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Thats what they do while also making your life a much brighter place. Its normal to be upset and sad. Keeping the father around is a very bad idea and adds to the stress of the female guinea pig about to deliver her litter. How long do baby guinea pigs stay with Mom? Its just as important that your baby guinea pig also spends most of their time with other guinea pigs. However, you shouldnt touch the babies right after they are born. When they dont have enough food and are at risk of starvation. Their tiny mouths already manage to contain 20 teeth, which grow continuously. By giving them enough time with their mother, you reduce the risk that she will reject them. Although its very uncommon, there is still a possibility that a mother guinea pig will engage in filial cannibalism. 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. Yes, guinea pigs sometimes eat their babies. Pups from small litters are usually bigger than pups from large litters. If you handle a baby bird in a nest, the mother will often abandon them because she'll sense something isn't right (i.e. This is called precociality. Our goal is to make Guinea Pig Den the ultimate resource for learning about your new guinea pig and helpful information before you bring one home as a pet. Guinea pig cannibalism may occur in extreme cases of starvation. How to Care for a Pet Guinea Pig - The Spruce Pets Between then and reaching their full adult weight several months later, you might hear them being described as juniors. One of the ways they do this is through "wheeking". 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. Babies grow fast. Look quickly because guinea pigs are not happy being held this way. Make sure your pig has a lot of food. Guinea pigs are different from many other species; they are born with teeth and fur, and almost immediately they can see and walk around. Do guinea pigs miss their babies? So, what do you put on the bottom of a guinea pig cage? Baby guinea pigs are called pups. Female guinea pigs have a Y-shaped opening close to their anus. Domestic guinea pigs originated in South America but today these vocal, sociable creatures thrive in households across the globe. And, when it happens, it is usually an accident, not a rule, and intentional behavior. At worst, it can cause her to reject them. Place the cage in a quiet, draft-free area your home that is out of direct sunlight. Likely she has forgotten all about them, and is instead planning to to escape and start her next litter. https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/i-think-my-guinea-pig-might-be-pregnant-what-should-i-do/, Pregnancy toxemia in Guinea pigs. There are, Read More 7 Alarming Reasons Why Guinea Pigs DroolContinue, What fruits can guinea pigs eat? Make sure to separate your male guinea pigs from females in their litter too. As a whole, guinea pigs do not eat their offspring, but it can happen. So your guinea pig is pregnant. 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. And baby guinea pigs are capable of joining in from a very young age. It is important to make sure that the pups begin nursing within the first few hours of birth. 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. Having your guinea pig give birth to a litter should be an exciting time. Guinea Pig Babies Facts - Caring For All Pets An adult female guinea pig will never harm or eat newborn babies. Equally, male guinea pigs shouldnt eat their babies because they dont eat meat. Use the tips in this post to understand why piggies eat their babies and to prevent it from happening. We were stressed out during this time because we did not want to have another unexpected guinea pig pregnancy. Why would a pet guinea pig eat its own babies? This little interaction will enable him warm to the introduction of a new cage mate better. The causes are different for each species. The largest guinea pig litter recorded by the Guinness Book of World Records contained a whopping 17 pups! They will understand. The first twenty four hours are when the babies are at greatest risk for being eaten, so remain close during this period. ClickHEREfor a peek at my disclosure. (What You Need To Know)Continue. Yet, sometimes, guinea pigs can eat their babies. Lets explain why guinea pigs may eat their babies. 