hairless guinea pigs
Welcome! If you are new here, there are three resources you should know about: 1) Our email guinea pig care mini course - be sure and subscribe before you go 2) Our brand new guinea pig forum - ask questions, get answers 3) Our instantly downloadable ebook - Everything you need to know all in one place! Thanks!
Hairless Guinea Pigs
Did you know that there are hairless varieties of guinea pigs? Its true! The appearance of hairless guinea pigs first appeared as a natural mutation and then breeders developed a couple of breeds by crossing bald guinea pigs with furry. Some strains of hairless guinea pigs have been poorly bred and appear to have immune system problems – but this is not a byproduct of the hairlessness – just poor breeding practices.
Today there are two primary hairless guinea pig breeds – the Baldwin and the Skinny.
The Baldwin is a completely bald breed of guinea pig. The babies are sometimes born with hair but this usually falls out later. This breed was the result of a spontaneous mutation among White Crested guinea pigs. This particular breed has noticeable skin wrinkles as well.
The Skinny are born hairless but develop some patches of fur on the body and feet. This breed is the result of a natural hairless mutation crossed with other breeds such as the Teddy (if you look at their noses, feet, and legs you may see some of that signature curly hair.
What do I need to know about caring for a hairless guinea pig?
Get a small sweater! Kidding. Hairless guinea pigs lack the natural insulation (and protection) that a coat of fur provides. This means they can be more vulnerable to cold and heat than another guinea pig – so make sure their cage is not sitting in the direct path of a draft or strong sunlight. Be sure to feed your hairless piggie a little more than the average guinea pig as this food fuels an elevated metabolism to keep your furry friend warm.
You may notice that your hairless guineas pig becomes a little oily over time. If this occurs, do not hesitate to give him or her a bath using very gentle soap. The best moisturizing products, if needed, are simple, natural, nontoxic products like a little bit of olive oil or aloe. Anything to apply to your guinea pig is likely to be consumed in part and for this reason remember to never use a product like sunscreen! This is toxic for piggies!
For more information on guinea pigs, please be sure to sign up for our newsletter!
guinea pig links
Guinea Pig Links
guinea pig treats
Guinea Pig Treats
Guinea Pig Birthday Cake - Perfect Treat
Its your guinea pigs birthday! Wouldn’t it be fun to make a special cake for your furry friend? Its very simple and easy, all you need to get started is an assortment of your piggie’s favorite fruit, veggies, and herbs. Plus, this is the time to add small amounts of tasty foods that might normally be too heavy in sugar such as dried berries, apricots, figs, or dates. After that – all you need is your own creativity!
Equipment that you will need:
You will need one or more of the following: a knife, food processor, mandolin, salad shooter, or blender.
A attractive but not too delicate plate, dish, bowl, or cup. Make sure the sides are not too high.
If using a plate you may want to use a mold to help you stack the cake. This could be a clean tuna can with the top and bottom removed, or a cookie/biscuit cutter.
Ingredients:
Fruits: blueberries, blackberries, cherries (must be pitted), cranberries, strawberries, currants, gooseberries, cantaloupe, honey dew, kiwi, apples, pears, apricot, peach, mango, papaya
Veggies: bell peppers, artichoke, asparagus, carrots, small pieces of celery, tomatoes, cherry tomatoes
Green Leafy Veggies: kale, collard greens, swiss chard, mustard, dandelion, beet, spinach, carrot tops, pea shoots, green lettuce, butter lettuce, red lettuce, frisse, arugula, endive, radicchio
Herbs: cilantro, parsley, basil, dill, mint, thyme, chives
Instructions
Step 1: Decide on your theme
Are you going to make two small separate cakes one only fruit and the other all veggie? Do you want to combine? What about doing a season theme like cucumbers, lettuce, mixed herbs, and tomatoes for summer? Or how about a little cooked pumpkin or sweet potato, avocado (not too much), cilantro, sweet bell peppers and corn for a fall theme? Also decide if you want to cut your veggies into little squares, thin disks (cucumber would work well for this), a puree (such as for sweet potato) or a mixture. The shape you choose should depend on how hard or soft your ingredients are and how you choose to present them. You don’t want the cake refusing to stack…Also, this is the time to decide if you want to fashion vegetable “candles” out of carrots, apples, asparagus, or sweet bell peppers. If so, set those items aside.
Step 2: Prep the ingredients
Use your knife, food processor, blender, etc to chop about half of all of the vegetables and fruits into bite sized pieces. The remaining could be pureed if you choose. This could be purely decorative or used as a binding agent.
Step 3: Mold or layer the cake
Here you have a few options. You can use a plate and layer all of your ingredients in thin layers to make a “pizza” type shape. You can combine all of your ingredients in a bowl and then mound everything together using a spoon and your hands. You can artfully layer the ingredients according to color and use a mold. Or you can layer everything in a fancy see-through dish.
Step 4: Add real or veggie candles
Be sure to remove wax candles before eating and check for wax drips. Do not use celery stalks for candles as this is hard for your guinea pig to digest.
