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The hairless guinea pig is a relatively new breed that is gaining popularity. Their unique appearance makes them stand out from the crowd. But as with any new pet craze, it’s important to prepare and do your research before rushing into buying one. Pet ownership is both a responsibility and a privilege. This guide will tell you almost everything you need to know about what they are, how to take care of them, and where to find them.
What is a naked guinea pig?
As the name suggests, the hairless guinea pig has almost no body hair. They have elastic skin with many wrinkles and drooping ears. Due to the lack of hair, they can seem a little strange and abnormal: some people humorously compare their appearance to a miniature hippopotamus. But aside from the lack of hair (and the associated grooming requirements), there really isn’t a whole lot of difference between hairy and hairless pigs in terms of their behavior and temperament, except that their metabolism goes a little faster to keep warm.
Skinny Pig vs. Baldwin’s Guinea Pig
There are two generally recognized types of hairless pigs: the so-called skinny pigs and Baldwin’s guinea pigs. A skinny pig has small patches of fur around its face, feet and legs. Baldwin’s guinea pig, although born with full hair, is almost completely hairless by the age of two months, with the possible exception of a few tufts around the paws. Hair begins to fall out after two to five days, first around the head and gradually approaching the hind legs. This is not a sign of illness: it is completely natural. Skinny guinea pigs and Baldwin’s guinea pigs have completely different origins, which will be discussed below.
How was the naked guinea pig created?
The answer to this question requires a little explanation. As you may have learned in your science class, all individual organisms inherit two versions of a gene from their parents: one is dominant and the other is recessive. If the offspring inherits two dominant genes, then the dominant trait will be expressed. But if the offspring inherits the dominant gene and the recessive gene, then the dominant trait will override the recessive trait and will also be expressed. The offspring must inherit two recessive genes for the recessive trait to manifest.
It is important to note that, for the purposes of this article, the lack of hairline is a recessive trait in both skinny and Baldwin’s guinea pigs. To be bald, an animal must inherit two copies of the recessive gene. If you breed two hairless parents together, the result is more hairless guinea pigs. However, if it is crossed with a hairy guinea pig, then the offspring will also have fur, but now they will also carry the recessive trait of hairlessness. These pigs are known as hairless carriers and can produce hairy or hairless offspring themselves.
The skinny guinea pig was originally a spontaneous mutation at the Montreal Research Center in the late 1970s. Once this hairless recessive strain was identified, it was used in the laboratory as a test subject for dermatological products. It didn’t take long for humans to realize their potential in the pet trade, however, and their popularity grew rapidly in the 1990s. Baldwin’s guinea pig had a slightly different origin. It arose from a recessive genetic mutation in the white-crested golden agouti (pigs with a solid belly but otherwise striped or ticked fur). A California breeder named Carol Miller was the first to notice this change and began to propagate it.
You may ask: Why do skinny pigs and Baldwin’s guinea pigs have different amounts of hair? This is because their hairless features are actually linked to completely different genes. Just because of the nature of genetics, there is rarely only one gene that controls an entire trait, but rather multiple genes that affect different traits at the same time. This can lead to strange and unexpected results. If you, for example, crossed a skinny and a Baldwin together, the result would be a normal hairy pig. This is because they will inherit a dominant copy of both genes from their parents; for example, Baldwin will have a dominant counterpart instead of a recessive hairless trait in a lean one, and vice versa. The offspring will still have a copy of the recessive traits of Baldwin and the skinny hairless, and therefore could propagate these traits to their offspring.
Colors of hairless guinea pigs
Despite the lack of luxurious fur, hairless guinea pigs are no less colorful than their wool cousins. They usually come in black, chocolate brown, cinnamon, golden, gray, pink, white, and many other colors. Some of the more common patterns include Brindle (dark stripes or spots mixed equally on a light background), Dalmatian (dark spots on a white background), Dutch (white body with colored spots on the face and croup), Himalayan (white body with more dark limbs), tortoiseshell (two or more colors mixed throughout into larger spots) and solid. Both the color and the pattern will depend on the type of pig (Baldwin vs. Lean) and its specific line.
Health and care of hairless guinea pigs
Some websites claim that skinny pigs have a shorter lifespan than hairy guinea pigs. However, since no rigorous tests or studies have been conducted on its health and longevity, it’s hard to say for sure. The typical lifespan of a skinny pig is five to seven years. Baldwin’s guinea pigs probably have about the same lifespan.
Otherwise, hairless guinea pigs appear to be as healthy as normal guinea pigs, except for one important point: open skin makes them more sensitive to the environment. They are easily irritated by wood chips and cold. Skin infections and scratches can also occur more frequently.
To protect your pet from problems, there are some smart steps you can take to ensure that your hairless guinea pig is well cared for. First, it would be a good idea to use a softer bedding like fleece rather than hard wood shavings. Second, if you’ve ever had to take your guinea pig outside for extended periods of time in sunlight, it’s important to apply sunscreen to its skin, or at least cover it to prevent direct exposure. Third, without wool to retain heat, the optimal ambient temperature range for a bald pig is 68 to 79 degrees Fahrenheit (or 20 to 26 degrees Celsius). This is slightly higher than the average temperature for a woolly guinea pig. Fortunately, their higher metabolic rate will produce all the heat they need, but they may need a little more food than a regular guinea pig, perhaps 1/6 cup of pellets instead of 1/8 cup.
What about skin moisturizers? Many owners mistakenly believe that their bald pigs need moisturizers to stay dry, but this is actually a misconception. Their bodies, like humans, produce natural oils that moisturize well. The only time you might want to apply a moisturizer is if, for whatever reason, the skin does start to noticeably dry out or crack.
Fortunately, there are some aspects of caring for it that c
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be easier without hair. Since bare skin is much less likely to accumulate dirt and soot on bare skin than on fur, there is no need to brush it at all, except for small sections of hair. Taking a bath is also a relatively simple procedure. After placing the pig in a box of warm water, you should lather its body with a very mild shampoo that will not irritate the skin. When you’re done, you should wrap your guinea pig in a soft towel to dry it off. Using a hair dryer is not the best option.
How to buy a naked guinea pig
Unfortunately, most guinea pig breeders do not care for bald pigs; these lines can be a little finicky to breed and are not as well known. Your best bet is to find a professional breeder in your area who specializes exclusively in hairless guinea pigs. Do your research and try to find a breeder who is experienced in raising healthy pigs with little problems. They are sometimes sold at pet stores, but they don’t always meet the high standards of a professional breeder and can be risky. Sometimes these animals are found in local rescue shelters, but due to their rarity, there is no guarantee that they will be found.
Hairless guinea pigs are likely to cost between $ 100 and $ 300, slightly more than the average. You may end up paying more for lifelong care for the pig. Due to their special needs, it will probably be much better to combine multiple hairless guinea pigs together than to combine hairless and hairless pigs, especially if you plan on keeping them together.
Next: The Ten Best Animals with the Toughest Skin
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