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? Guinea pigs can eat their babies if they lack nutrition. So it is not good practice by caring breeders. And make sure that the guinea pig mother is not present. An average sized pup measures around 3 to 5 inches at birth, and very cylindrical roughly the size of a tangerine in fact! It is essential for guinea pigs to have social contact with other guinea pigs. Female baby guinea pigs on the other hand have a y-shaped genital opening, set much closer to the anus. I didnt know how we would handle it if Theo rejected her babies or even worse ate her young! When they grow up, male guinea pigs are called boars, and females are called sows. Once labor is established, all the pups usually arrive within half an hour. Significantly, this is the age when pups will start to reach sexual maturity. The guinea pig fathers dont play any role in taking care of the litter, and can do more harm than good (sorry piggie dads!). The bond between a mother and her baby is crucial for the babys development. 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. But if you have a tiny little guinea pig with a noteworthy squeak, this name is pretty darn adorable. However, there is no definitive answer as to whether or not this is true. Do Guinea Pigs Recognize Their Owners?: 10 Tips You Need Now This is where they learn how to bond and behave in a herd. Unlike many other animals in the animal kingdom, guinea pigs are not self-sufficient. "Wheek" City. Provide Your Sow with a Stress-Free Environment, Remain Vigilant During the First Twenty Four Hours, Keep The Babies With Their Mom As Much As Possible, Can You Put A Baby Guinea Pig With An Older One? Certainly not, they only remember their parents for a particular period. Common diseases in domestic guinea pigs include respiratory infections, diarrhea, itching, and boils due to infection (often the neck, throat, or external scratches). Pets. As a whole, guinea pigs do not eat their offspring, but it can happen. From the moment they are born they are unusually mature and capable of looking after themselves. A female needs to give birth for the first time before the age of 7 months. But most people think of it as being around four weeks old, when they reach sexual maturity. You can do a few things to help your guinea pig cope when youre not around. Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Babies? What Makes Them Do That And How To Once the mother gives birth to her babies to the nest, she won't be paying much heed to the nest anymore. 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. For example, guinea pigs are born with their eyes open, and their ears which look huge at the moment can already hear. Breeding and reproduction of Guinea pigs All other pets Merck veterinary manual. On the other hand, if it turns out that they don't form any attachment to their young, then we can . Female guinea pigs take care of the hardest part as much as possible. The more factors that are present, the higher likelihood shell eat her pups. Sometimes it happens accidentally. And the result is that guinea pig babies are born already more mature than many other species. Witkowska, A. et al, The Effects of Diet on Anatomy, Physiology and Health in the Guinea Pig, Journal of Animal Health and Behavioural Science, 2017. Although pet guinea pigs eating their pups is a very rare incident, it does happen sometimes. How do I know when my guinea pig is ready to give birth? Almost the only reason why a female guinea pig can kill her babies is that she is so stressed that her mind cannot handle the strain. She will naturally clean up the area around her: lick the babies clean, bite off the umbilical cord and eat the placenta. At the end of the day we removed the fleece bedding, washed it and replaced it with a fresh fleece liner. Guinea pigs can typically handle labor and delivery without intervention; however, guinea pigs can die during the birthing process. You should increase the amount of fresh fruit and vegetables given daily and also consider pet-friendly supplements. Bear in mind this doesnt necessarily mean she is dangerously thin. Ahhhh, clementines. For instance, most rats eat their babies. If your guinea pig is hanging out near you while . The larger the litter, the smaller the pups will likely be. Some have lengthy, silky hair, and others have brief, tough coats. Wed love to hear from you in the comments below. Other guinea pig owners would like to breed their piggies. You might also notice they squeak in distress when you take them away from their mom. Put him back with his mother if he becomes vocal or squirmy. Although they are able to conceive year-round, springtime is the peak window for baby guineas appearing on the scene. It's so rewarding to help pets look and feel their best. Many living creatures eat other members of their species when necessary for survival. At six weeks old baby guineas pigs are fully weaned, and have stopped nursing from their mother. They will weigh as much as 2 kilos; most reside between 5 and 6 years, however some notably wholesome pets can reside 10 years or longer. Diet What should our pregnant guinea pig eat? Some of the cutest animals kill and devour their offspring. 