Give herenough food as she needs nourishment, so never have her food bowl empty. If you bring home your baby guinea pig at seven weeks old, youll find all the information you need to raise them in our guide to guinea pigs as pets. Walter or Bob These guinea pigs sound like they should be wearing business suits on Wall Street. Individual size is generally linked to litter size, so the more siblings there are in a litter, the smaller they are each likely to be. However, taking some precautions can bring you peace of mind that your sow wont need to eat her babies. No. Female guinea pigs (sows) typically mature sexually at 2 months of age (55 to 70 days). It is also quite normal for baby guinea pigs to whine when approached by a much bigger and older guinea pig. Donnelly, T. M. and Brown, C. J., Guinea Pig and Chinchilla Care and Husbandry, Veterinary Clinics Exotic Animal Practice, 2004. It can be a little surprising to witness, but its completely normal and nothing to be alarmed about. 10. At first your guinea pig baby may seem afraid when you pick him up. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Can a Guinea Pig Baby Live Without the Mother? Guinea Lynx :: A Medical and Care Guide for Your Guinea Pig. Female guinea pigs dont intentionally eat their babies nor do they kill them to eat them. They are not cannibalistic because they are starving. Newborn guinea pigs weigh between 60g and 115g. (What You Need To Know)Continue. Sadly yes, guinea pig mothers do sometimes eat their newborn young. (Find Out Now), https://www.merckvetmanual.com/all-other-pets/guinea-pigs/breeding-and-reproduction-of-guinea-pigs, https://www.npvet.co.nz/pets/animal-info-pets/bird-rabbit-turtle-articles/care-pregnant-guinea-pigs/, https://www.guinealynx.info/reproduction.html, https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/i-think-my-guinea-pig-might-be-pregnant-what-should-i-do/, https://www.petmd.com/exotic/conditions/reproductive/c_ex_gp_pregnancy_toxemia, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/140328-sloth-bear-zoo-infanticide-chimps-bonobos-animals, https://lakeshorepethospital.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Guinea_Pig_Pregnancy.pdf, Removing the male guinea pig(s) will also. Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Babies? The body temperature of a guinea pig is between 101104 F (3840 C), so its ideal ambient air temperature is similar to that of humans, approximately 6575 F (1824 C). There are, Read More 7 Alarming Reasons Why Guinea Pigs DroolContinue, What fruits can guinea pigs eat? Every baby guinea pig needs its mothers milk, which provides enough nutrition during the first crucial days of their lives. Look quickly because guinea pigs are not happy being held this way. Wanna Give Your Piggies the 5 STAR Treatment? A great way to get help raising your first litter successfully, and in recognising potential problems quickly, is by enlisting the support of a mentor. A cage with a deep pan will make it more difficult for your guinea pigs to escape, but its not necessary. National Geographic. They are born precocial, which means they already have teeth and fur, and from their earliest moments they can see, hear, and move about. For instance, a guinea pig that was captured individually needs at least one other guinea pig as a cage mate. This was the most surprising thing to me! And, when it happens, it is usually an accident, not a rule, and intentional behavior. A guinea pig baby can show mating behaviors at about three to four weeks of age. Domestic guinea pigs originated in South America but today these vocal, sociable creatures thrive in households across the globe. https://amzn.to/3iYcPHPAs well as the new Pigg. Just like big farmyard pigs! How Can You Prevent Your Guinea Pig from Eating Its Young? In the meantime, if you havent seen enough sweet pictures of baby guinea pigs yet, then why not visit our compilation of favorite guinea pig videos. This can lead to health problems. Diet What should our pregnant guinea pig eat? To do this, we learned it is best to wean the males by removing them from their mom and sisters cage at three weeks and moving them to a separate cage. Now, if you have a dog or even a cat, you are sure it misses you when you have to go to work but do guinea pigs miss their owners? Can Guinea Pigs Eat Turnip Greens? Lake Shore Veterinary Hospital offers the following helpful advice: If you touch her belly a couple of centimeters ahead of the anus, you will be able to feel that the pelvic bones have spread apart. Their tiny mouths already manage to contain 20 teeth, which grow continuously. We noticed our guinea pig babies began to eat mamas food within a few days of birth. Guinea pig babies are actually called pups. So, I took some time to do some research on it for you. Your guinea pig can definitely use more interplay with the loss of its buddy. From there you can jump straight to the answers you need, or join us for a complete overview of baby guinea pig development, week by week. mypetguineapig.com may be compensated when users click on links and sign-up with their associated offers located in content or anywhere else on the page. Guinea pigs have a good sense of hearing, so they will potentially even be able to hear you coming from down the hall. The act of cannibalism in guinea pigs is usually the mother trying to protect the rest of her litter from predators. Compared to other rodents, guinea pigs (both in captivity and in the wild) will very rarely choose to eat their offspring. