairless guinea pigs can live together in the same habitat. In fact, your furry friends may enjoy the extra fuzz the skinny guinea pigs get, from extra food and a wheek-y clean cage to a cosy room temperature. As long as the pigs get along, there’s no reason to keep hairy and hairless guinea pigs apart.
And what if they start fighting? The general rule is that guinea pigs should be separated if either pig draws blood. When it comes to skinny piggies, their pet parents have to be a little more careful, as their lack of fur means that they can get hurt much quicker.
Do skinny pigs like to be held?
Like any piggy, a hairless guinea pig has their own personality. Some love cuddles, others are a bit more shy. Some enjoy spending time with their hoomans, some prefer the company of other guinea pigs.
When it comes to snuggle time, piggy parents should treat their skinny guinea pigs like any other pig. Just make sure to be extra gentle as while their skin is super soft, it's also very fragile. And as always, be patient, as it takes time to bond with guinea pigs, regardless of breed.
Can skinny pigs live alone?
No guinea pig should ever live alone, and skinny guinea pigs are no exception to this rule. Guinea pigs are very social animals, living in large herds in the wild, so they need at least one companion of their own kind. So when you’re off to adopt your skinny pig, make sure to also bring a friend for them.
How to Take Care of Skinny Pigs
Skinny piggies are just like hairy guinea pigs in many ways. But the right hairless guinea pig care requires some extra knowledge from the piggy parents. The four pillars of great skinny pigs care are:
- An indoor piggy palace
- Special skinny pigs skincare
- The right bedding & accessories to keep warm
- Weekly health checks
Skinny pigs care for beginners
Generally speaking, skinny pigs have the same basic needs as any hairy guinea pig, so plenty of food & water, nail trimming, and even bathing when needed. Except that hairless guinea pigs don’t need haircuts or regular grooming, but their skin will still need looking after!
Nail trimming is at the forefront of skinny pigs care. If a skinny pig’s nails grow too long and scratch the soft skin, it could lead to an infection. And that’ll take extra piggy parenting efforts to clear up and - much more importantly - is sore for the little pigs. We think it’s better to be safe than sorry, so sticking to a good skinny pigs care routine keeps your furless friends happy and healthy!
Skinny pigs skincare for extra soft skin
The skin of hairless guinea pigs is very delicate but also similar to the one of hoomans. And just like ours, their skin comes in different skin types, from dry to normal, to oily. But unlike us, they don’t have a host of skin care products available to moisturise. So what can skinny piggy parents do to keep their floofless friends looking shiny?
Coconut oil is the best piggy-safe solution for great skinny pig skincare. If you notice your hairless guinea pig has either oily or dry skin, apply cold pressed coconut oil with a soft cloth to their skin, avoiding the face and inner ears.
Do skinny pigs need baths?
Skinny pigs and baths are an interesting topic. Surely, if their skin is like ours, they’ll also need baths like us, right? Well, not quite. Bathing a skinny pig isn’t part of the skinny pigs skincare routine because it dries out their skin. If you give your hairless guinea pig regular baths, they can develop cracked skin and this could end up getting infected.
That's why a bath should only be given if absolutely necessary, and ideally only in the area where they're dirty (like a soggy bottom or dirty paw!). There’s no real need to wash the whole guinea pig and the same goes for our furless friends. And when you choose the product to wash them with, avoid hooman shampoos that could cause irritation in favour of pet-safe products designed for piggies.
Once they’re out of the bath, your skinny piggy will enjoy being super snug in a comfy towel until they’re completely dry. This part reduces the risk of them catching the piggy version of a cold, an Upper Respiratory Infection (URI).
Skinny pigs health checks
A weekly wellbeing check is a vital part of any skinny pigs care routine. It’s a good way to track their health, check for any injuries, and also get to know your pet. By keeping a close eye on their body, you’ll notice sooner when something’s off. Plus, if you give them cuddles and tasty treats during the checks, it also becomes human-skinny pig bonding time.
You can keep track of your checks in a physical or digital document, and make sure you’re checking their weight, nails, teeth, ears, eyes, and skin for anything unusual. The weekly wellbeing checks go hand in hand with an annual trip to a cavy-savvy vet to make sure your furless friends are doing well.
Best guinea pig cage for Skinny pigs
Skinny pigs are strict indoor pets, apart from trips into a shaded corner of the garden on a warm day. They like to stay in a warm room temperature. So what’s the best cage setup for skinny pigs?
Unsurprisingly, wooden hutches aren’t great for the small pets, partly because they’re used outdoors and partly because the wood can be uncomfortable and even scratch their skin.
The majority of skinny pig parents choose a C&C guinea pig cage. These cages are made up of cubes or grids and a coroplast base, so they’re easy to customise, have lots of room to zoom, and they’re super easy to clean (so important for skinny pigs!). Plus, they go great with the softest and most reusable bedding solution for guinea pig cages: fleece liners. So that they can stay comfy all day long!
How to set-up a C&C cage for skinny pigs
We know our beloved skinny guinea pigs need some extra TLC due to their fragility. Their cage is no exception to this, and it should provide them soft surroundings. A C&C cage with a fleece liner is a brilliant start, and with a few fleece accessories, it becomes the skinny pig palace of your dreams!
Fleece accessories, especially a hidey and a tunnel, are ideal options for cosy winter nights at home and the rest of the year, too. Plus, the pee pad in our fleece hideys is removable, so you can make sure your sweet pigs stay clean while they’re also staying comfy.
Best bedding for sensitive skinny pig skin
It won’t be a huge surprise that soft fleece liners are the skinny pig friendliest bedding. Wood shavings are too scratchy for their soft, sensitive skin and can cause more harm than good. Not to mention the dust in some beddings, and the lack of cosy snooze spots for skinny pigs who feel the material directly on their skin. So fleece liners it is!
Lining your C&C cage with the plush fleece liners makes your skinny pig feel like they’re walking on clouds. The fleece liners also surround your skinny pig with a layer of comfortable warmth. And if you like to decorate your home, then you can customise your piggy cage with fleece liners in lots of different designs!
Is It okay to keep hairless guinea pigs?
There’s been a lot of talk about ethical breeding of pets recently, especially when it comes to dogs and cats. Some dog and cat breeds inherit health issues that they’re bred with for particular features, like a pug’s squished face or a Scottish fold’s floppy ears. Although these pets look cute, their wellbeing is at risk and often takes a sudden downturn because of these features. So what about hairless guinea pigs?
Animal welfare organisations have expressed concern for the rising numbers of pet skinny pigs because of the special care these pigs need. These organisations raise questions around putting a pet’s looks before their health, asking pet parents to carefully consider the additional needs these pigs come with.
In the end, it’s every piggy parent’s decision if they want to add a skinny pig to their herd. If they learn about skinny pigs care and make sure their pets have everything they need and want, then a skinny guinea pig can live as good and long a life as their hairy friends, sometimes even longer.
Conclusion
Cute hairless guinea pigs make a wonderful addition to any herd, with their unusual looks and fun personalities. Wherever you stand on the question of ethical skinny pig-keeping, one thing’s sure: these adorable animals deserve the same love their furry friends do!
If you’re thinking about adopting a skinny pig, make sure to read up on all their care needs. Their skin and bodies are sensitive and fragile, so they need just a little (or a lot!) extra TLC to be happy, healthy pets.