3 hours ago WebBaby Guinea Pig Diet The first week of life is critical. But, fruit should only be given as an occasional treat. This often happens when owners of female guinea pigs discover an unplanned pregnancy and arent able to care for all the babies. If you keep a male guinea pig with the mother and babies, introduce them slowly, so there is no aggression between the two adults. Sadly yes, guinea pig mothers do sometimes eat their newborn young. While it might not be anything to worry about, sometimes it can be a sign of sickness. Yes, guinea pigs like stuffed, Read More Do Guinea Pigs Like Stuffed Animals? 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. I'm currently a pet groomer, and I love it. Neutering is A LOT less risky for males than spaying is for females. Housing your guinea pig is not particularly difficult, as there are a large variety of hutches and cages commercially available. After birth, Guinea pig sows can become pregnant again within hours. Yes, guinea pigs miss their owners. Male baby guinea pigs have a donut-shaped genital opening in front of their anus. 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. My mission is to teach others useful tips and tricks about these cute creatures. Always consult your vet if you think a baby guinea pig overly small, or failing to thrive. Allowing siblings to breed also poses a risk of dangerous congenital disorders to their offspring. Guinea pigs make eleven different call types. However, we always recommend having more than one guinea pig because these small animals are social creatures and they need company. Female guinea pigs dont intentionally eat their babies nor do they kill them to eat them. The extra calories should be provided until she stops nursing her newborn babies. Guinea Pigs make excellent pets due to their playful, social nature. Yes, guinea pigs eat their babies albeit very rarely, mostly by accident. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/all-other-pets/guinea-pigs/breeding-and-reproduction-of-guinea-pigs, Care of pregnant Guinea pigs. You can also give them a comfortable place to sleep, like a bed or hammock. One under his chest and one under his bottom. Once the pups arrive, monitor them closely to make sure nursing is established within 12 hours. Guinea pigs are not only kept as family pets, but like dogs, cats and rabbits, they are also bred for show. Guinea pigs are less likely to eat their own young than other varieties of rodents because a baby guinea pig reaches maturity quickly. This is just enough space to allow the guinea pigs to escape. Hamsters and rats are famous for such practice. The name pup calls to mind baby dogs, but guinea pigs actually belong to a family of rodent species called cavies. Each birth is spaced out every 3 5 minutes. Pettijohn, T. F., Attachment and Separation Distress in the Infant Guinea Pig, Developmental Psychobiology, 1979. On average, baby guinea pigs come in litters of 2-4, and weigh 70-115g. Guinea pigs are not capable of "missing". 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. How Old Are Guinea Pigs Before Leaving Their Mother? - Oddly Cute Pets Sows must also have a constant supply of hay (alfalfa for the extra calories) and pellets. 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. Many time, the pup gets killed accidentally and the mother eats it because she has a survival instinct. However, this would put a huge amount of strain on her body and her mental stamina. If a guinea pig mother cannot nurse her babies due to illness or death, keep the orphans with as many pet guinea pigs as possible. Normally, they could be 3-6 inches long. Bathing them, if its something you plan to try, should wait until they are at least eight weeks old. This is extremely taxing on the body of the female guinea pig and dangerous to her. Guinea pigs love to communicate. However, both males and females can mature and be fertile even earlier. Newborn Guinea Pigs Pups Care, Feeding, Vaccines, and More - The Big Zoo 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. They have learned quite a few life skills from their mother and are ready to go to their new homes. 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. In most cases, guinea pigs won't miss you if you decide to leave them in the home instead of taking them with you for camping. This can harm the guinea pigs health, as they may become stressed or depressed. Why Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Babies? - Clever Pet Owners Clements, M. and Kelly, J. This is a question that many guinea pig owners have. So, its possible for their mother (especially if shes inexperienced with babies) to kill them with too much force. Guinea pigs can recognize their owners and other people they know and trust. Whereas there are over 13 Guinea Pig breeds, English, Abyssinian, and Peruvian Guinea Pigs are the most well-liked. 