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases made by my readers, but it doesn't cost you anything at all. Bathing them, if its something you plan to try, should wait until they are at least eight weeks old. The sow eating her pups may be starving. Watch carefully for signs of stress or discomfort. First of all, dont be too hard on yourself. Male guinea pigs have a donut-shaped opening. Watch after your guinea pig while she gives birth. This is where they learn how to bond and behave in a herd. However, if its weak it might put up little resistance and be eaten entirely. This a sound that only domesticated guinea pigs do for their adoring pet parents. Extreme Stress -. Some guinea pig moms have their maternity care kicked in as they give birth while others take some time . Wanna read something more boring than watching paint dry? Baby guinea pig care - The Guinea Pig Manual. Its just as important that your baby guinea pig also spends most of their time with other guinea pigs. Piglet Okay, so it's not that clever. The advantage of choosing the Midwest Habitat Plus is that it offers up to 8 square feet of space, its very affordable, and you can transfer your male guinea pig to a different section early. In the meantime, the best thing you can do is provide your guinea pig with plenty of love and attention, so it doesnt feel lonely. In fact, loneliness reduces the life expectancy of a guinea pig. During our research we learned that there are two possible reasons why: Malnourished - not getting enough to eat of the right kinds of food Back to back pregnancies - due to nutrient deficiencies This was one question that had me really worried. Baby guinea pigs are unique in that they are born with their eyes open! This is just enough space to allow the guinea pigs to escape. Pettijohn, T. F., Attachment and Separation Distress in the Infant Guinea Pig, Developmental Psychobiology, 1979. Briscoe, T.A., et al, Cardiovascular and renal disease in the adolescent guinea pig after chronic placental insufficiency, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2004. Guinea pigs may miss their parents, but more research must confirm this. If this is the case, you obviously dont need to take these steps. Your guinea pig will be frustrated if their youngsters are upset or stressed. By giving them enough time with their mother, you reduce the risk that she will reject them. A mother guinea pig can eat her babies if one of the babies is born dead. My name is Tim Rhodes and I'm a guinea pig enthusiast through thick and thin. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/all-other-pets/guinea-pigs/breeding-and-reproduction-of-guinea-pigs, Care of pregnant Guinea pigs. What is always important is to provide your pet guinea pigs with the best living conditions for the survival of the mother and the babies. One reason why a guinea pig mother might eat one of her pups is that she is extremely malnourished. When Do Guinea Pigs Stop Growing and How Big Do They Get? These small pets need a lot of food and nutrition. Many people believe that male guinea pigs eat their babies as well. Clements, M. and Kelly, J. There is a chance that your sow will only partially eat her offspring, particularly if she killed them by accident. Guinea pigs are also notorious communicators, and they start vocalising from babyhood. i am so excited!!! Many time, the pup gets killed accidentally and the mother eats it because she has a survival instinct. She will naturally clean up the area around her: lick the babies clean, bite off the umbilical cord and eat the placenta. Like babies of all species, cute baby guinea pigs are tiny and winsome. As a whole, guinea pigs do not eat their offspring, but it can happen. The female pups can be weaned the following week at four weeks of age. Yes, guinea pigs do mourn. This will stop the mother from continuing to feed on them, and it will prevent the risk of diseases through decomposition. From the moment they are born they are unusually mature and capable of looking after themselves. On average, baby guinea pigs come in litters of 2-4, and weigh 70-115g. Popcorning is an incredibly descriptive term to describe the frenzied bursts of energetic jumping, bumping and hopping about that guinea pigs engage in. Normally, they could be 3-6 inches long. The