Hairless guinea pigs include skinny pigs and Baldwin guinea pigs, both of which have little to no fur on their bodies. They require more food and water, more cage cleanings, and more warmth than hairy guinea pigs. They also have sensitive skin since there’s no fur to protect it.
In this article, we’ll discuss how hairless guinea pigs came to be, how they’re different from hairy guinea pigs, and more.
Where Did Hairless Guinea Pigs Come From?
Unfortunately, hairless guinea pigs were first bred as lab animals for animal testing. They’re particularly used to test skin products.
Today, they’re also sold as pets and have had surges in popularity. However, many people aren’t well prepared for a guinea pig–let alone a hairless piggy with even more care requirements. This leads to them frequently ending up in shelters or guinea pig rescues.
If you’d like to adopt a hairless guinea pig, please do so from your local shelter, guinea pig rescue, or a reputable breeder. Avoid pet stores and backyard breeders.
Hairless Guinea Pig Breeds
Some people call all hairless guinea pigs “skinny pigs,” but there are actually two hairless breeds:
- Skinny pigs
- Baldwin guinea pigs
Skinny pigs are born completely hairless aside from wisps of hair on their noses and feet.
Baldwin guinea pigs, also known as hippo guinea pigs, are born with fur. However, it falls out when they’re still babies until they’re left with no fur at all. Baldwins may also be larger and have more sensitive skin than skinny pigs.
Both breeds are caused by inheriting double copies of recessive genes from their parents.
Hairless Guinea Pigs vs. Hairy Guinea Pigs
1. Hairless Guinea Pigs Eat and Drink More
Hairless guinea pigs have even faster metabolisms than hairy pigs and tend to eat and drink double as much. This helps keep their bodies warm and their guts working.
It also means you’ll spend more on food for your hairless guinea pig.
2. They Poop More, Too!
You’ll also need to clean the cage more often with hairless piggies. What goes in must come back out, and they tend to poop and pee a lot more than hairy guinea pigs.
3. They Don’t Regulate Their Body Temperatures Well
A “normal” guinea pig has fur that helps them regulate their body temperatures, both to stay warm in the winter and to stay cooler in summer. Since hairless piggies don’t have fur, they need help staying warm and are more prone to heat stroke if it gets too hot.
Luckily, most households are kept at comfortable temperatures for piggies and people alike. It is never recommended to house hairless guinea pigs outdoors.
Keep warm items in the cage such as fleece hides and tunnels, and keep your guinea pigs away from drafty areas, the air conditioner, and the fan.
4. Hairless Piggies Get Hurt Easily
Since they don’t have fur to protect them, hairless guinea pigs can get hurt more easily by items in the cage or other guinea pigs. They’re more likely to get hurt during bonding or scratched up by other piggies’ nails.
You can combat this by keeping all piggies’ nails short and keeping only soft, safe items in the cage. Opt for fleece bedding or bath mats, and avoid wood bedding options that could scratch your piggy’s sensitive skin.
Hairless guinea pigs are also more prone to skin issues and sunburn, so be sure to care for their skin well, keep them out of the sun, and monitor them for signs of health issues.
5. Their Skin Needs Special Care
Every hairless piggy has different skin, but most have problems with either oily or dry skin at some point. Both can be remedied by using a cotton pad to rub coconut oil over their body.
This moisturizes their skin and can also remove excess oils and any debris on their skin.
Like hairy piggies, hairless guinea pigs should be bathed infrequently and only as needed. Some will never need baths since they don’t have fur to get messy!
Are Hairless Guinea Pigs Hard to Take Care of?
If you’ve cared for guinea pigs before, there are a few aspects of hairless guinea pig care that might surprise you.
Firstly, they must be kept warm and comfortable as their skin is more sensitive than piggies with fur. Fleece bedding and several warm hides are best.
They also eat, drink, pee, and poop around double as much as you’d expect from a hairy guinea pig. This is to keep their bodies warm and keep up with their fast metabolisms.
They also require a bit more in the grooming department, as we discussed above.
What’s the Life Expectancy of a Hairless Guinea Pig?
Hairless guinea pigs often have shorter lifespans than hairy guinea pigs due to poor breeding. We have to remember that, as lab animals, they weren’t initially bred for longevity.
Most hairless piggies come from pet stores as well, meaning they aren’t well-bred. Some reputable breeders are breeding them to be healthier and live longer, which is a great step in the right direction!
Some health problems you might see due to their lack of fur include:
- Injuries
- Skin infections
- Ringworm, mites, and lice
- Allergies
- GI issues (because their metabolisms move even faster than your average guinea pig)
When hairless piggies get sick, they might have a more difficult time recovering than hairy guinea pigs. This is because of their fast metabolisms, which usually prevent them from building up body fat, and their difficulty staying warm even when healthy.
In conclusion, hairless guinea pigs aren’t too different from their furry counterparts. They do have some additional care needs, including routine skin care and additional resources like extra food and water and warm, comfy hides.