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. This can be startling and upsetting. Caring for baby guinea pigs can be a rewarding experience if you know what to expect. Your guinea pig can definitely use more interplay with the loss of its buddy. Yes, female guinea pigs do nurse their young for a few weeks after birth. This can be very misleading especially when it comes to motherhood as many animals eat their offspring in certain circumstances. (n.d.). Guinea pig babies can walk, see, and hear, as soon as they are born, and most start nibbling on solid foods within a few days. (Benefits, Risks, Servings & FAQs), Baytril For Guinea Pigs (Side Effects, Efficacy, Dosage & FAQs), Signs Your Guinea Pig Hates You (Top 7 & And How to Fix It). How long does it take for a baby guinea pig to walk? They need to stay with their mother guinea pigs and suck their milk, but they will quickly become active. But many experts recommend that pups be weaned as late as 6 weeks. 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. Why Do Guinea Pigs Lick You or Other Guinea Pigs? ), Guinea pigs can suffer from running lice. Although, some green beans and always bring us back together. We placed an additional water bottle in the cage so that we could position it low enough for the babies to reach it. A healthy pup will resist and move away from the mother, alerting her of her mistake. What about baby guinea pigs for adoption? Any sudden movement or noise can scare them. Home - Guinea Pigs - Do Guinea Pigs Miss Their Owners? Do not over-handle the mother or you could cause her stress which will lead . Guinea pigs are docile small animals. RELATED: CLICK HERE for tips on how to tame your guinea pig (step by step guide). How Many Babies Do Guinea Pigs Have? - Guinea Pig Hub A baby guinea pig is called a pup. Guinea pigs need fresh water daily. A newborn guinea pig might weigh around 3.5 ounces or 100 grams. Well be discussing more about this in todays article. You can also ask your vet for advice and support. The two main reasons why Guinea pigs may eat their babies is a result of hunger, or insufficient feeding. 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. Its important to know what signs to look out for so you can keep your piggies happy and healthy. If possible, you should be present during the birth to provide support and comfort to the mother. Newborn Baby Guinea Pig Care - family-medical.net I thought they would be born helpless and look like baby rats or hamsters with no fur and their eyes closed. You can find a mentor by asking your local cavy club to put you in touch with suitable experienced breeders. 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. All rights reserved. Once the baby guinea pigs turn 3 to 4 weeks, separate them from their mother, especially male guinea pigs. One reason why a guinea pig mother might eat one of her pups is that she is extremely malnourished. The act of cannibalism in guinea pigs is usually the mother trying to protect the rest of her litter from predators. We read that the bedding needs to be changed daily. What Are Common Health Problems in Guinea Pigs? 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. (2014, March 28). The average guinea pig litter is 2 to 4 pups. This is an essential process as it helps to ensure that the young guinea pigs can develop properly. Theres no fixed moment when a guinea pig stops being a pup and becomes an adult. i am so excited!!! [9] They will still need to nurse, though, for three weeks before they are ready to be removed from their mother. But do all animals miss their babies as much as we do? It's particularly common when introducing new guinea pigs for the first time. The standard litter can range from one to six little pups, with an avg. How long does it take for guinea pigs to be born? Medical Disclaimer. A female guinea pig usually wont eat a baby guinea pig deliberately. Wanna read something more boring than watching paint dry? 2 3 cups mostly green, leafy vegetables, Occasional fruit too much sugar can lead to obesity. Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Babies? [The Surprising Truth] It is perfectly fine to handle your new guinea pigs within the first week. It can be a little surprising to witness, but its completely normal and nothing to be alarmed about. 15 Best Pet Freshwater Fish For Beginners. The best time to breed guinea pigs is before the female turns 7 months of age. It's often the result of starvation, stress, inexperience, or trauma. The sow eating her pups may be starving. Most guinea pigs cages are designed for adult guinea pigs with a one inch space between the bars. Your Baby Guinea Pig - What To Expect And How To Look After Them