best items to put on the bottom of a guinea pig cage are absorbent,, Read More 10 Reliable Cage Liners for Guinea Pigs (What You Need to Know)Continue, Pet parents who consider housing their guinea pigs outside often wonder whether or not their pet guinea pigs can hibernate. But if you have a tiny little guinea pig with a noteworthy squeak, this name is pretty darn adorable. I also enjoy doing things outdoors, like hiking and camping. Female baby guinea pigs on the other hand have a y-shaped genital opening, set much closer to the anus. However, too much calcium is dangerous for an adult guinea pig. Before making this assumption, consider the following possibilities: Unfortunately, the evidence of your sow eating her babies might be obvious. Each birth is spaced out every 3 5 minutes. This little interaction will enable him warm to the introduction of a new cage mate better. Yes, guinea pigs miss their owners. A female needs to give birth for the first time before the age of 7 months. Guinea pigs may be Darwinian in their process toward motherhood, meaning only strong individuals can survive and reproduce more, To eliminate competition, guinea pigs are reluctant to share their enclave, especially when other male guinea pigs are around. Equally, male guinea pigs shouldnt eat their babies because they dont eat meat. (Find Out Now), 10 Reliable Cage Liners for Guinea Pigs (What You Need to Know), Do Guinea Pigs Hibernate? The bond between a mother and her baby is crucial for the babys development. 3 hours ago WebBaby Guinea Pig Diet The first week of life is critical. Guinea pigs and other rodents do not eat their babies because they are hungry. But, give them time to bond with their mother so they can nurse. The importance of understanding whether or not guinea pigs miss their babies cannot be overstated. New babies are born with teeth, claws, and fur. The more factors that are present, the higher likelihood shell eat her pups. Their compact, cylindrical bodies range from 8 to 10 inches . Do guinea pigs hurt their babies? - Your Wisdom Tips The first twenty four hours are when the babies are at greatest risk for being eaten, so remain close during this period. Do Guinea Pigs Remember Their Siblings, Names, Owners & More Do Guinea Pigs Nurse Their Young? This Is What You Should Know! And make sure that the guinea pig mother is not present. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/140328-sloth-bear-zoo-infanticide-chimps-bonobos-animals, Your Guinea Pigs Pregnancy: The Stages of Pregnancy. See Also: Care Show details https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/i-think-my-guinea-pig-might-be-pregnant-what-should-i-do/, Pregnancy toxemia in Guinea pigs. Ive wondered it myself. So, what is the answer? Keep the male guinea pig separate from his female partner to keep her safe and reduce the stress. Also, they should have unlimited amounts of timothy hay and water all the time. This served a purpose in the wild to prevent predators from finding the newborn baby guinea pigs. You can certainly handle a little, because it wont make their mother reject them. If one or two guinea pig pups seem to suddenly vanish from their cage, it doesnt necessarily mean theyve been eaten. Give the orphaned puppy the same amount of water and evaporated guinea pig milk. She is then back to cuddles and snuggles. Hold him against your chest to help him feel secure and safe. It's so rewarding to help pets look and feel their best. When separated from their parents, they often experience anxiety and depression. Many living creatures eat other members of their species when necessary for survival. Neutering is A LOT less risky for males than spaying is for females. Thankfully, she had an uneventful pregnancy and birth and did not eat her babies. Dont be surprised if your pup lets out a little chirp as a means of asking for food! Guinea pigs don't wheek in the wild. Foreign bodies in the eye of a guinea pig result in tearing, and corneal ulcers, which, in some cases, form a translucent film over the eyes. Where can I find baby guinea pigs for sale? Guinea pigs are not only kept as family pets, but like dogs, cats and rabbits, they are also bred for show. Or at least make it a less dangerous one, for you, the guinea pig mother, and the baby piggies. Try brushing your pets coats regularly as this can create soothing and pleasant connecting experiences. When a guinea pig is malnourished, it means that the guinea pig is not getting enough of the vitamins and nutrients that its body needs. Having a guinea pig as a pet is a wonderful experience. Do not over-handle the mother or you could cause her stress which will lead . Why Do Guinea Pigs Sometimes Eat Their Young? and Can You Put A Baby Guinea Pig With An Older One? Cute Guinea Pig Names 200 Unique Names To Choose From, Cow Names Over 400 Amazing Names For Your Cattle, Giving your litter the best start begins before your