If your sow has eaten her own babies, you may want to consider changing her living conditions. It is essential for guinea pigs to have social contact with other guinea pigs. Orphans should be fed by an eyedropper or pet nurse within the first 12 to 24 hours of life. Your Baby Guinea Pig What To Expect And How To Look How long do guinea pig babies stay with mom? Allowing siblings to breed also poses a risk of dangerous congenital disorders to their offspring. This is just enough space to allow the guinea pigs to escape. This is called precociality. In the next section weve assembled some of the most commonly asked questions our readers have about their baby guinea pigs. But usually, mom will begin to discourage her babies from nursing at about the 3rd week. It is important to make sure that the pups begin nursing within the first few hours of birth. Continue to give milk to puppies for 21 days even when they start eating solid food. Donnelly, T. M. and Brown, C. J., Guinea Pig and Chinchilla Care and Husbandry, Veterinary Clinics Exotic Animal Practice, 2004. And guinea pigs are quite fertile little creatures too! https://www.guinealynx.info/reproduction.html, I think my Guinea pig might be pregnant, what should I do? 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. Many others survive but have problems.Additionally, theres thousands (if not tens of thousands) of piggies without good homes now. https://amzn.to/3iYcPHPAs well as the new Pigg. This often happens when owners of female guinea pigs discover an unplanned pregnancy and arent able to care for all the babies. Guinea pigs can recognize their owners and other people they know and trust. When they dont have enough food and are at risk of starvation. The babies shouldn't be separated from their mothers for at least a month. 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. I've always been an animal lover, and I've worked in the pet industry. Guinea pigs mature quickly and will begin to nibble the hay, pellets and veggies fed to their mother within 24 hours. Some times, she shows me her displeasure if I have been away overnight and my neighbors fed her. Your guinea pig can definitely use more interplay with the loss of its buddy. This website was inspired by our guinea pig pair, Theo and Remmy, and is our familys journey to becoming the best guinea pig parents. But, stick with me. And within a few hours nursing should be established. We will help you to raise your baby guinea pigs to become healthy, happy pets. If this happens, pop them back in with her, and visit again later. It's particularly common when introducing new guinea pigs for the first time. After three weeks, baby guinea pigs can be separated from their mother and placed with other guinea pigs or their owner. Baby guinea pigs are capable of digesting solid food very soon after birth (within hours). This is especially true if pet parents have not given their pregnant sow enough food. Whats your experience with newborn baby guinea pigs? Extreme Stress -. Wanna Give Your Piggies the 5 STAR Treatment? Make sure your pig has a lot of food. 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. If she is pregnant, her chances of suffering from some illness will also increase, which will tempt her to eat a lot. 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. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute("id","a865a53297bca918d5b51d234266ee3f");document.getElementById("e1b86b387e").setAttribute("id","comment"); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Newborn guinea pigs can open their eyes after they are born. Hi there! The importance of understanding whether or not guinea pigs miss their babies cannot be overstated. Do not disturb your guinea pigs when they are sleeping or nursing. This is extremely taxing on the body of the female guinea pig and dangerous to her. Many time, the pup gets killed accidentally and the mother eats it because she has a survival instinct. Whining is typically a noise made by the more passive guinea pig to communicate to a guinea pig that is more pushy or dominant. 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. Pet owners know that keeping a guinea pig as a pet is a wonderful experience. Berryman, J. C., Guineapig Vocalizations: Their Structure, Causation and Function, Ethology, 1976. In general, the color of Abyssinian guinea pigs is associated with congenital eye defects and digestive problems. 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. Adult guinea pigs eat timothy hay, orchard hay, or any other hay thats high in fiber. 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. Guinea pigs don't wheek in the wild. Guinea pigs have a good sense of hearing, so they will potentially even be able to hear you coming from down the hall. 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. The female pups can be weaned the following week at four weeks of age. New Plymouth Vet Group. If the litter is too large, the mama . He may also help to nurse the babies. Female guinea pigs have a Y-shaped opening close to their anus. Guinea pigs eating babies is a rare but possible occurrence. (700 to 1,100 grams), according to the Animal Diversity Web (ADW). https://www.merckvetmanual.com/all-other-pets/guinea-pigs/breeding-and-reproduction-of-guinea-pigs, Care of pregnant Guinea pigs. Some guinea pigs are more likely to nuzzle or groom people or other guinea pigs. If it has not happened within the first 24 hours, it is very unlikely she will attempt to do it later on. Squeaks, Scales and Tails is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC an affiliate advertising program. Do Guinea Pigs Miss Their Owners? Calcium is very important for baby piggies as they are growing and developing. They have small bodies and big eyes. Can Rabbits Eat Grapes Pros And Cons of Grapes For Rabbits. Normally, they could be 3-6 inches long. One reason why a guinea pig mother might eat one of her pups is that she is extremely malnourished. Your guinea pig's individual personality will likely play a big role in this. You can also ask your vet for advice and support. For the first 2-3 weeks , they will rely on their mother for milk. Its important to remember that guinea pigs are prey animals and they can get intimidated very