…, At What Age Are Guinea Pigs Senior? They also do not cope well with drafts. I have put together some hopefully helpful skinny pig care information, if there's anything I've missed or if you have any questions after reading please let me know! Another much-loved veggie is good, old fashioned, green and crunchy lettuce.A staple of snack time, dark green leafy lettuce is the perfect treat for any pig because most varieties are high in vitamins such as vitamin C and A. There are Skinny guinea pigs that have lived to be 7 years old. If you already own a skinny pig or two, you know that they are a bit high maintenance. Download the FREE PetSmart mobile app today & access your digital card, book services, get special offers & manage your account. Skinny Pig/Hairless Guinea Pig Care Information. On this page I will show you how to care for your Skinny Pig so that they are always happy & healthy. 9,564,659 lives saved. A well cared-for guinea pig can live for ten … Some of them have a thin covering of fuzzy hair on their backs as well. Skinny pigs are allowed to go outdoors on warmer days, however you must ensure that their pen in shaded from the Sun as they can easily overheat and burn (ordinarily a guinea pigs coat provides some protection from the Sun). Feeding plenty of root and cruciferous vegetables will provide lots of energy. Skinny pigs also often develop dry skin, but you can apply unscented baby lotion to the affected areas. Due to their lack of fur, they have trouble maintaining their body heat when housed in a cooler environment. Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2018. You can buy hammocks from pet shops, or make your own with some fabric (such as vet bed) and use some strong metal hooks to hang it up. Pigs love.. and need.. their veggies! Skinny Pig Care. Because they eat quite a lot more, due to fast metabolism, so as a result need regular spot cleaning. When bathing them (monthly), care must be taken to dry their skin completely (especially between folds of skin) to prevent skin problems. A skinny pig is a type of hairless guinea pig. Guinea Pig Care Guide. Due to the fact they don't have fur which naturally keeps them warm when the weather is cold; skinnies are prone to catching cold or even hypothermia very easily. The Skinny Pig is a very unusual, yet an increasingly popular breed of Guinea Pig. Some good examples of popular chew toys include sanitised pine cones, twigs from safe trees (hazel, apple, pear, willow etc), woven balls made out of sea grass/other edible materials and natural boredom breaker toys. In this case, it would be perfectly normal for the guinea pig to play with its’ food as long as the hay you buy is consumable. Vitamin C is a critical nutrient for the proper health and growth of your Skinny pig. They eat the same foods, and they make the same guinea pig sounds. 1. Skinny pigs love chew toys. Skinny pig behavior doesn’t generally deviate too far from normal guinea pig behavior but some owners insist that it is more outgoing and friendlier than other haired species. Skinny Pig Care Skinny pigs require the same type of care you would provide for a haired guinea pig, such as a safe cage, non-toxic bedding changed daily, fresh water that is always available and a diet of fresh, clean vegetables and grass. Now comes the fun part of building the home for your newest family …, What is malocclusion? They get very lonely or even depressed when housed alone. It is not advised to house them outdoors permanently during the Summer as the temperature is not always consistent, and the overnight temperature is often much cooler. Hammocks are adored by skinny pigs. Hand feeding is when you are forcing your Skinny Pig to eat or drink because they are not doing this on their …, Urinary Tract Infection In Skinny Pigs Skinny Pigs are susceptible to UTI’s just like humans. Hay Must Be Available At ALL Times This is a mistake that I see new Skinny Pig owners do all the time. Skinny Pigs are the perfect pet for those who suffer from allergies, mainly allergies caused by pet fur. There are many available online & you can even have a go at making some yourself! The skinnies are a new addition at Piggleswood Cavies.. As skinny pigs don't have fur (at least not very much) cleaning the fleece to go in the washing machine is quite low maintenance and most of the hay/bedding/poop will sweep off with a brush. Report abuse. Vitakraft® Guinea Pig Treat. How To Care For Hairless Guinea Pigs (Skinny Pigs) The essential requirement of food, healthcare, toys, hiding, etc. Caring for a skinny pig. 5. Skinny pigs are very adventurous, curious and energetic so need plenty of stimulus to keep their minds occupied. The breed is the result of inbreeding in laboratory Guinea Pigs, which produced a … Super Pet® Hideout. Hamster Balls Again, guinea pigs are …, Best Skinny Pig Cage Review You decided to adopt a Skinny Pig, or Hairless Guinea Pig. Twice a day, sweep up any droppings. Adding levels to your skinny pigs home is a great way to increase the amount of floor space they have. Using a tunnel to get from one platform to another will provide lots of fun. Although Skinny Pigs do not differ very much than regular guinea pigs they do require a bit more