Its easy to achieve in the first two weeks by keeping the whole litter together with their mom, but next week its time to start thinking about separating them. Keep an eye on their weight, and youll be able to observe them steadily gaining ounces until around their first birthday. Guinea pigs are also notorious communicators, and they start vocalising from babyhood. When you touch them be soft and gentle. There are, Read More 7 Alarming Reasons Why Guinea Pigs DroolContinue, What fruits can guinea pigs eat? Pneumonia can occur with torticollis and can be fatal. If you are just considering the idea of owning guinea pigs, ensure that you already have the capacity to take care of them and also provide them with quality interplay. Guinea pigs are fragile animals at any age but especially during their early days of life. Look quickly because guinea pigs are not happy being held this way. Paying lots of brief visits to your litter with mother, and getting them used to gentle handling without worrying them are going to be a vital foundation of good socialization. They look a little bit awkward as they begin to move around. (Find Out Now)Continue, Choosing the right materials to use a as a cage liner for your guinea pigs cage can seem daunting especially when youre a new pet parent. Once all the serious aspects of baby guinea pig care are in hand, you can turn your mind to more fun tasks, like picking their names. This may confirm why male guinea pigs eat baby guinea pigs, Guinea pigs are stressed out during placenta feeding and may eat the babies thinking its the postpartum part, They lack food and energy after their babies are born. Watch after your guinea pig while she gives birth. Never again hear the dreaded sounds of your guinea pigs angry squeaks because you forgot to clean out their cage or feed them on timefor the fourth day in a row. So, if youve been wanting to know if guinea pigs usually miss their owners, we hope you have the answer now. Piglet Okay, so it's not that clever. Pups from small litters are usually bigger than pups from large litters. 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 everything you can to fulfill the wants and needs of the pregnant female, to make her feel safe and comfortable. (Keep that food bowl appropriately full!) They are able to express a wide range of emotions using different sounds and gestures. Theres a few traits unique to piggies that probably explain why they usually dont feel the need to eat their babies. A fully grown guinea pig is between 20 and 25 cm long. Thankfully, she had an uneventful pregnancy and birth and did not eat her babies. Can Rabbits Eat Grapes Pros And Cons of Grapes For Rabbits. We knew for sure that we had one male and two females, but it was still hard for us to tell with the fourth guinea pig. It's often the result of starvation, stress, inexperience, or trauma. Guinea pigs may miss their parents, but more research must confirm this. Wed love to hear from you in the comments below. There are several major ideas about why would a guinea pig eat the babies: When they are small and weak, its much easier to keep baby guinea pigs away from male guinea pigs. While it is certainly possible that guinea pigs may experience separation anxiety after their babies have been taken away, there is no definitive evidence to suggest that this is the case. They are cheerful and love to run around, squeak, eat, play, and poop. How Can You Prevent Your Guinea Pig from Eating Its Young? How long does it take for guinea pigs to be born? Check out these most popular guinea pig products on the market: Last update on 2023-02-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API. (And yes, its one of the more gruesome animal interactions in the wild.). Do Chickens Get Lonely? It is important to make sure that the pups begin nursing within the first few hours of birth. Pettijohn, T. F., Attachment and Separation Distress in the Infant Guinea Pig, Developmental Psychobiology, 1979. Just like big farmyard pigs! (Find Out Now), 10 Reliable Cage Liners for Guinea Pigs (What You Need to Know), Do Guinea Pigs Hibernate? This is necessary to prevent pregnancy. We were stressed out during this time because we did not want to have another unexpected guinea pig pregnancy. We spent some time coming up with cute guinea pig names for our babies and decided upon the following; Moose, Aspen, Moon and Finn! When can baby guinea pigs be separated from their mother? On the other hand, a male guinea pig eats guinea pig babies when they recognize that the babies are not theirs, also because they are intimidated and territorial. Some guinea pigs even put up great resistance to this. Make sure that your guinea pig babies are able to reach the water bottle sipper. But, can guinea pigs eat them? Guinea pigs are social animals and do best when kept in pairs or groups. The largest guinea pig litter recorded by the Guinness Book of World Records contained a whopping 17 pups! New Plymouth Vet Group. Theyre filled with Vitamin C and other essential nutrients that guinea pigs need. You can also ask your vet for advice and support. This process includes eating the placenta and, while she does this, there is a chance that she will mistake one of her babies for the placenta. Whether you plan on rearing your own litter of baby Abysinnian guinea pigs, or youre making plans to buy a baby Peruvian guinea pig, its valuable to be able to recognise whether theyre growing and developing normally for the species, and their breed. 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. They will begin to wriggle and move about as soon as theyve been licked clean by their mom. Once the mother gives birth to her babies to the nest, she won't be paying much heed to the nest anymore. Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Babies? They have learned quite a few life skills from their mother and are ready to go to their new homes. Do guinea pigs get attached to their owners? At worst, it can cause her to reject them. However, taking some precautions can bring you peace of mind that your sow wont need to eat her babies. Your guinea pig's individual personality will likely play a big role in this. RELATED: CLICK HERE for 99 cute guinea pig names to help you choose. Although, some green beans and always bring us back together. Expect to pay around $10 to $40 on average, though this can vary depending on factors such as age and coloring. For example, they can eat blueberries, strawberries, tangerines, watermelon, passion fruit, melons, bananas, and many more. Baby guinea pig care - The Guinea Pig Manual. And all the behaviors theyll need to carry out for themselves instead of having performed for them by mom like grooming will be well established. You don't have to be a professional breeder . Any sudden movement or noise can scare them. Although piggies are so cute, you cant always be there to have a staring contest with them. Genetic abnormalities have been reported in guinea pigs, similar to those found in other breeds of animals (such as hip dysplasia in dogs). Caring for baby guinea pigs can be a rewarding experience if you know what to expect. On average, baby guinea pigs come in litters of 2-4, and weigh 70-115g. At those moments, the guinea pig mother can be very protective and you can be mistaken for a potential predator. Every baby guinea pig needs its mothers milk, which provides enough nutrition during the first crucial days of their lives. This is especially important in guinea pigs, as they are highly social animals. Plus, good breeders and rescues tend to handle their guinea pigs regularly, which helps to keep them tame. Baby guinea pigs are capable of digesting solid food very soon after birth (within hours). (n.d.). The importance of understanding whether or not guinea pigs miss their babies cannot be overstated. 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. Just keep your little friend with other females only. We try to conform to the same standards and expectations when it comes to animal interactions and instincts. View our privacy policy and our disclosure policy for more information. Copyright 2023 mypetguineapig.com. https://amzn.to/3iYcPHPAs well as the new Pigg. Guinea pigs can eat a lot of different types of fruit. A mix of alfalfa and timothy hay could keep the mother full and prevent this from happening. An average sized pup measures around 3 to 5 inches at birth, and very cylindrical roughly the size of a tangerine in fact! Spaying a female guinea pig can be a risky procedure that not all veterinarians are willing to attempt. Yes, guinea pigs eat their babies albeit very rarely, mostly by accident. Guinea pigs and other rodents do not eat their babies because they are hungry. Another challenge that people face is that they may not be able to tell if the guinea pig is sick or not. You can find a mentor by asking your local cavy club to put you in touch with suitable experienced breeders. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . When I'm not writing, I enjoy kickboxing and work as an animal trainer. On the other hand if youll be helping a sow to raise a litter of pups from birth, theres rather more to think about. One under his chest and one under his bottom. Sometimes it happens accidentally. Bear in mind this doesnt necessarily mean she is dangerously thin. Bathing them, if its something you plan to try, should wait until they are at least eight weeks old. Bellinger, S. A. et al, An ecologically relevant guinea pig model of fetal behavior, Behavioral Brain Research, 2015. Its just as important that your baby guinea pig also spends most of their time with other guinea pigs. But most people think of it as being around four weeks old, when they reach sexual maturity. This is because, in the wild, guinea pigs are usually found in herds, so you should try to create that level of interaction for your domesticated guinea pigs. the babies are doing so well and are so healthy.#guineapig #babies #cuteSong: Sapphe. *Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. They are born precocial, which means they already have teeth and fur, and from their earliest moments they can see, hear, and move about. Guinea pigs need fresh water daily. Always consult your vet if you think a baby guinea pig overly small, or failing to thrive. Handling them too much too soon can disrupt the bond they need with their mother in order to nurse from her, and huddle against her for warmth. Now, lets begin at the beginning. 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. We placed an additional water bottle in the cage so that it was low enough for the babies to reach it. My name is Tim Rhodes and I'm a guinea pig enthusiast through thick and thin. If your guinea pig consistently has enough extra food, the chances of her needing to eat her pups drop to near zero. Alternatively, you can contact local small animal shelters and ask if they have any baby guinea pigs for adoption. Make sure theres always enough food in your pregnant guinea pigs bowl. Getting guinea pigs used to handling from an early age is an important part of rearing confident, relaxed pets. An indoor cage size of 18" x 24" (45 x 60 cm) should comfortably accommodate a guinea pig. Breeding and reproduction of Guinea pigs All other pets Merck veterinary manual. The reason is that male guinea pigs mature sexually very soon and can impregnate their mother as young as 2-3 months of age or even earlier. (What Owners Need To Know), What Fruits Can Guinea Pigs Eat? Youre gonna want to read this. A female needs to give birth for the first time before the age of 7 months. Whining is typically a noise made by the more passive guinea pig to communicate to a guinea pig that is more pushy or dominant. Guinea pigs weigh between 700 and 1200g. 