
There are numerous breeds of guinea pigs, each with its own characteristics, those special characteristics that It makes each one unique and different from the others.In the case of skinny guinea pigs this difference is noticeable with a single glance, because these guinea pigs have no hair , but this does not mean that no they present different colors, also having some differences with other breeds of guinea pigs that are also categorized as bald.Do you want to know what are those characteristics of skinny guinea pigs ? In ExpertAnimal we present these creatures so curious.
Origin of the skinny guinea pig
 Skinny guinea pigs did not arise spontaneously due to a natural genetic mutation.These guinea pigs arose from the need for Canadian laboratories to conduct dermatological studies for which it was essential to have experimental subjects lacking hair.
Being the result of crossing hairless guinea pigs and guinea pigs with hair , they were very useful because, like humans, the guinea pigs have thymus and also these skinny had a healthy immune system This appearance occurred in 1978, at the Armand Frappier Institute in Montreal, came from Hartley guinea pigs who lived in the laboratory.
From that moment on, skinny guinea pigs were gaining adherents among those who They wanted to have a pet, becoming a domestic guinea pig in just a few years.
Features of the skinny guinea pig
 The skinny guinea pig has a size of about 27 centimeters long , weighing males between 1 and 1.5 kilograms, being the smallest female, as they usually weigh between 800 and 1300 grams.The average life expectancy of a skinny guinea pig ranges between 5 and 8 years.
These guinea pigs have no hair all over the body , except for a lock they present in the snout, which distinguishes them from other races of bald guinea pigs such as the baldwin guinea pig, although this breed is not born bald, but is born with hair and loses it as it grows.The skin of the skinny guinea pigs is wrinkled and may have skin flaps , this being completely normal.Due to their lack of hair, the vertebrae and ribs may seem outstanding, but this is not anomalous, because if they are not too marked, this indicates that our guinea pig you are overweight.
Despite having no hair, these guinea pigs can have different skin colors , like black, white, brown..., in the same way they can present different patterns such as mottled or spotted, combining several colors, being both bicolor and tricolor.
Character of the skinny guinea pig
 Skinny guinea pigs are very active animals , which are usually restless and need to do a lot of physical activity, which they will do during the day, since they are diurnal animals .These guinea pigs are very affectionate, seeking the attention and affection of their owners.
Guinea pigs are very sociable and gregarious animals, so it is recommended to have them at least as a couple, as a single guinea pig usually presents various problems such as anxiety, aggressiveness, depression...However, they may show a little suspicion of strangers given their scary character.
Skinny guinea pig care
 Lacking fur, skinny guinea pigs are extremely sensitive to temperatures , both very cold and too hot, so we must always be very attentive to our guinea pig being in a room in which the temperature is warm or somewhat warm, since they tolerate the cold little, being able to get diseases if they are exposed to low temperatures.
We also have to ensure that they do not take the so l, because your skin is very sensitive and burns easily.If you are going to be exposed to it, we must moisturize your skin and apply special sunscreen for use in them, this being one of the main care of skinny guinea pigs.
Also, we must take care of the feeding of our guinea pig , providing them with quality food, always having fresh hay at their disposal, pellets and clean water at all times It is recommended to complement your food with vegetables such as broccoli, radishes or carrots, as well as all those vegetables rich in vitamin C.
Skinny guinea pig health
 Skinny guinea pigs are considered as immunocompetent guinea pigs , this means that your immune system is able to cope with the possible viruses and pathogens that could affect them.to the veterinarian for check-ups, as well as in the case of detecting strange or alarming symptoms such as sadness, apathy, diarrhea, lack of appetite or not drinking water.
Most of the conditions that are worrisome in the case of skinny guinea pigs are those related to your skin.As we mentioned, this skin, lacking the protection provided by hair, is very exposed.This leads to it being easier for our skinny to look affected by sunburn , or burns due to being near very hot objects.In the same way they are prone to colds and pneumonia when they have to withstand cold temperatures, air currents or if this also adds to conditions of high humidity ad.
Guinea pigs can present vitamin C deficits , causing this organic imbalances that can favor the depression of your immune system, leaving them more exposed to pathogenic organisms that make them sick.Therefore, although it is considered that providing them with a quality feed combined with vegetables and fruits rich in this vitamin may be sufficient, it may be necessary that we give our guinea pigs a vitamin C supplement, it is recommended that we give it with the Supervision by a veterinarian specializing in exotic foods.Some foods rich in vitamin C include peppers and strawberries.
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