easily. Approach them face-on, so they can see you coming. Wed love to hear from you in the comments below. She is more likely to eat her babies as she can confuse the placenta and the babies. That is a common myth and is not true. It is okay for you to handle the pups during the nursing period. It can be a little surprising to witness, but its completely normal and nothing to be alarmed about. It's often the result of starvation, stress, inexperience, or trauma. Neutering is A LOT less risky for males than spaying is for females. (Find Out Now). Want to know more? Watch this video to learn more about guinea pig. Yes, it is okay to touch your new baby guinea pigs. We noticed our guinea pig babies began to eat mamas food within a few days of birth. Pups from small litters are usually bigger than pups from large litters. You need to make the entire environment guinea pig-friendly. Although they spring out with open eyes and fully furred, piggie pups are still small and fragile at first. (Find Out Now), 10 Reliable Cage Liners for Guinea Pigs (What You Need to Know), Do Guinea Pigs Hibernate? 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. Yes, guinea pigs miss their owners. Guinea pigs are peaceful creatures. An adult guinea pig will never deliberately harm or eat a newborn guinea pig. Newborn guinea pigs should be kept with their mom for at least 3 weeks. The mother may eat her babies if one or more of her litter dies, or she is under a lot of stress. If you have a pregnant guinea pig, consider giving the her cage an upgrade, so she can take care of her pups comfortably. She checked each one of them and licked them clean immediately following their birth. If one or two guinea pig pups seem to suddenly vanish from their cage, it doesnt necessarily mean theyve been eaten. Sows must also have a constant supply of hay (alfalfa for the extra calories) and pellets. Begin by holding your guinea pig gently on their back. However, you should err on the side of caution. They are able to see, hear and move around once they are born. Guinea pigs may miss their parents, but more research must confirm this. Guinea pig cannibalism may occur in extreme cases of starvation. Any guinea pig lover would approve. I also enjoy doing things outdoors, like hiking and camping. Babies grow fast. When you decide to introduce baby guinea pigs to an adult guinea pig, follow their behavior (monitor them for aggression) and respond quickly. But, when a pet parent has makes an intentional choice to breed, its really not worth the risk in most cases. Do guinea pigs miss their babies? https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/i-think-my-guinea-pig-might-be-pregnant-what-should-i-do/, Pregnancy toxemia in Guinea pigs. Well, your guess is as good as mine guinea pigs sure miss their owners when theyre absent for so long. I love animals, and I have three beautiful boys. Just simply focusing on your guinea pigs and trying to chat with them every day can go a long way. If that happens in captivity, its a rare exception. By doing this you can prevent accidental killings, as well as promptly remove any still born pups from the cage. The guinea pig fathers dont play any role in taking care of the litter, and can do more harm than good (sorry piggie dads!). https://www.npvet.co.nz/pets/animal-info-pets/bird-rabbit-turtle-articles/care-pregnant-guinea-pigs/, Guinea lynx :: Reproduction. We found the following cage on Amazon that worked really well. There are different ways you can give your guinea pigs attention, and one of them is a good, old-fashioned daily petting session. On average, baby guinea pigs come in litters of 2-4, and weigh 70-115g. This is especially important in guinea pigs, as they are highly social animals. Why would a pet guinea pig eat its own babies? Some have lengthy, silky hair, and others have brief, tough coats. Stop getting dirty looks from your piggies, because you forgot to do something for themAGAIN. Although, some green beans and always bring us back together. The larger the litter, the smaller the pups will likely be. Wiki User 2008-10-08 02:35:56 This. Guinea pigs do not share a similar parent-child bond like that of their siblings with their parents. 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. Over the next 2 weeks, decrease the feeding time gradually. It can therefore be tempting to pick up and cuddle the little babies right away! A male guinea pig might seriously injure his babies because he is territorial and feels intimidated. On average, baby guinea pigs come in litters of 2-4, and weigh 70-115g. 4. All of the babies are usually born within 30 minutes once labor begins. Soak guinea pig pellets in water from the first day of life. When they grow up, male guinea pigs are called boars, and females are called sows. The best thing you can do is provide adequate and proper nutrition to the new guinea pig mother. The best time to breed guinea pigs is before the female turns 7 months of age. Make sure that your guinea pig babies are able to reach the water bottle sipper. All rights reserved. You will get a kick out of their eagerness to chase each other around and play, and maybe even start popcorning. The same goes for males. Rather, they belong to a rodent species called cavies. I personally dont recommend it and neither do vets and most responsible rescues and shelters.Accidents happen. How many babies do guinea pigs have in their first litter? (n.d.). Guinea Pigs May Lick as a Sign of Affection or Grooming. Housing your guinea pig is not particularly difficult, as there are a large variety of hutches and cages commercially available. Be quiet and move slowly around baby guinea pigs. 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. They Talk to You A.K.A. What is a Group of Guinea Pigs Called? There's nothing quite like getting away from it all in nature. Pneumonia can occur with torticollis and can be fatal. Unlike many other animals in the animal kingdom, guinea pigs are not self-sufficient. 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. First of all, dont be too hard on yourself. Guineapigden.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. shooting in petersburg va yesterday, which of the following are basic transmission security measures,