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. Read More Can Guinea Pigs Eat Clementines? An inexperienced sow might accidentally damage her young with her teeth whilst trying to clean them up after the birth. They might surprise you with how busy and outgoing they are too. The good news is that its unlikely for your pregnant pet to eat her offspring. Domestic guinea pigs originated in South America but today these vocal, sociable creatures thrive in households across the globe. In this article, we will focus on some important aspects of caring for guinea pig babies. Compared to other rodents, guinea pigs (both in captivity and in the wild) will very rarely choose to eat their offspring. Hold him against your chest to help him feel secure and safe. Sows must also have a constant supply of hay (alfalfa for the extra calories) and pellets. She is also teaching them how to interact with other guinea pigs. Ive wondered it myself. Yes, guinea pigs do eat their babies. Male baby guinea pigs have a donut-shaped genital opening in front of their anus. We know that guinea pigs typically stay with their baby for about three weeks. Under certain circumstances, the sow may eat her offspring for various reasons. Regarding animal parents, there is no greater love than that of a mother for her young. Guinea pigs can jump over obstacles but these, When they recognize they are in danger, guinea pigs stand in one place for a long time then suddenly run very fast with a darting movement. Guinea pig pups are essentially born ready to go: their eyes are open, they have hair and a full set of teeth, and they can run around on their own. It's so rewarding to help pets look and feel their best. And guinea pigs are quite fertile little creatures too! Some guinea pigs are more likely to nuzzle or groom people or other guinea pigs. Mange worms (Trichocross cavia) are a common cause of hair loss, and other symptoms may include excessive scratching, abnormal aggression when being touched, and, in some cases, seizures. Make sure any seller houses male and female guinea pigs separately, or there could be a chance you'll take home a pregnant female. Copyright 2021 - 2023 Guinea Pig Den | Jennifer Franklin Media LLCThis site does not constitute pet medical advice, please consult a licensed veterinarian in your area for pet medical advice. Weve already covered the reproductive cycle of guinea pigs and pregnancy and how to tell if a guinea pig is pregnant, so you can learn much more about these topics in our articles. New babies are born with teeth, claws, and fur. Donnelly, T. M. and Brown, C. J., Guinea Pig and Chinchilla Care and Husbandry, Veterinary Clinics Exotic Animal Practice, 2004. If a stillborn is not removed from the cage promptly, it might be eaten fairly quickly by the mother. If it does occur, the reasons will probably differ slightly from that of other species, and its important to understand these reasons in order to try to prevent it from happening: Most female guinea pigs will never eat their live young on purpose. This should reduce their spatial and jealous tendency. Guinea pigs are not capable of "missing". Newborn guinea pigs weigh only 100 grams but they grow quickly. The importance of understanding whether or not guinea pigs miss their babies cannot be overstated. My first piggy some years ago did a big dance of joy each time I came back home after some days of being away. If the litter is too large, the mama . Even their own children. Wiki User 2008-10-08 02:35:56 This. Filial cannibalism is when animals eat their own offspring. However, too much calcium is dangerous for an adult guinea pig. Do Guinea Pigs Like Stuffed Animals? This a sound that only domesticated guinea pigs do for their adoring pet parents. This is why you should do everything in your power to make your female piggy feel at ease. Guinea Lynx :: A Medical and Care Guide for Your Guinea Pig. It can be a little surprising to witness, but its completely normal and nothing to be alarmed about. Although they are capable of eating almost immediately, baby guineas do still need to nurse and they will seek milk about every two hours. Yes, guinea pigs do mourn. How long do baby guinea pigs stay with Mom? The Best Pet Health & Care Advice from Real Vets | PetMD. Sufficient nutrition, a mixture of alfalfa and timothy grass, keeps female guinea pigs hydrated and can prevent guinea pigs from eating their babies. Home - Guinea Pigs - Do Guinea Pigs Miss Their Owners? They need to stay with their mother guinea pigs and suck their milk, but they will quickly become active. When separated from their parents, they often experience anxiety and depression. 9. ClickHEREfor a peek at my disclosure. RSPCA Knowledgebase Let Australias most trusted animal welfare charity help you answer the big questions. i've been keeping this a secret for over a week now!! All of the babies are usually born within 30 minutes once labor begins. 