These colorful, chore charts will help you keep track of when to feed your fuzz butts, clean their cages, and much more. Common diseases in domestic guinea pigs include respiratory infections, diarrhea, itching, and boils due to infection (often the neck, throat, or external scratches). Guinea pig babies are born quickly. By the time theyre a month old, baby guinea pigs body shape rather resembles that of a syrian hamster. Wed love to hear about your experiences in the comment section below! Calcium can be found in alfalfa hay or alfalfa-based pellets, timothy hay and oranges. In general, most female guinea pigs who survives birth and delivery will and raise her litter without any issues. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/140328-sloth-bear-zoo-infanticide-chimps-bonobos-animals, Your Guinea Pigs Pregnancy: The Stages of Pregnancy. Yes, guinea pigs eat their babies albeit very rarely, mostly by accident. Since males can get any female guinea pig pregnant once they reach maturity - including their mothers - they're weaned and taken from their mother at three weeks old. To avoid the risk of your guinea pig, eating her babies, take these safety steps. 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. 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. Compared to other rodents, guinea pigs (both in captivity and in the wild) will very rarely choose to eat their offspring. 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. The pups will learn a lot from how to form social bonds, to which foods are safe to eat from the adults they live with. 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. Baby guinea pig care - The Guinea Pig Manual. Although they spring out with open eyes and fully furred, piggie pups are still small and fragile at first. During pregnancy your sow will need lots of energy and vitamin C, so make sure her hay doesnt run out, and offer a larger helping of fresh fruit and veg every day. It is important to note that guinea pigs can get attached to their owners and may experience signs of separation anxiety when they are not around. And guinea pigs are quite fertile little creatures too! They need supervised time out of their cages each day to run around and exercise. And that means that in a mixed litter of boys and girls, its time for the boys to be relocated to a new home, to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Copyright 2023 mypetguineapig.com. Yet, sometimes, guinea pigs can eat their babies. Theyre filled with Vitamin C and other essential nutrients that guinea pigs need. Of course, every guinea pig is different, and some individual animals may indeed experience some sadness or loneliness after being separated from their babies if you are concerned that your guinea pig may miss its young, it. (Fun Facts). Yet, the mother guinea pig will take care of them during the first few weeks, so dont separate them from her. Or house her with a neutered male to prevent future pregnancies. Having your guinea pig give birth to a litter should be an exciting time. They will understand. Do guinea pigs get attached to their owners? She is also teaching them how to interact with other guinea pigs. Merck Veterinary Manual. The largest guinea pig litter recorded by the Guinness Book of World Records contained a whopping 17 pups! mypetguineapig.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Guinea Pigs May Lick as a Sign of Affection or Grooming. You can certainly handle a little, because it wont make their mother reject them. When we discovered that our guinea pig was pregnant we had so many questions about newborn baby guinea pigs and what to expect once they were born. Guinea pigs can be aggressive towards each other if they are not adequately trained. Where can I find baby guinea pigs for sale? By doing this you can prevent accidental killings, as well as promptly remove any still born pups from the cage. Look quickly because guinea pigs are not happy being held this way. (What You Need To Know), Can Guinea Pigs Eat Clementines? In the next section weve assembled some of the most commonly asked questions our readers have about their baby guinea pigs. Guinea pigs are social animals who rely on their families for support. Guinea pigs need fresh water daily. This a sound that only domesticated guinea pigs do for their adoring pet parents. If your guinea pig becomes acquainted with someone they don't trust, they may become quiet or hide when that person is nearby. Also, they should have unlimited amounts of timothy hay and water all the time. As a whole, guinea pigs do not eat their offspring, but it can happen. Baby boars must be separated from mama at three weeks. For guinea pigs to reproduce, a male guinea pig needs to fertilize the female. 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. Be prepared to assess them quickly, because they wont like to be held in that position for long! 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). Guinea pigs are not only kept as family pets, but like dogs, cats and rabbits, they are also bred for show. The best thing you can do is provide adequate and proper nutrition to the new guinea pig mother. Yes, female guinea pigs do nurse their young for a few weeks after birth. Use the tips in this post to understand why piggies eat their babies and to prevent it from happening. 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 . When female guinea pigs eat their babies, they can do so because they are excessively hungry and because they are under a lot of stress that they cannot handle. This is especially true if pet parents have not given their pregnant sow enough food. 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. Always consult your vet if you think a baby guinea pig overly small, or failing to thrive. So it is not good practice by caring breeders. An inexperienced sow might accidentally damage her young with her teeth whilst trying to clean them up after the birth. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. There are different ways you can give your guinea pigs attention, and one of them is a good, old-fashioned daily petting session. Dwyer, C.M., et al, The effect of maternal undernutrition on the growth and development of the guinea pig placenta, Journal of Developmental Physiology, 1992. So, what do you put on the bottom of a guinea pig cage? 3 hours ago WebBaby Guinea Pig Diet The first week of life is critical. Additionally, when her babies are born she may eat them in order to prevent them from taking up the little space she has. Do Guinea Pigs Miss Their Babies - Midnight Pets She checked each one of them and licked them clean immediately following their birth. Each birth is spaced out every 3 5 minutes. Expect to pay around $10 to $40 on average, though this can vary depending on factors such as age and coloring. The sow eating her pups may be starving. It can therefore be tempting to pick up and cuddle the little babies right away! Do guinea pigs remember their parents? For example, guinea pigs are born with their eyes open, and their ears which look huge at the moment can already hear. Guinea pig pregnancy seems short to us, but in fact it lasts a remarkably long time for their size. (2010, July 22). Giving birth is very stressful for guinea pigs and the mortality rate of pregnant guinea pigs is quite high due to complications that occur during the delivery process. It's often the result of starvation, stress, inexperience, or trauma. If you have a pregnant guinea pig, consider giving the her cage an upgrade, so she can take care of her pups comfortably. You can expect your pup to wander curiously about their world during this time, but their legs are still a bit clumsy and theyre apt to suddenly plop down as they explore their environs. However, male guinea pigs shouldnt eat their young at all because guinea pigs are herbivores. It can be a little surprising to witness, but its completely normal and nothing to be alarmed about. But, if one or more of her litter is stillborn, she may eat it. (What You Need To Know)Continue. 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. Bathing them, if its something you plan to try, should wait until they are at least eight weeks old. The Midwest Guinea Pig Habitat is the recommended size (minimum of 8 square feet) and has deep sides around the edges that make it difficult for the baby guinea pigs to crawl out of. 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. New Plymouth Vet Group. Your pregnant and lactating guinea pigs should have access to alfalfa hay in the last weeks of their pregnancy. Once the pups arrive, monitor them closely to make sure nursing is established within 12 hours. Thoroughly clean and disinfect the water bottle at least once per week. What is a Group of Guinea Pigs Called? But if you have a tiny little guinea pig with a noteworthy squeak, this name is pretty darn adorable. Theyre sweet, juicy, and tasty. However, if its weak it might put up little resistance and be eaten entirely. 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. A baby guinea pig is called a pup. Neutering is A LOT less risky for males than spaying is for females. Sometimes, male Guinea pigs will eat pups if they were fathered by another cavy. In situations where one of your guinea pigs crosses the rainbow bridge leaving one behind, the guinea pig left behind might not be so receptive to a new cage mate. Sometimes it happens accidentally. You should increase the amount of fresh fruit and vegetables given daily and also consider pet-friendly supplements. Many time, the pup gets killed accidentally and the mother eats it because she has a survival instinct. (Fun Facts). They are basically saying . Signs of Guinea pig loneliness, depression, and boredom include hair chewing, hiding, refusing to be handled, and general irritability. Certainly not, they only remember their parents for a particular period. A pregnant guinea pig requires a lot of extra nutrition. (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 you push gently on their lower abdomen the penis may appear. Theres no fixed moment when a guinea pig stops being a pup and becomes an adult. This was the most surprising thing to me! Orphans should be fed by an eyedropper or pet nurse within the first 12 to 24 hours of life. Even their own children. Your guinea pig wont eat its babies if you touch them. Sows must also have a constant supply of hay (alfalfa for the extra calories) and pellets. It can be hard to tell when your pregnant guinea pig is going to deliver her babies because unlike dogs and cats, they do not prepare a nest. In this article weve answered some frequently asked questions about newborn baby guinea pigs like: Whether you have a surprise guinea pig pregnancy or a planned one, there are a few things you will want to prepare in advance to make sure you are ready when your newborn baby guinea pigs arrive. 5 Common Cat Behaviours And What They Mean. No matter how cute baby guinea pigs are, one litter at a time should be plenty for most people to think about. The act of cannibalism in guinea pigs is usually the mother trying to protect the rest of her litter from predators. Your guinea pig's individual personality will likely play a big role in this. A newborn guinea pig might weigh around 3.5 ounces or 100 grams. They reach their adult size very quickly. RELATED: CLICK HERE for 99 cute guinea pig names to help you choose. The average lifespan of the guinea pig is four or five years, but it can live much longer. 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. Regarding animal parents, there is no greater love than that of a mother for her young. Or at least make it a less dangerous one, for you, the guinea pig mother, and the baby piggies. Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Babies? Guinea pigs are also notorious communicators, and they start vocalising from babyhood. How do I know when my guinea pig is ready to give birth? The surprising truth is that it happens more often than youd think. They might surprise you with how busy and outgoing they are too. Its unwise to create more. Besides, always separate baby guinea pigs from male guinea pigs. We noticed our guinea pig babies began to eat mamas food within a few days of birth. Can Guinea Pigs Eat Spinach Or Is It Bad For Them? View our privacy policy and our disclosure policy for more information. Giving birth is very stressful for the guinea pig mother and the babies.
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