sow is even pregnant make sure she has a clean bill of health from a vet before she is mated, and buy a. Do guinea pigs miss their babies? Within twenty-four hours they can start to eat grass, produce, hay, and pellet feed just like adults. If one or two guinea pig pups suddenly vanish from their cage, it doesnt necessarily mean theyve been eaten, especially if its been more than twenty four hours. Newborn Guinea Pigs - What You Should Avoid - Guinea Pig Site Prepare to separate the male and female baby guinea pigs by at least three weeks of age. A male guinea pig eats the babies only by a strange occurrence. Over the next 2 weeks, decrease the feeding time gradually. In captivity, they cannot run away, which increases the stress. Here are some things we had to think about when we found out our guinea pig was pregnant: We adhered to the following recommended feeding guidelines for pregnant guinea pigs: RELATED: CLICK HERE to read about our unexpected guinea pig pregnancy and how to tell if your guinea pig is pregnant. If guinea, Read More What Fruits Can Guinea Pigs Eat? If you are unsure if the guinea pig is missing its baby, you may not be able to know if it is ill and needs to see a veterinarian. If a typical guinea pig male suspects that the babies are not his own (whether or not this is the case in reality), he may kill and eat them. A baby guinea pig is called a pup. You might even have witnessed them start to join in with social grooming by this point. You can take some precautions to lower the risk of a guinea pig baby being eaten. If the litter is too large, the mama . https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheUniverseReflected The all natural Piggies Choice Hay Racks are available finally! Other factors that make eating (or killing) the pups less likely include: piggies are natural herbivores and they have good maternal instincts (for rodents, anyway). They have small bodies and big eyes. Newborn Baby Guinea Pigs: What to expect? (it's not what you think) Plus, good breeders and rescues tend to handle their guinea pigs regularly, which helps to keep them tame. Guinea pigs are docile small animals. Some guinea pigs are more likely to nuzzle or groom people or other guinea pigs. It is famously difficult to sex baby rodents, so the easiest way to be sure which of your pups are girls and which are boys is to ask a more experienced mentor, or a vet, to help you. Significantly, this is the age when pups will start to reach sexual maturity. This blog will give you some helpful tips on how to make this a wonderful experience. Its unwise to create more. All of the babies are usually born within 30 minutes once labor begins. Make sure she always has enough food. (n.d.). If you want some more information on guinea pig interactions, check out these posts: The Truth About Single Guinea Pigs (Is It Okay To Just Have One?) Other causes of hair loss due to underlying medical conditions such as ovarian cysts may occur as a result of hormonal distress. The sow needs this time to focus on nursing her living babies, and you need to create an environment that will allow her to do this. For guinea pigs to reproduce, a male guinea pig needs to fertilize the female. [9] They will still need to nurse, though, for three weeks before they are ready to be removed from their mother. When your guinea pig is pregnant her Vitamin C requirements double to around 20mg per day. Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Babies? [The Surprising Truth] This is pretty rare. We placed an additional water bottle in the cage so that it was low enough for the babies to reach it. Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Babies? They are born precocial, which means they already have teeth and fur, and from their earliest moments they can see, hear, and move about. In our research, we could not find a definitive age when guinea pigs are declared adults; however, they reach sexual maturity by four weeks of age. Newborn guinea pigs weigh only 100 grams but they grow quickly. If you look after the guinea pig mother regularly, she will allow you to touch her baby guinea pigs. You might also notice they squeak in distress when you take them away from their mom. This is a question that has long been debated when it comes to guinea pigs. This can be startling and upsetting. Cage size Will the baby guinea pigs be able to escape? Although they spring out with open eyes and fully furred, piggie pups are still small and fragile at first. And the result is that guinea pig babies are born already more mature than many other species. They are cheerful and love to run around, squeak, eat, play, and poop. But, stick with me. You need to be able to provide your guinea pigs with regular ample attention all the time. In order to have a peaceful pregnancy and birth, there are some things that you can do: Many people underestimate how much space a guinea pig needs, along