care. These nearly hairless critters have a funny way of winning the hearts of nearly all they come into contact with. If you do have an allergy, then a Skinny Pig (or any other hairless guinea pig) will be excellent. Skinny Pig Nail and foot care . Barron's has included complete information on the care and feeding of Guinea Pigs, including the very special Skinny Pigs. I personally have lost most of … The skinny Pig's origins go back to the late 1970s. Wheels will cause permanent damage to their spine and back legs. It is normal for a guinea pig's teeth to be yellow; cleaning is not necessary. Guinea pigs stay clean and rarely need baths, but can be spot-cleaned with a damp washcloth or unscented baby wipes if needed. Love the book- … Providing you have litter trays, at least once a week you should change the fleece. They need most of the same care, including the same diet and lifestyle needs. Some owners choose to feed their skinny pigs pellets for energy, however a pellet free diet is always best for guinea pigs. It’s believed that these hairless pigs resulted from a spontaneous genetic mutation in 1978, but by the early 1980s, they were being bred specifically for their hairlessness. As skinny pigs don't have fur to protect their skin, introducing them to other guinea pigs should be done with care as they can get injured easily from bites and scratches. The Skinny pig or skinny is an almost hairless breed of guinea pig. Monitor the skinny pigs closely if they appear to be showing dominant behaviour. They are completely hairless, except for a small amount of fuzz on their nose and paws. Vet care for Skinny pigs is scarce. This is a great book about guinea pig care by itself, BUT very little abut actual skinny pig care Read more. Skinny pigs typically have hair on their muzzles, feet, and legs, but are hairless over the remainder of their bodies. Skinny pigs have short legs and are low to the ground, … Each day, spot clean their litter tray. Skinny pig care is trickier than haired guinea pig care, but it’s not impossible or unmanageable for most people. Guinea pigs need their nails clipped approximately once a month. They are still very energetic and have great personalities like every other type. My name is Abby, I am Canadian and currently own 3 skinny pigs & 7 guinea pigs. It has tips on the usual care and feeding subjects, but even more importantly, it has essential content available on easy to read charts, for disease detection, behavior and problem behaviors. Skinny pigs should be housed in a space of at least 120cm x 60cm. Oxbow Small Pet Supplement. Guinea pigs have open rooted teeth, meaning they are forever growing. Skinny pigs have much the behaviour of other guinea pig breeds. The skinny diet should include som… Best Skinny Pig Cage Review You decided to adopt a Skinny Pig, or Hairless Guinea Pig. Skinny pigs are one such breed of guinea pig which need some extra care as compared to other kinds out there. One person found this helpful. Fur may be brushed with a soft-backed brush. Aim to feed at least 15% of their body weight in vegetables daily (not all at once!). Skinny Pigs for Novices: The Perfect Guide on Caring, Food, Housing, Keeping, Diet, Health and Breeding your Skinny Guinea Pig (Skinny Guinea Pigs as Pets) by Phoebe Feron | Aug 9, 2020 1.0 out of 5 stars 2 They are generally very well behaved and affectionate animals. Skinny Pig Care. accommodation. Just like regular guinea pigs, skinny pigs have some simple but specific care requirements to keep them happy and healthy. Exotic vets are hard to find, much less ones that have dealt with Skinny pigs. The best thing about these is that they're free! Due to the fact they don't have fur which naturally keeps them warm when the weather is cold, skinnies are prone to catching cold or even hypothermia very easily. Vitamin c is especially important in a guinea pigs diet. Feed fresh fruit/veg/grass/fresh hay/Burgess excell guinea pig food and ready grass daily and of course, fresh water. 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. Malocclusion is the fancy term for overgrown teeth. Skinny Pigs Need Lots of Special Care Since “skinnies” don't have any fur, except on their noises and a little on their feet, they must be kept indoors in a warm environment. Like all Guinea pigs, Skinny Pigs require a regular trim up of their nails or claws to avoid discomfort imfection or even Bumblefoot! There’s very little that makes Skinny Pigs different from regular guinea pigs. Also disinfect the base of the cage with a water and vinegar solution. Hairless guinea pigs, including the Skinny, aren’t really physiologically different than their haired counterparts. Our pigs look most forward to their green/red BELL PEPPER slice (seeds removed).Great source of vitamin C! You may also keep skinny pigs with guinea pigs, however there are are few important things to know about caring for them. The most significant difference is that skinny pigs must be housed indoors. 4. The breed can succumb to metabolic diseases if they have been inbred or not out-crossed to haired guinea pigs often enough. The first skinny pigs were bred by scientists. The most common food for the it to eat is known as ‘Timothy Hay.’ While popular as a form of beddingfor the guinea pig, you should make sure to buy the timothy hay that is edible for food purposes. Verified Purchase. Geneve darnell. CLICK HERE for their basic nutritional needs. If you would rather go pellet free, ensure your skinny pigs are getting their energy source elsewhere. If you do wish to feed pellets, opt for grain-free cold pressed pellets. So far I haven't found caring for skinny pigs too far removed from that of their hairy counter parts but there are a few exceptions. An additional supplementary seed mix may be beneficial to meet their energy requirements and help with dry skin issues. Hay is either not provided at …. Brown paper bags are a great enrichment activity for skinny pigs. Skinny pig care is fairly simple but these pigs do have some particular health concerns. Monitor the skinny pigs closely if they appear to be showing dominant behaviour. It depends what accommodation they live in, but in general it is best to clean their cage twice a day. Please remember that I am only a hobby breeder and not licensed veternarian so please take all information as personal recommendations only. Skinny pigs eat lots more than normal haired guinea pigs. Helpful. Now comes the fun part of building the home for your newest family … It was hard work getting these early skinny pigs to a point that they were at an adequate level of health. Like most guinea pigs, skinnies are good swimmers, poor climbers, and use motion as a means … There are actually two types of Hairless Guinea Pig, this one and another called the Baldwin Guinea Pig. It's very much a learning curve with owning this unique breed for the first time. Skinny pigs are born almost completely hairless, however some develop more as the get older, especially around their nose. This channel is dedicated to proper care through education, inspiration and demonstration. Skinny Pigs Aren’t Extremely Agile Or Flexible. Despite this, they do have an increased energy demand (due to their fast metabolism) so require up to 1/3 more fresh food than other guinea pigs. UTI’s are an infection of the urinary tract, also known as a bladder infection. The skinny guinea pig or simply skinny pig is a breed of hairless guinea pigs, which unlike their Baldwin cousins, does possess hair on its legs, feet, and muzzle. 2. CLICK HERE to find out why. Because their skin is exposed, you'll need to apply sunblock to your pig if he'll be spending a long time in direct sunlight. Skinny pigs can be enjoyable pets that need a minimum of care and are enjoyable companion animals. Skinny pigs are also more sensitive to sunlight. 5.0 out of 5 stars Great info! Skinny Pigs are said to have slightly shorter life spans, though Skinny Pigs living 4 to 5 years are common. These usually come in the form of snuggle sacks, fabric tunnels & fleece huts. related products. Some individuals are … Just like guinea pigs, they are highly sociable therefore must be housed in pairs or groups. ... Their average lifespan is 4.5 years but tend to live up to 5 – 6 years with proper care. Skinny pigs are a result of a genetic mutation due to experiments in a laboratory during the 70s. For a list of suppliers/links for many of the products mentioned below please see the skinny pig equipment/supplies page. Teeth can overgrow for several reasons, the …, What Is Hand Feeding a Skinny Pig? Skinny pigs aren’t able to …, Why You Need To Weigh Your Skinny Pig   Weighing your Skinny pig about once a week is very important. Skinny pig care. Some owners choose to feed their skinny pigs pellets for energy, however a pellet free diet is always best for guinea pigs. The average guinea pigs life span is about 5-7 years, so really once your guinea pig gets to be about 4 years …, Know How Much Calcium Is In Your Guinea Pigs Diet Calcium is an important nutrient for growth and proper health in Skinny Pigs. remains the same for them. everyone loves treats! Doing this twice a week or even more often is best. We have put together a guide here on how you can do this yourself at home using either a regular human nail clipper or … Skinny pigs are prey animals and are masters at …, 1. They love to hide in them and shred them up. If you have a suitable piggie proof space, you can even leave the cage door open to let them free range! For one, they are social and do … The great thing about Skinny Pigs is that they act and behave exactly the same as other guinea pig breeds (the only difference is how they look). They are an outcome of a haired guinea pig crossed with a hairless lab strain. Food is their fuel to give them the energy to keep warm and healthy. As skinny pigs don't have fur to protect their skin, introducing them to other guinea pigs should be done with care as they can get injured easily from bites and scratches. Your skinny may want to play in the hay, which is fine as well. They tend to be more energetic than guinea pigs due to their fast metabolism, so giving them more space than this is going to be beneficial. However, you need to be careful …, Why Does Your Skinny Pig Need Vitamin C? 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Products mentioned below please see the skinny, Aren ’ t really physiologically different than their counterparts...