What is a Hairless Guinea Pig?

A hairless guinea pig is an adorable rodent that has almost no hair due to a spontaneous genetic mutation. They are a mix between haired guinea pigs and a hairless lab strain. Often referred to as Skinny pigs, they have friendly, outgoing personalities, and enjoy spending time with their humans when handled properly. The upside of adopting a Skinny pig is that they make awesome pets for people who have allergies to pet dander or have weak immune systems. Their biggest difference from other guinea pig breeds is that Skinny pigs need to eat slightly more to maintain their body temperature because they are hairless and also they need to avoid direct sunlight to prevent dry skin. It would be especially nice to knit or buy a sweater for your Skinny pig during the colder winter months.

 

The benefits of adopting a Hairless Guinea Pig:

The sad part of the Hairless Guinea Pig’s story is that they are used for conducting dermatology studies, but thankfully they are moving beyond the lab and gaining popularity in Europe and North America as family pets due to their charming personality. The more families adopt Skinny pigs, the less they would be used in scientific studies, so open your home today to at least one of these sweet, cuddly little creatures.