Skinny Pig Data and T-4 count
I don't mean to sound stupid - what is a skinny pig? I'm assuming its a breed - if so what does it look like - and i am assuming T4 is blood work right? The same with humans?
And OMG PinkRufus are those Guinea Pigs in your picture!!!?? If so what breed is that - they are SOOOOO frign cute! AHHH! =)
Thanks Guys and Gals
And OMG PinkRufus are those Guinea Pigs in your picture!!!?? If so what breed is that - they are SOOOOO frign cute! AHHH! =)
Thanks Guys and Gals
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PinkRufus
- Contributor in 2020
Skinnies are a hairless breed of guinea pig, there is a lot of controversy about them and they need special care:
https://www.guinealynx.info/records/viewtopic.php?t=43
This thread is here to collect information about them (and T4 counts for all pigs), it's not supposed to be a discussion thread.
https://www.guinealynx.info/records/viewtopic.php?t=43
This thread is here to collect information about them (and T4 counts for all pigs), it's not supposed to be a discussion thread.
I've got a non-skinny pig with confirmed hyperthyroidism. This is her on the left:
Ms Piggy: Intact female, brown & black, 4-6 yrs old (rescued in 2005 as a 2-3 year old adult). I've always considered her a teddy because her fur is sort of rough and crinkly, but not as much so as some true teddies I've had. It's possible that her thyroid problem gave her fur abnormalities maybe?
Symptoms: high appetite, high water drinking, high activity levels (frequent frantic gnawing at bars), persistent low weight (~600g) despite nearly unlimited pellet intake.
T4: 5.6 ug/dL
T3-A: 143 ng/dL
Two young, healthy animals were also tested as controls:
Skunky (intact female born May 2006)
T4: 1.7 ug/dL
T3-A: < 40 ng/dL
Dozer (neutered male, brother to Skunky, born May 2006)
T4: 2.3 ug/dL
T3-A: < 40 ng/dL
Ms. Piggy has been put on compounded liquid Tapazole twice a day, and has put on nearly 30 grams in the week she's been on it.
Ms Piggy: Intact female, brown & black, 4-6 yrs old (rescued in 2005 as a 2-3 year old adult). I've always considered her a teddy because her fur is sort of rough and crinkly, but not as much so as some true teddies I've had. It's possible that her thyroid problem gave her fur abnormalities maybe?
Symptoms: high appetite, high water drinking, high activity levels (frequent frantic gnawing at bars), persistent low weight (~600g) despite nearly unlimited pellet intake.
T4: 5.6 ug/dL
T3-A: 143 ng/dL
Two young, healthy animals were also tested as controls:
Skunky (intact female born May 2006)
T4: 1.7 ug/dL
T3-A: < 40 ng/dL
Dozer (neutered male, brother to Skunky, born May 2006)
T4: 2.3 ug/dL
T3-A: < 40 ng/dL
Ms. Piggy has been put on compounded liquid Tapazole twice a day, and has put on nearly 30 grams in the week she's been on it.
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PinkRufus
- Contributor in 2020
I have a Teddy mix who has a slow heartbeat. I think trying to sort things out by breed/race is a difficult approach; there are just too many variables to come up with anything useful. That being said, I may have stumbled across something that could help solve your mystery, Pinta. Some inbred strains of the hairless *mice* were in fact hyperthyroid and had accelerated aging. I have not found anything like that in the 'lab skinnies', because they are always bred to be hardy and are mostly used in skin studies. They wouldn't want their 'models' expiring before they can find out which tattoo inks and removal methods worked best. I have been doing a lot of research on the Skinnies and update my page (above link) as I find out/confirm information. Pinta, if you have any questions about my findings, you can email me.
Yes, Teddies are a common out cross for the Skinnies. Skinnies are out crossed to various haired guinea pig breeds (depending on country) routinely. I'm not a breeder, I have been doing this research for the Skinnies regardless of who they may belong to.
Yes, Teddies are a common out cross for the Skinnies. Skinnies are out crossed to various haired guinea pig breeds (depending on country) routinely. I'm not a breeder, I have been doing this research for the Skinnies regardless of who they may belong to.
I think trying to sort things out by breed/race is a difficult approach
I can see your point but breed really factors into a lot with pigs. When I initially raised alarm bellls about satins and calcium issues, there were a few people who thought I was going out on a limb and jumping to conclusions. Now it is common knowledge that satin pigs are prone to bone density problems.
It was my understanding that skinny lab pigs were bred with poor immune systems for testing drugs etc. (being hairless would make it easier to see if there were skin reactions to drugs). Most skinnies on this board seem to age and die prematurely. Whern my vet has done autopsies on 3.5 year-old skinnies, she has said they looked more like they were in the 7 year range. That said I have one skinny from my original trio left (Gretchen)and she will be 5(fingers crossed) on Dec. 24. But she acts like she is 7.5.
What set her apart from the other two is her markings - if she had hair she'd be black, red and white. The other two who died prematurely would have been PEWs. Does pigment offer extra protection? Her mom(Heart) died early of heart failure and the only thing that separated them was pigment. Gretch is on heart meds and has been all her life. She now does periodic course of prednisone to help with what my vet believes is scarred lungs.
I have a theory that if you mess with the hair the body is affected. Satins, skinnies, teddies - pigs with weird-ass hair(or lack thereof) seem to have a higher percentage of health issues than normal garden variety pigs. So I think sorting things out by breed is a sensible approach. And note it is only an "approach".
I can see your point but breed really factors into a lot with pigs. When I initially raised alarm bellls about satins and calcium issues, there were a few people who thought I was going out on a limb and jumping to conclusions. Now it is common knowledge that satin pigs are prone to bone density problems.
It was my understanding that skinny lab pigs were bred with poor immune systems for testing drugs etc. (being hairless would make it easier to see if there were skin reactions to drugs). Most skinnies on this board seem to age and die prematurely. Whern my vet has done autopsies on 3.5 year-old skinnies, she has said they looked more like they were in the 7 year range. That said I have one skinny from my original trio left (Gretchen)and she will be 5(fingers crossed) on Dec. 24. But she acts like she is 7.5.
What set her apart from the other two is her markings - if she had hair she'd be black, red and white. The other two who died prematurely would have been PEWs. Does pigment offer extra protection? Her mom(Heart) died early of heart failure and the only thing that separated them was pigment. Gretch is on heart meds and has been all her life. She now does periodic course of prednisone to help with what my vet believes is scarred lungs.
I have a theory that if you mess with the hair the body is affected. Satins, skinnies, teddies - pigs with weird-ass hair(or lack thereof) seem to have a higher percentage of health issues than normal garden variety pigs. So I think sorting things out by breed is a sensible approach. And note it is only an "approach".
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