Skinny Pig (Hairless Guinea Pig)
This page is educational reference material for preparing questions. A licensed veterinarian examines the animal, makes the diagnosis, and sets the treatment.
Quick Facts
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cavia porcellus |
| Origin | Laboratory breeding (1978, Canada) |
| Size | Medium (1.5-2.5 lbs / 0.7-1.2 kg) |
| Lifespan | 5-7 years |
| Diet | Herbivore (hay, vegetables, pellets, vitamin C) |
| Activity Level | Moderate to High |
| Social Needs | Very High - need companions |
| Care Level | Intermediate to Advanced |
| Space Requirements | Minimum 7.5 sq ft for one, 10.5 sq ft for two |
Recommended for Skinny Pigs
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A guinea pig without the coat
Skinny pigs weigh about 1.5 to 2.5 pounds and often live 5 to 7 years. The hairlessness came out of a laboratory colony in the late 1970s. Some have a bit of hair on the face and feet. The skin is dry, oily, or spotty depending on the pig, and it can tear. They need a companion guinea pig, which can be a normal-coated friend, and they need hay and vitamin C like any other pig.
Bedding should not be a dusty wood product that irritates bare skin. Fleece liners that you wash are the usual answer. They eat more than a coated pig in a cold room because they spend calories staying warm. Keep the room warm so they are not eating their way out of a chill.
Skin, cold, and the same emergency as any pig
Scrapes, fungal patches, and crusts need a vet who will not prescribe a random dog ointment. A skinny pig that stops eating is as urgent as a furry one, and faster if the room is cool. ASPCA guinea pig care is the diet baseline. Use the not-eating page the day the hay is ignored.
Skinny pig questions
Are skinny pigs hypoallergenic?
They have less hair. People still react to dander and saliva. The skin needs more care, not less, so this is a poor shortcut for an allergy.
How warm should the room be?
Comfortably warm for a person in a T-shirt, and free of drafts. A hairless pig in a cold basement shakes and gets sick. Fleece they can burrow into helps. A heat lamp that can burn is the wrong tool.
Do they still need vitamin C?
Yes. Hairless does not change the biology. Scurvy looks like pain, a rough appetite, and a pig that does not want to move.
Decision Guides for Skinny Pig (Hairless Guinea Pig)
Use these only when comparing food, insurance, ownership budget, or beginner fit for this specific pet.