Step 5: Add decorations
This could be sprinkles of finely chopped herbs, dried fruits, a decorative circle of cherry tomatoes or berries…its up to you.
For more information on great guinea pig treats, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter!
guinea pig disease
Guinea Pig Disease
Can animals catch H1N1?
Yes. On October 9, 2009 there was a confirmed case of H1N1 in a ferret. It is believed that the ferret caught the illness from its owner who was recently ill. November 4th, there was a confirmed case of H1N1 in a cat in Iowa who also appeared to catch the illness from owners. On November 13th, another cat, this time in Utah, was confirmed with the H1N1 virus.
So far there have not been reported cases of guinea pigs catching H1N1, however the possibility must be considered.
Who is at greatest risk?
Animals that live indoors and have close contact with their owners. In this case, guinea pigs would closely fit this description. It is also useful to point out that in every case, the poet has contracted H1N1 from the owners, not GIVEN their owners H1N1. If you have flu symptoms, as a precaution you should avoid contact with people and pets until you feel well.
What are the symptoms?
The animals that have been infected with H1N1 show symptoms of coughing, congestion, runny nose, sneezing, fever, loss of appetite, and inactivity. If you have any concern that your pet may be ill, be sure to take them to your veterinarian for a qualified diagnosis of their illness or disease.
How serious is this?
So far, all of the animals have recovered and there have not been any reported deaths.
Is there a vaccine available?
No. The vaccine developed for human use is not effective for pets.
If my pet becomes sick, are anti-viral medications available?
Due to limited quantities of anti-viral medication, priority is being given to people. Your veterinarian may or may not have access to these medications.
What can I do to protect myself and my pet?
If you are sick, take extra effort to cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. H1N1 is primarily spread through direct contact or through coughing/sneezing.
Wash your hands with soap and warm water before handling your pet or anything that may come into contact with your pet.
In general, make an effort to avoid inviting people to your home who may be sick as well.
For more information on guinea pig disease, be sure to sign up for our newsletter!
guinea pig toys
Guinea Pig Toys
Toys are a great way to add to your guinea pigs daily activities and mental stimulation. In order to make the best use of toys, make sure that you have the basic ground work for fun and enjoyment planned out. Many people complain that their guinea pigs just sit in their cage all day without moving. Sometimes this is due to personality. Other times this can be caused by missing crucial components of your guinea pig’s lifestyle.
First of all, your guinea pig will need a cage large enough to accommodate your guinea pig, toys, supplies, and plenty of room to run around. The page we have set up on guinea pig cages should have all the information you need to get started on this. If there isn’t enough room to play in the cage, it is safe to say that toys will not fix the situation.
Do not forget that most guinea pigs are happiest with another playmate (just remember not to mix males and females unless you are looking for babies.) If you do decide to add a second guinea pig be sure to check out our page on guinea pig cages to estimate the correct cage size for two guinea pigs.
Guinea pigs need daily exercise outside of their cages. Most people say 30 min or so of time to run around in a safe environment works like a charm. Just make sure that you do not have long hanging strings, electrical cords, or spots where your guinea pig can hide and you cannot retrieve him or her.
Make sure your guinea pig has a safe hiding hut in his or her cage. Many guinea pigs are timid and need a hiding area in order to feel secure.
The Most Important Guinea Pig Toy: Hay!
Guinea pigs are happiest when they have something to chew all day. Hay is also extremely healthy and improves digestion. However, you may not know that guinea pigs also consider hay to be an excellent toy. Simply sprinkling a stack of hay into the middle of the cage can prompt your guinea pigs to start running around. Many guinea pigs also love to tunnel through hay. Just remember – buy timothy hay not alfalfa as you want something relatively low calorie.
Light for throwing: paper bags, toilet paper rolls, paper ball with treat inside, treats on string dangling from top of cage
Hiding: tunnels (PVC is good and cheap), shoebox, paper bag, other card board boxes with doors or holes cut out.
Snuggling: Guinea pig cozies. These are basically sleeping bags for guinea pigs. Small stuffed animals are also sometimes enjoyed.
Climbing: Bricks – inexpensive AND have the bonus of wearing your guinea pig’s nails down naturally. Just make sure you do not stack them up high as you always want to prevent injury from falls.
Rolling: Old socks rolled into a ball, tennis balls, etc.
Playing: Mirrors of various sizes. Make sure these are hung outside the cage as they may not be pet safe.
For more great information on guinea pig toys, be sure to sign up for our newsletter!
guinea pig supplies
Guinea Pig Supplies – Where to Get
Guinea Pig Cozies
In the UK:
http://www.hammockyhammocks.co.uk/
http://pimpmypiggy.homestead.com/crashpads.html
In Scotland, http://thistlecavies.tripod.com/shop/id3.html
guide to guinea pig bedding and supplies
Guide to Guinea Pig Bedding and Supplies
Has moved here.
