Skinny Pigs and Baldwins

The first time I heard the term "Skinny pig" I was a perplexed, but skinny pig is simply a cute term used to refer to hairless guinea pigs. Technically, skinny pigs are just mostly hairless -- a lot of them have some wiry hair on their faces and paws and even a bit on their bodies sometimes. Baldwin guinea pigs, on the other hand, are completely hairless (as adults anyway, as babies sometimes have hair which is lost as they mature). There is some controversy over the increasing popularity of these unique creatures in the pet trade, though with good lines and breeding, these guinea pigs should really be as hardy as their hairy counterparts. They do need a bit of extra care (mainly protection from the cold and sun) but for the most part they are just like regular guinea pigs except for a somewhat startling appearance. But you know what they say: beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and you can see for yourself with the photos in Hairless Guinea Pigs.