Cavia porcellusGuinea PigsSmall

Skinny Pig

A nearly hairless guinea pig with hair only on the face, feet, and legs, the body being mostly bare, warm skin.

gentlesocialcuriouswarm-seekingfriendly

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Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Origin

Canada

Lifespan

4–6 years

Weight

700–1,200 g

Height

20–30 cm

Diet

Herbivore — unlimited hay, fresh greens, pellets, daily vitamin C. Higher caloric requirement than coated guinea pigs due to increased thermoregulation demands.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Mammalia

Order

Rodentia

Family

Caviidae

Genus

Cavia

The Story

A nearly hairless guinea pig with hair only on the face, feet, and legs, the body being mostly bare, warm skin. Originating from a hairless mutation in laboratory guinea pig colonies at the Armand Frappier Institute in Canada in 1978 and developed as a pet variety in the 1980s. Increasingly popular for people who like guinea pigs but are allergic to fur. Their warm bare skin makes them feel like small, living hot water bottles.

Also Known As

Hairless Guinea Pig

Quick Facts

BreedSkinny Pig

Breed GroupHAIRLESS

SizeSmall

ActivityModerate

TrainabilityLow

CountryCanada

Lifespan4 - 6 years

Good with KidsGood with PetsHypoallergenic

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Physical Profile

Source: wikimedia

Body is mostly bare skin — smooth, warm, and wrinkled around the neck and legs. Hair present on face, lower legs, and feet. Skin colour varies widely from pink through chocolate and dark grey, often with spots or patches. Skin folds are characteristic, particularly around the shoulders.

Grooming

Moderate

Shedding

None

Coat Colors

pinkdark greychocolatespottednearly any colour in skin pigmentation

Recognized By

Some cavy societies — not universally recognised

Image Available

Source: wikimedia

Temperament & Personality

Same gentle, social, vocal temperament as all guinea pigs. Tend to seek warmth and will cuddle against warm companions or owners. More sensitive to temperature than coated guinea pigs.

gentlesocialcuriouswarm-seekingfriendly

Living Profile

Activity LevelModerate

TrainabilityLow

Noise LevelModerate

Care & Wellness

Professional Care Protocol

Ear Cleaning

Nail Trimming

Special Eye Care

Teeth Care

•Same as American Guinea Pig with important additions: minimum temperature 20°C — cannot tolerate cold; moisturise skin in dry conditions to prevent cracking; sun protection required near windows with direct light; higher caloric intake needed; pairs essential for warmth as well as social reasons.

Vaccination Schedule

AdultboosterN/A

SpeciesnotesGuinea pigs require an exotic/small animal vet familiar with cavy medicine. Annual wellness exams recommended. Key monitoring: dental occlusion (open-rooted teeth grow continuously), urinary calcium sludge, vitamin C supplementation (guinea pigs cannot synthesise their own), respiratory health. No standard vaccines administered in most countries.

PuppykittenscheduleN/A — guinea pigs have no routine vaccine schedule.

Health Overview

Same as American Guinea Pig. Vitamin C essential. Skin infections and dermatitis more common due to bare skin. Cold intolerance can cause hypothermia.

Common Conditions

•Name: Skin Infections / Dermatitis • Severity: MEDIUM • Prevalence: COMMON • Description: Bare skin more susceptible to bacterial and fungal infections. Regular skin inspection and cleaning of skin folds important.

•Name: Cold Intolerance • Severity: HIGH • Prevalence: COMMON • Description: Without fur insulation, Skinny Pigs cannot maintain body temperature in cool environments. Minimum ambient temperature 20°C essential. Hypothermia risk in draughts.

•Name: Vitamin C Deficiency • Severity: HIGH • Prevalence: COMMON • Description: Daily vitamin C essential.

Fun Facts

Skinny Pigs originated from a laboratory accident — a hairless mutation appeared in guinea pigs being used for dermatology testing at the Armand Frappier Institute in 1978.

A Skinny Pig's body temperature is higher than a coated guinea pig — they produce more body heat to compensate for lacking insulation, making them feel warm to the touch.

Also Known As

Hairless Guinea Pig

Related Tags

#guinea-pig#hairless#non-shedding#warm-skin#temperature-sensitive#laboratory-origin#unusual

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