Guinea pigs have many biological similarities to humans and have been used in medical research for centuries. This is not overly common in other mammals, so a real unique experience if you are considering breeding. They will still nurse shortly after birth for a period to get some essential vitamins from mum, but they are also able to consume normal food such has hay almost immediately! The very high-level summary of this term is that the Piglets are born with their eyes open, and are able to move around on their own soon after being born. It is extremely risky for older Sows to give birth, so this should be avoided if at all possible. Look for signs of changes in appetite, bodily functions and activity and get them checked by your vet. The average litter size is 3 piglets, but this can vary depending on mother nature!Īs with any pregnancy there can be complications. Gestation Period and pregnancyįemale guinea pigs are pregnant for approximately 2 months. Always select your breeders carefully and ensure they are sourcing mates from different gene pools. This, However is detrimental to the health of the piglets and weakens the immune system considerably. But unless you know the breeding history, it is impossible to tell!īecause of the recessive gene, it has been known for some Guinea pig breeders to inbreed their skinny pigs to ensure skinny piglets. Which makes it possible for 2 haired Guinea pigs to produce Skinny Piglets. Haired Guinea pigs may also carry the gene. This could be breeding 2 hairless piggies together, where you are sure the gene will be present. The Skinny pig Gene is recessive, which means it is mandatory for the breeding pair to carry the gene. We are in fact talking about the Skinny pig Gene, which gives this little critter its near hairless characteristics. When we say skinny Genes, we are not talking about the latest fashion item which you might see Justin Bieber wearing. The age of the male is not overly important as long sexual maturity has been reached. Therefore this is defintely not recommended. Symphysis, which will cause complications during birth and most likely results in a Cicerian section being required. Sows older than 5-6 months may have complications due to a fusing of the pubic Females, or the Sow, should be less than 10 months old at the maximum.
Guinea Pigs are sexually mature from about 1-2 months old. If you are interested in breeding Guinea pigs, although not difficult, there are a few important considerations. They have gained in popularity over the years with Cavy enthusiasts and pet owners alike. The Skinny Pig was introduced to the pet trade in the 1990’s. The new breed of almost hairless ‘Skinny’ pigs was the bred in labs for use in dermatological studies. The hairless strain was actually a genetic mutation in a group of lab-bred Guinea pigs first discovered back in the 1970s in Montreal. The skinny pig breed of guinea pig originated from a crossbreeding program between haired Guinea pigs and a hairless lab strain.
HAIRLESS ANIMAL S HOW TO
How to care for them and ensure years of happy Guinea pig ownership ! Skinny Pig History This guide will give you all you need to know about Skinny pigs.
HAIRLESS ANIMAL S SKIN
This is due to the different patterns and skin tone variations. This resulted in a nearly hairless crossbreed.Īlthough fairly unusual, Skinny pigs are quite popular amongst Guinea pig enthusiasts.
Sources suggest a haired variety of Guinea pig was cross-bred with a hairless lab strain. When, back in the 1970’s Scientists started breeding them for deermatolical testing. The Skinny Pig is a fairly new addition to the long list of Guinea pig breeds. We say almost as they do have small patches of hair around the feet and muzzle. What temperature do Skinny Pigs like to live at ?Ī skinny pig is an almost hairless breed of Guinea pig.Do Skinny Pigs require more or less care than other Guinea Pig breeds?.When were Skinny Pigs first introduced?.What should i avoid feeding my skinny pig?.What are the best Vegetables for a skinny pig?.UTI Urinary tract Infections in Skinny Pigs.