with other types of rodents. They reach their adult size very quickly. A newborn guinea pig might weigh around 3.5 ounces or 100 grams. Any sudden movement or noise can scare them. Once the baby guinea pigs turn 3 to 4 weeks, separate them from their mother, especially male guinea pigs. They will continue to nurse from mom for somewhere between three and six weeks. Once the mother gives birth to her babies to the nest, she won't be paying much heed to the nest anymore. How long before you can handle baby guinea pigs? Guinea pigs can typically handle labor and delivery without intervention; however, guinea pigs can die during the birthing process. They use them to form social bonds and initiate mating, attract the attention of herd members over great distances, communicate sadness, and sound the alarm. Its important to know what signs to look out for so you can keep your piggies happy and healthy. Do guinea pigs miss their babies? *Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. Even then, they must be handled very gently. Many others survive but have problems.Additionally, theres thousands (if not tens of thousands) of piggies without good homes now. Do Guinea Pigs Miss Their Babies - Midnight Pets Interact with baby guinea pigs early and as often as possible so that they become used to humans. Likely she has forgotten all about them, and is instead planning to to escape and start her next litter. Can Guinea Pigs Eat Spinach Or Is It Bad For Them? When you touch them be soft and gentle. While the baby boars can be separated in just three weeks once they are fully weaned, the baby sows can remain with the mother for up to 4 weeks from the time of birth. Raising an orphaned guinea pig is not very difficult because mothers feed guinea pig pups only a few times per day and then leave them alone. While guinea pigs are usually docile, friendly and social creatures, adult males should not be around the babies under any circumstances. Although guinea pigs need the presence of other guinea pigs, attention from human beings is also essential for their well-being. As herbivores, they dont eat meat at all. RELATED: CLICK HERE for 99 cute guinea pig names to help you choose. The average guinea pig gestation is 59 72 days. Pups from small litters are usually bigger than pups from large litters. And guinea pigs are quite fertile little creatures too! Calcium is very important for baby piggies as they are growing and developing. Also, male guinea pig may kill the babies if he doesnt recognize them as his own offspring. However, there is no definitive answer as to whether or not this is true. The earlier and more regularly you handle them, the more likely they are to accept you. If you are a new guinea pig parent or have an unexpected pregnancy like we did, you too may have lots of questions about newborn baby guinea pigs. Do Guinea Pigs Like Stuffed Animals? Certainly not, they only remember their parents for a particular period. of 2-4. Weaning age depends on several factors including the pups weight, the mothers milk supply, and the number of siblings. Do guinea pigs get attached to their owners? If they are isolated, they may become lonely and sad. Provide a pregnant guinea pig with extra food, water, and nutrients. Lets take a closer look at this exciting topic. And of course, when you run a finger over the area, you wont feel a penis! This often happens when owners of female guinea pigs discover an unplanned pregnancy and arent able to care for all the babies. Most guinea pigs cages are designed for adult guinea pigs with a one inch space between the bars. The next thing you need to take care of is that make sure that their cages are heavy, comfortable, and not escapable. Hey there, I'm Angela. Guinea pigs make eleven different call types. The importance of understanding whether or not guinea pigs miss their babies cannot be overstated. Some of the cutest animals kill and devour their offspring. A mix of alfalfa and timothy hay could keep the mother full and prevent this from happening. Guinea pigs are different from many other species; they are born with teeth and fur, and almost immediately they can see and walk around. Guinea pigs cannot survive alone. Wheek: The shrill noise a guinea pig or other small rodent makes. But whether youre raising a litter from birth or buying an older baby guinea pig for sale, getting prepared in advance is the best way to make sure you provide them with the best start in life. Baby boars must be separated from mama at three weeks. If your sow is in a very small enclosure, this could cause her unnecessary stress. (Find Out Now), Filial Cannibalism (and 7 Reasons Why Some Animal Moms Dine On Their Babies). When the pregnant guinea pig is about to give birth, the male guinea pig must be separated from her because, within 12 hours after giving birth, she can become pregnant again.
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