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? You cannot do any harm by touching your adult guinea pig or its babies. Veterinarians and Animal Hospital in Pasadena, MD | Lake Shore Pet Hospital. https://www.guinealynx.info/reproduction.html, I think my Guinea pig might be pregnant, what should I do? The average guinea pig litter is 2 to 4 pups. This can lead to health problems. Guinea pigs should be kept indoors. In some cases, guinea pigs may lick or try to groom you as a sign of affection. The larger the litter, the smaller the pups will likely be. Having your guinea pig give birth to a litter should be an exciting time. Continue to give milk to puppies for 21 days even when they start eating solid food. Under normal circumstances, the sow will give birth and have a healthy litter of pups. This article has been extensively revised for 2019. That way she doesnt have to deal with the stress of more pregnancies. (Find Out Now), Filial Cannibalism (and 7 Reasons Why Some Animal Moms Dine On Their Babies). Merck Veterinary Manual. (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. If your guinea pig becomes acquainted with someone they don't trust, they may become quiet or hide when that person is nearby. What is a Group of Guinea Pigs Called? Here are some of our top baby guinea pig name lists to help you feel inspired! Ask your vet for advice if this isnt the case. But, fruit should only be given as an occasional treat. A pregnant guinea pig requires a lot of extra nutrition. 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. Kind, K.L., Chronic maternal feed restriction impairs growth but increases adiposity of the fetal guinea pig, American Journal of Physiology, 2005. This can happen if the guinea pig is not being fed enough timothy hay, pellets, vitamin C supplements, etc. A typical guinea pig pup weighs between 60 and 115 grams and measures close to 3 to 5 inches long. Yes, it is okay to touch your new baby guinea pigs. Whereas there are over 13 Guinea Pig breeds, English, Abyssinian, and Peruvian Guinea Pigs are the most well-liked. Following delivery, your guinea pig mama will be exhausted and hungry. Keep the male guinea pig separate from his female partner to keep her safe and reduce the stress. Guinea pigs can eat their babies if they lack nutrition. Housing your guinea pig is not particularly difficult, as there are a large variety of hutches and cages commercially available. She needs more food and more nutrients to prepare her for the process of giving birth and nursing her babies. The female pups can be weaned the following week at four weeks of age. Female baby guinea pigs on the other hand have a y-shaped genital opening, set much closer to the anus. (Such as blood and remaining body parts). Walter or Bob These guinea pigs sound like they should be wearing business suits on Wall Street. Sometimes adults will do this with each other too. ), Guinea pigs can suffer from running lice. In a pet situation, the male may be in the same guinea pig cage as the female and her newborns, and there is no way for the mother to move the pups away from . Every few hours for the first few days, you should hand-feed the baby guinea pig: mesh pellets or supplement powder, and if you have grown guinea pigs, also add a fecal . of 2-4. The sow eating her pups may be starving. Male guinea pigs (boars) usually mature sexually and can mate as young as 2-3 months of age. Ahhhh, clementines. Hamsters and rats are famous for such practice. She is then back to cuddles and snuggles. Just simply focusing on your guinea pigs and trying to chat with them every day can go a long way. Its unwise to create more. (Find Out Now). If you push gently on their lower abdomen the penis may appear. https://www.npvet.co.nz/pets/animal-info-pets/bird-rabbit-turtle-articles/care-pregnant-guinea-pigs/, Guinea lynx :: Reproduction. 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). In the next section weve assembled some of the most commonly asked questions our readers have about their baby guinea pigs. Can Guinea Pigs Eat Turnip Greens? The same goes for males. (Find Out Now). And within a few hours nursing should be established. 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. Once the pups arrive, monitor them closely to make sure nursing is established within 12 hours. This is where they learn how to bond and behave in a herd. Place the cage in a quiet, draft-free area your home that is out of direct sunlight. By the time theyre a month old, baby guinea pigs body shape rather resembles that of a syrian hamster. Six or seven weeks old is the age at which most breeders will let their pups go to their new homes. Will the baby guinea pigs be able to escape the enclosure? Individuals will be starting to show their own distinct personalities too. Can a Guinea Pig Baby Live Without the Mother? Guinea Pig Lifespan How Long Do Guinea Pigs Live? A newborn guinea pig might weigh around 3.5 ounces or 100 grams. Yes, female guinea pigs do nurse their young for a few weeks after birth. Keeping your guinea pig healthy and happy is an ongoing process that will require lots of dedication and effort from you. 11811 Shaker Blvd, #204, PMB 289Cleveland, Ohio 44120(216) 912-6291. Even then, they must be handled very gently. Signs of Guinea pig loneliness, depression, and boredom include hair chewing, hiding, refusing to be handled, and general irritability. When properly fed, you dont have to worry that she will eat her babies. 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. Even if guinea pigs cannot express emotions the way other pets like dogs or cats do, it doesnt mean they dont miss their owners when left alone for long. Thankfully, its only done when the mother feels she doesnt have any other option. I didnt know how we would handle it if Theo rejected her babies or even worse ate her young! It is rare, but it does happen. 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.